Drug and Alcohol Treatment Aftercare Options Once you Leave an Addiction Treatment Center

November 8th, 2010 | 1 Comment

Many people believe that when someone gets out of a rehab center they are magically healed from all of their problems. This is perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions about the recovery process. What people need to understand is that the real battle begins after someone leaves treatment, not while they are in treatment. If you or someone you know has just got out of rehab and is unsure of what to do next, here are a couple ideas that can help a recovering addict maintain sobriety after leaving treatment.

After many people finish rehab it is very common to move in to a sober living. A sober living acts as a structured living environment that ensures a positive transition back in to the world as a clean and sober member of society. In addition to moving in to a sober living, many people also enter an outpatient program. Outpatient programs are extremely beneficial because they offer a wide variety of support and therapy relevant to preventing relapse and maintaining long-term sobriety. Most outpatient programs have group therapy sessions that focus on various issues that addicts struggle with after leaving treatment. For example, many recovering addicts often struggle with interpersonal relationships after getting clean and sober. To help deal with these underlying issues, many outpatient programs offer therapy groups that focus on reconstructing interpersonal relationships with family members and/or close friends.

Another key issue that outpatient programs focus on is relapse prevention. Just about anything can trigger an addicts feelings or urge to relapse and start using again. Outpatient programs not only offer relapse prevention therapy but also help the individual create a relapse prevention plan. A relapse prevention plan acts as a guide of “what to do” if any cravings or triggers occur throughout an addicts recovery. In addition to group therapy and relapse prevention, many outpatient programs also offer case management. The primary job of a case manager is to act as a strong source of support and accountability for addicts that are newly sober. A case manager not only helps get the recovering addicts priorities back in order, but also helps them set short and long-term goals they want to achieve. Finally, one of the biggest benefits of an outpatient program is flexibility. No matter what the individuals needs may be many outpatient facilities will adjust their program to help meet every individuals needs. So if you or someone you know has just left rehab and is unsure about what to do next in the recovery process. An outpatient program is a great option to check out.