Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help a person that might not have been able to be helped in the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but could also help clients better know what caused their drug abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include proper medical support and also further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.