Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help a person that may not have been able to be helped previously, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have prompted and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but can also help clients better determine what led to their drug use and how to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support as well as further treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person should be medicated through out their lives either, and actually lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.