Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who may possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, end substance abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that may have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but may also help clients better understand what triggered their substance abuse and ways to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include proper medical support as well as continued rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.