Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help a person that might not have been capable of being helped during the past, stop drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or mistreated 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 may also help clients better understand what led to their drug abuse and how to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process when compared to a typical drug rehab program, and folks who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in a substantial aftercare program that might include proper medical support in addition to further rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the person should be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality many individuals who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.