Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who might not have been able to be helped during the past, stop drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that could have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but may also help clients better know what caused their drug abuse and how 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 may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support along with continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.