Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone who might not have been able to be helped in the past, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly that could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse issues. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but may also help clients better determine what led to their drug abuse and ways to prevent it later on. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support along with further treatment services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person must be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.