Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone that might possibly not have been able to be helped during the past, put an end to substance abuse by being correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better determine what caused their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support and also further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.