Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help a person that may possibly not have been able to be helped previously, stop substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better determine what caused their substance abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support and also continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual must be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.