Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might not have been able to be helped previously, stop drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that could have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better know what caused their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Addressing dual diagnosis may be 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 that might include proper medical support and also further treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person will need to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.