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 an individual who might possibly not have been capable of being helped before, end drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better understand what led to their drug use and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which may include proper medical support along with continued rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual must be medicated through out their lives either, and in fact many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience more effective results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are utilized.