Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who may not have been capable of being helped previously, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better know what triggered their drug abuse and how to prevent it in the future. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support in addition to continued rehab services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual should be medicated through out their lives either, and actually a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.