What are My Drug Rehab Aftercare Options?

A substance use disorder is a chronic and progressive disease that must be managed long-term to maintain sobriety. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the addiction relapse rate is between 40 to 60%.[1]

Without keeping up with your recovery maintenance techniques, relapse is possible. Thankfully, there are actions you can take after you complete a treatment program to stay connected to your recovery.

Every reputable addiction treatment center offers aftercare services, which are tools that you can take advantage of to strengthen your sobriety. Aftercare might include alumni programs, support groups, continued therapy, sober living programs, and more. Since the transition from an addiction treatment facility to independent living exposes you to new triggers, you must use the aftercare services offered to protect your recovery.

One of the most beneficial aftercare programs is sober living homes. This type of aftercare program provides you with a drug and alcohol-free environment, ongoing addiction support, and highly structured days to keep you accountable.

In this article, you will learn:

• What aftercare is and why it’s important
• What types of aftercare drug rehab centers offer
• The benefits of each aftercare option available to you

What is Aftercare?

Aftercare is a series of services offered by a drug rehab center to keep their graduated patients connected to recovery. Many of the services these programs provide help clients continue to progress in their sobriety, preventing them from experiencing a relapse.

According to a study on continuing care, addiction treatment centers must offer services that:[2]

• Involve maintaining abstinence and the skills learned during treatment
• Addressing relapse and offering tools to prevent it
• Connecting patients to other forms of support
• Addressing other recovery issues like employment, recreation, and housing

In other words, aftercare is basically a relapse prevention model that will help you stay sober from drugs and alcohol after completing an addiction treatment program. Your aftercare might include continuing therapy consistently, attending support groups like 12-step programs, developing a support system, and staying in a sober living home.

What Are Your Drug Rehab Aftercare Options?

If you are recovering from drug or alcohol addiction, it’s important to understand that the work isn’t done when you complete treatment. Thankfully, drug rehab programs offer a variety of aftercare options that will help you stay on track.

The main options for aftercare include:

Alumni Programs

Alumni programs are support groups that your addiction treatment offers to former clients. Most hold weekly meetings where other alumni will share their experiences, strengths, and hopes for addiction recovery. These meetings are great for learning coping skills that work for your peers.

There are also monthly outings where you can participate in sober-friendly activities with other alumni, allowing you to connect with others and learn how to have fun without substances.

Support Groups

Your addiction treatment center will also work with you to connect you with local support groups that are not affiliated with your rehab program. This is important for your recovery, as it allows you to build a support system on your own. While most people attend 12-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), there are other options available as well.

Alternative support groups include:

• SMART Recovery
• Women for Sobriety (WFS)
• Secular Organizations for Sobriety (S.O.S)
• Refuge Recovery
• And more!

Addiction support groups are vital to maintaining long-term recovery. They help you create connections with other people in sobriety, teach you how to improve your overall life, and keep you connected with a recovery program.

Ongoing Therapy

Oftentimes, your substance abuse treatment center will allow you to continue attending therapy on an outpatient basis. If you connected with your therapist during treatment, this is a great opportunity to continue receiving support.

Therapy can help you build healthy coping mechanisms, work through childhood trauma, and recover from any co-occurring mental health issues.

Case Management

Case managers will continue to work with you even after you complete treatment. They can be helpful in a variety of ways, including being your number one advocate. Some of the services offered by case managers include helping you find healthcare, offering vocational assistance, dealing with the legal system, and even assisting you in finding affordable housing.

Sober Living Homes

Lastly, your addiction treatment center can connect you to a sober living home like New You Sober Living. We offer drug and alcohol-free housing with the level of structure and accountability you need to stay sober during the transitional period into independent life. You will undergo randomized drug testing, have required weekly support groups, receive support from your peers, and more.

Sober living homes provide the level of support you need while letting you adjust to the real world. You will be allowed to work a job or attend school, be expected to pay rent, and learn how to create daily schedules that promote a healthy and sober lifestyle.

Get Connected to a Highly-Rated Sober Living Program

If you or a loved one has just completed addiction treatment, you should consider attending sober living. The period between completing rehab and living on your own can be difficult, exposing you to new triggers and stresses of everyday life. At New You Sober Living, we create an environment that supports independence as a sober individual.

If you are looking for a comfortable sober living setting, you’re in the right place. We make living in a halfway house successfully by gently incorporating a set of rules, a supervised structure, and the sober support needed to sustain your sobriety for the long term. Reinvent yourself and be the new you that we know you can be.

Contact us today to learn more about our top-rated sober living home. We can help ease the transition from facility life to independence.

References:

1. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Treatment and Recovery
2. Ps.psychiatryonline.org: Continuing Care and Long-Term Substance Use Outcomes in Managed Care: Early Evidence for a Primary Care-Based Model