Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone that may not have been able to be helped during the past, stop drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have prompted and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better know what led to their drug abuse and the way to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person should be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.