Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone that may not have been able to be helped in the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient treatment plan 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 is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support and also further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.