Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who might possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, put an end to substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that could have triggered and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better determine what led to their drug use and the way 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 a substantial aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support in addition to continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and actually many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.