Dual diagnosis can be a situation whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically denotes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help an individual who may possibly not have been able to be helped before, end drug or alcohol abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly that could have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not just helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but will also help clients better determine what led to their substance abuse and how to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to take part in a substantial aftercare program which can include proper medical support along with continued rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't imply that the individual should be medicated through out their lives either, and in reality many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.