Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who may 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 might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but will also help clients better determine what caused their substance abuse and how to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support and also continued treatment services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many people with a dual diagnosis experience much better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.