Dual diagnosis is a circumstance whereby two independent disorders exist, and most typically describes a co-occurring drug abuse and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis might help someone who may possibly not have been able to be helped in the past, finish drug abuse because they can be properly diagnosed and treated. Their mental health disorder might have been misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, or treated incorrectly which could have prompted and led to their drug or alcohol use problems. Establishing the fact that someone is in fact a dual diagnosis client not simply helps establish a highly effective treatment plan for them, but may also help clients better know what caused their drug use and ways to prevent it in the future. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than the usual typical drug rehab program, and people with a dual diagnosis may need to take part in an extensive aftercare program that might include appropriate medical support along with continued rehab services. Being identified as having co-occurring disorders doesn't signify the person will have to be medicated for the remainder of their lives either, and in fact a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.