Dual diagnosis is a situation in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone that might not have been capable of being helped before, put an end to drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better determine what led to their drug use and how to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and folks with a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include proper medical support in addition to further rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.