Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help a person that might not have been capable of being helped in the past, stop substance abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which could have triggered and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better determine what caused their substance abuse and ways to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis is often 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 appropriate medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.