Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, finish substance abuse by being accurately 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 substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better determine what caused their substance abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support along with further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in reality a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.