Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who may not have been able to be helped in the past, stop drug abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better know what caused their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which may include appropriate medical support in addition to continued rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.