Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that might not have been capable of being helped in the past, end drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have prompted and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient course of treatment for them, but may also help clients better determine what led to their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support along with continued rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.