Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who may not have been able to be helped previously, put an end to drug abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better understand what caused their substance abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support in addition to continued rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.