Dual diagnosis can be a situation 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 capable of being helped previously, end drug or alcohol abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but may also help clients better know what led to their drug use and the way to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process 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 as well as further rehab services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.