Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone that might not have been capable of being helped previously, stop drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated which could have prompted and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better know what caused their drug abuse and how to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might be required to participate in a substantial aftercare program which might include appropriate medical support as well as further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual must be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment solutions are employed.