Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who may possibly not have been capable of being helped previously, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the reality that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but may also help clients better know what caused their substance abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person will have to be medicated through out their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.