Dual diagnosis is a situation whereby two independent disorders are present, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help someone who might not have been able to be helped in the past, end substance abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that could have prompted and resulted in their substance abuse problems. Establishing the truth that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not only helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but can also help clients better know what caused their drug abuse and ways to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis might be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and individuals who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program which might include proper medical support as well as further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't imply the person will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in reality lots of people with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.