Dual diagnosis is a circumstance in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis can help someone who may possibly not have been able to be helped during the past, finish drug or alcohol abuse by being properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or mistreated that may have prompted and resulted in their drug abuse problems. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective course of treatment for them, but could also help clients better determine what led to their drug use and ways to prevent it in the foreseeable future. Handling dual diagnosis is often a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and individuals with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program which can include proper medical support in addition to continued rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the person will have to be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and in fact many people who have a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are employed.