Dual diagnosis can be a circumstance in which two independent disorders are present, and most often describes a co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis will help someone who may not have been able to be helped in the past, finish drug abuse because they can be accurately diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder may have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have triggered and led to their drug abuse issues. Establishing the fact someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish an effective treatment course for them, but can also help clients better determine what led to their drug use and ways to prevent it down the road. Addressing dual diagnosis can be a more extensive process compared to a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support as well as further rehabilitation services. Being diagnosed with co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually many individuals with a dual diagnosis experience far better outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative therapy is employed.