Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who might not have been capable of being helped in the past, end drug or alcohol abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have prompted and led to their substance abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an efficient treatment plan for them, but could also help clients better determine what caused their drug abuse and how to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program that might include proper medical support as well as continued rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.