Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who may not have been able to be helped in the past, end drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which could have prompted and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better know what caused their drug abuse and ways to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support in addition to continued rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.