Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone that may not have been capable of being helped previously, stop drug abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is certainly a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better determine what led to their substance abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support in addition to further treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.