Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who might possibly not have been able to be helped during the past, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and the way to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include proper medical support along with further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality many people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.