Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often denotes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help an individual who may not have been able to be helped during the past, put an end to drug or alcohol abuse because they can be correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the truth that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish an efficient treatment course for them, but may also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and ways to prevent it later on. Addressing dual diagnosis may 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 that might include proper medical support in addition to continued rehabilitation services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually lots of people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better results when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is utilized.