Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that might possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis may 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 might include proper medical support along with further rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.