Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who might possibly not have been capable of being helped during the past, end substance abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated that could have prompted and led to their substance abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better know what caused their drug use and ways to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support in addition to further treatment services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the individual will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality many people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.