Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help a person that might not have been able to be helped previously, put an end to drug abuse by being accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their drug abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better determine what caused their drug use and how to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support along with continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person must 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 treatment methods are utilized.