Addiction recovery is a long-term process that will continue for many years after treatment. Aftercare programs for substance abuse are any ongoing care once a person leaves treatment. The most common forms of aftercare include 12-step programs, outpatient treatment, therapy, and sober living.
Why Aftercare Is Critical For Addiction Recovery?
Like all chronic illnesses, it’s critical that patients in recovery from drug addiction have access to a team of doctors and specialists for ongoing maintenance and aftercare of their disease. Just like a person with diabetes would not get a diagnosis and never do anything to manage their illness, a person diagnosed with addiction will need to continuously treat and manage their disorder to maintain sobriety and good health.
About 10% of the U.S. adult population struggles with a substance use disorder, and relapse rates for substance use disorders can be as high as 60%. But patients who take advantage of aftercare services experience lower relapse rates than people who do not participate in aftercare programs.
What types of aftercare programs are available?
Addiction recovery is a long-term process that will continue for many years after treatment. Aftercare programs for substance abuse are any ongoing care once a person leaves treatment. The most common forms of aftercare include 12-step programs, outpatient treatment, therapy, and sober living.
Developing an aftercare plan allows individuals to prepare for any future challenges and risks to their sobriety. Involving friends and family members in the aftercare process can increase the chances of continued sobriety. When friends and family are involved, they learn how to support sobriety, celebrate successes, and encourage healthy behaviors.
Sober Living Homes
A sober living home is a residential facility for individuals recovering from substance abuse. Some are affiliated with rehab facilities and government organizations, but the majority operate independently. Sober living homes are found across the United States and have beenproven to increase the likelihood that recovering alcoholics will remain sober. While most sober living homes are designed for temporary residence of less than a year, some offer longer-term options.
Some sober living homes have a leader who creates the rules and enforces them, while others operate more collectively and democratically. Both models have proven effective, and which one is “best” depends on the individual in question. While every sober living home operates under a different set of guidelines, most share some characteristics in common, including a promise by all residents to remain sober, abide by certain curfews, and share certain expenses. Most sober living homes have stricter guidelines for new residents, that are gradually lessened the longer the individual lives in the home.
12-Step Programs
It is crucial to have an aftercare plan, especially in early recovery, to help prevent relapsing. The risk of relapse is at its highest in the first few months after treatment. 40 to 60 percent of individuals in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction will relapse at some point.
A 12-step group is a group of like-minded individuals founded on the 12 steps of recovery. 12-step programs are peer-led by others in recovery. There are a variety of 12-step meetings help at churches and community centers as well as treatment centers.
12-step programs include:
- AA – Alcoholics Anonymous
- NA – Narcotics Anonymous
- CA – Cocaine Anonymous
- MA – Marijuana Anonymous
Aftercare Groups for Support
Support groups for addiction allow people to share their personal experiences. There are groups that can benefit anyone with any type of addiction. Support groups are also helpful for addicted people with co-occurring mental conditions like depression.
Support groups for addiction allow people to share their personal experiences. There are groups that can benefit anyone with any type of addiction. Support groups are also helpful for addicted people with co-occurring mental conditions like depression.
Support groups can provide emotional guidance and support for addicted people when cravings strike.
Benefits of addiction support groups include:
- Meeting new people who also want a sober life
- Learning skills to conquer cravings
- Getting support during difficult emotional times
- Having people to hold you accountable
- Knowing you’re not alone
There are several prominent support groups for addiction, including Alcoholics Anonymous and SMART. Knowing what to expect from a support group helps when choosing the group for you. The most important thing about choosing a group is making sure it is constructive and encouraging.
Many people have become sober with the help of addiction support groups. However, support groups are only one part of addiction treatment. Coupling support groups with individual therapy and inpatient treatment significantly increases the chances of success.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy is a psychological method that involves you and a mental health counselor or psychiatrist. Individual therapy comes in many different styles and formats, but talk therapy is the most popular form. People in individual therapy discuss anything that’s concerning them, including career changes, divorce, loss, and addiction. Everything you say in individual therapy is confidential.
What to Expect in Individual Therapy
Your first individual therapy session will be one of planning and goal-setting. You and your counselor will talk about how you’ll achieve these goals, what concerns have brought you to therapy, and how many sessions you’ll need. Your therapist will also get to know you better and ask you questions about your physical and mental health. Knowing your background will help in your therapy approach.
You should also use this session to figure out if your therapist is a good fit for your needs. It’s important that you feel comfortable opening up in individual therapy. A good relationship is vital for achieving your goals. If something feels off or isn’t right, try looking for a different counselor.
The following sessions will focus on the issues you’ve decided to discuss. You’ll explore past trauma and other experiences that could have led to bad habits. It can be hard to open up to your counselor and delve into your past. Don’t be surprised if at times you become emotional, distraught, or angry during your sessions. However, this is necessary if you want to overcome your fears, learn from your mistakes, and become a better person.
Preventing Relapse with the Help of Aftercare Programs
The ultimate goal of aftercare is to help program alumni use the tools they learned while in treatment to prevent relapse. Work with your case manager to build a plan you’re willing to stick with once you finish treatment. You’re far less likely to stay sober after leaving the supportive environment of the facility if you don’t follow through on your aftercare plan.
Are you still struggling to stay sober after leaving your treatment program? Being honest with yourself and others is one of the most important aspects of recovery. Reach out to your treatment program if you find your aftercare plan isn’t as helpful as you thought it would be. The staff at your facility wants to see you stay sober and can make adjustments as necessary.
Transitioning Into Sober Living
Having stable and sober living arrangements is a crucial component of addiction recovery. A living environment with drugs and alcohol can lead to cravings and urges to use, which can lead to relapse. Sober living homes may be beneficial if you are concerned about your living environment.
Sober living homes provide a drug and alcohol-free environment to continue the recovery process. The goal of sober living is to help people build resources to transition into independent living. Some sober living homes require individuals to maintain employment to stay there.
Individuals are expected to refrain from using drugs and alcohol, actively work on their recovery, and follow the sober living house rules. Every sober living home has its own set of rules. Still, standard rules include following a curfew, completing house chores, maintaining sobriety, and participating in house meetings.
Aftercare Programs for Substance Abuse at Harmony Ridge Recovery Center
We at Harmony Ridge Recovery Center pride ourselves on living by the Golden Rule, treat others the way you want to be treated. Each member of our staff has been affected by addiction in some manner. Our primary focus is to help individuals live sober and fulfilled life.
The aftercare program for substance abuse at Harmony Ridge Recovery Center offers continued comprehensive care to promote a sober lifestyle and prevent relapse. If you or a loved one is battling substance abuse, our professional staff can help you get on the right track.
We look forward to encouraging you down the path to sobriety. Contact us today and let our staff answer all your addiction and aftercare questions.
(888) 771-8372