Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help a person that might not have been capable of being helped during the past, end drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated which may have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but could also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis might be required to take part in an extensive aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support as well as continued treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the individual will need to be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.