Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who may possibly not have been able to be helped before, stop drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that may have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better know what caused their drug use and how to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person must be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.