Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who might possibly not have been capable of being helped in the past, end drug abuse by being properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but may also help clients better determine what led to their substance abuse and how to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include proper medical support and also further rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person will need to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many people who have a dual diagnosis experience much better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.