Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that might not have been able to be helped previously, put an end to drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better understand what led to their drug use and the way to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support as well as continued rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.