Drug and alcohol rehab centers serve a number of functions related to addiction treatment and recovery. Recovery starts with getting sober and is a part of your life indefinitely. After you stop drinking or using, you still have a life long challenge of staying clean and sober. Providing therapy, education, and support for recovery after treatment is just as important for a treatment center, if not more so, then helping you get sober. In fact, the major of programming offered at any rehab center is focused on building skills and habits that encourage long-term sobriety.
What is Aftercare?
Following the completion of a primary treatment program such as detox, inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, IOP, or PHP, you are transitioned into the next stage of recovery by being provided a personalized aftercare plan that supports ongoing sobriety. An aftercare plan can include medications, regular therapy or access to a trusted therapist, group meetings such as AA or NA, fitness classes, or a range of other options.
Locating a Peer Support Group
Peer support groups are regular gatherings where people who battle addiction share their stories, experiences, and struggles to offer support in maintaining their sobriety. The most common support meetings are Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings.
If you are getting sober for the first time, how would you know where to start in finding a meeting near you? A supportive rehab will help you in locating a great meeting help nearby where you will be living or working. They will also help you in arranging transportation to the meetings, whether it be connecting you with a fellow recovering addict who you can carpool with or finding a meeting that works with the local public transportation routes.
Sponsors & Follow-Ups
As much as your family and friends may want to be supportive of your sobriety, there is a missing level of understanding when they have not been through treatment themselves. Although finding a sponsor is the responsibility of the individual in recovery, your treatment team might connect you with some individuals who you can talk with and in turn might introduce you to a person that could sponsor you. You might also have a social worker, practitioner, or in the instance of court-ordered treatment, a parole officer that will contact you periodically after you exit treatment to see how you are doing. Check-ups go a long way in showing that you are not alone and holding you accountable for your sobriety.
Support for Recovery Starts in Treatment
One of the most vital contributors to maintaining sobriety after attending an addiction treatment program is what you learn when you are in treatment. There are a number of different behaviors, coping methods, and activities that are addressed throughout a recovery program. This includes retraining behaviors, coping with external stressors, and avoiding situations that may trigger a relapse. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness Training are a couple of the types of cognitive therapies often used while you are in therapy. Adding things to your life that promote a healthy, sober lifestyle is also beneficial. Some activities that rehabs may introduce include:
- Yoga
- Massage
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractics
In addition to activities, rehab programs that take a holistic approach will also help with developing a healthy diet because nutrition plays a huge role in detox, long term recovery, and overall wellness.
Vocational Training in Recovery
There are high functioning addicts, then there are those whose addiction makes it impossible to hold a job. However, it has become clear to those in the recovery industry that having a steady job contributes to lower rates of drug use and better recovery rates. According to one study, “vocational training and steady employment seem to contribute to lower relapse rates of individuals with alcohol and other drugs dependency.” Offering vocational training as a part of a rehab program is important for those who have a hard time securing or keeping a job. Ask a treatment center near me if they offer this type of assistance.
Sober Living Homes
Do you know the factors to consider when determining where to live after completing a treatment program? For those who do not have a reliable, supportive home environment, a sober living home is a good place to live during and/or following treatment. Many detox centers and residential treatment facilities also have sober living communities or relationships with sober living facilities that they can refer you to. Placement in a sober living community helps some people transition back into their normal life in a more gradual manner. When living in this type of community, you may also be given easy access to some of the skills and resources introduced during rehab. These may include, but are not limited to:
- Vocational training
- Education resources
- Recovery Yoga
- Medical professionals
- Legal Assistance
Find Quality Recovery Support After Treatment
At Level Up Lake Worth, we want to see our alumni succeed at staying clean and sober. To minimized relapse rates, we work with each admit to develop like skills and address any underlying mental health issues while they are in treatment. We also create an individualized aftercare plan for each person based on their particular needs and circumstances to try and give them what they need as long as they have the will and desire to stay sober. We cannot guarantee that someone will not relapse, but we will do what we can to decrease the odds. Our team will never give up on you and we will not let you give up on yourself.