Achieving sobriety is a huge accomplishment, however addiction treatment is not over after a person successfully detoxes from drugs or alcohol. Aftercare is an ongoing treatment plan for someone who successfully completes rehab, and it is meant to help a person maintain lasting sobriety. Aftercare is a term used to describe any ongoing treatment a patient receives after the initial treatment program is complete. The goals of aftercare include maintaining recovery from substance abuse, preventing relapse and achieving a life of fulfillment and purpose.
Longstanding drug/alcohol abuse can alter the normal functioning of a person’s brain, and this can take a long time to reverse, therefore it is really important to have access to professional care even after becoming sober at a rehab facility. Aftercare programs for substance abuse are extremely important because there are many difficulties a person can face when transitioning out of treatment. According to American Addiction Centers, the risk of relapse is at its highest the first few months after a person leaves rehab. Statistically, 40-60% of people recovering from drug or alcohol abuse experience relapse within months after treatment. Developing an aftercare treatment plan can help in preventing relapse by providing ongoing support that allows for continued personalized one-on-one care that you experienced at rehab.
Aftercare programs for substance abuse may include activities, interventions, alumni associations and resources to help a recovering person cope with the stress and potential triggers and cravings they may experience after treatment is complete. Alumni associations are an important element of aftercare because the goal is to connect people with continued support from a community they can trust. Transitioning into a new, sober lifestyle is understandably difficult, and it is extremely important to take the necessary steps to maintaining sobriety for the long-term.
Aftercare programs are arguably as crucial to a person’s recovery as rehab itself, especially in the early stages of recovery. The work you put in is not over after the treatment ends – this is when the real work begins. Although the timeline for formal rehabilitation may vary for each person depending on medical history, level of addiction, etc., everyone eventually reaches the end of this phase of recovery. Ongoing recovery efforts are extremely important for those transitioning out of rehab and into their daily lives in the real world. This is where diligent aftercare programs are extremely important to maintaining lasting sobriety. Rehab centers that make lasting recovery a priority will never send their patients off into the world without a discharge plan and connections to quality aftercare treatment. About 10% of the U.S. adult population struggles with substance abuse and addiction, and the relapse rates for those suffering is around 60%. Those who take advantage of aftercare experience significantly lower relapse rates than people who do not participate in aftercare treatment.
Committing to an aftercare substance abuse program helps by teaching people coping skills and other ways to transition into normal life without feeling the need to engage in addictive behavior. Aftercare abuse programs are also helpful for addict’s family members who can be a means of ongoing support, and this can aid in teaching them about your addiction and how best to go about helping you when you need it. Studies show that the more time an addict spends being treated, the more likely they are in their goal of achieving and maintaining lasting recovery.
Here at Valley Recovery Center, our goal is lasting, meaningful recovery, and we believe in setting up our patients with aftercare plans so they have the tools to continue their sobriety long-term. As people return to their lives and face challenges, support from our team and active alumni community can make all the difference in maintaining sobriety, and we want to prevent relapse by any means necessary. Aftercare is crucial to maintaining long term recovery.
The most effective aftercare treatment programs for those suffering from addiction will be tailored to the person’s individual needs and circumstances. Aftercare support is meant to help patients navigate sober living outside the rehab facility and to make recovering from addiction in the outside world a lot less stressful. Patients can expect to receive varying levels of aftercare treatment depending on their individual situation because the best aftercare is tailored to meet the needs of each individual person. Some patients who are suffering with more serious levels of addiction may benefit from outpatient treatment programs. Outpatient treatment programs give those in recovery access to one-on-one therapy sessions, group counseling/meetings and specialized therapy. Another aftercare option is joining a 12-step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, and these programs offer patients in recovery a supportive environment and a level of camaraderie with people suffering from similar addictions. This also offers a safe and controlled environment with effective strategies for coping with stressors and managing their addiction as life goes on. There are many different options when it comes to addiction aftercare programs, but it is really important to solidify an aftercare plan upon completing treatment at a rehab facility.
The care we provide at Valley Recovery Center does not stop when your treatment program ends. We offer and encourage a number of aftercare services to patients who have completed one of our programs. Our aftercare rehab programs are designed to assist those in recovery as they get back to everyday life and face the challenges that come with maintaining sobriety outside of our facilities. Similar to our residential treatment programs, our aftercare substance abuse programs are tailored to each patient’s individual needs and personal history with substance abuse and mental health. We provide aftercare services not because we expect patients to return to addiction, but because we know that patients who have continued support and care after rehab are being set up with the best tools necessary to achieving life-long sobriety and a more manageable transition into normal life.
The more time a patient spends being treated, the more likely they are to maintain their goal of lasting recovery. Our team maintains strong connections with patients long after they complete our program through both regular follow-ups and a connected alumni community. In our aftercare addiction program, our patients will have access to monthly follow-ups for as long as they may need (this varies depending on the patient), ongoing therapy with specialists, we offer medical and legal help if necessary, referrals to outpatient treatment programs, alumni online social groups and alumni in-person events in Santa Clarita. Each of these programs provides the same level of care we devote to our residential patients along with the option to involve family members and loved ones to help give each patient the care needed to maintain sobriety and to recover from their addiction the first time around.
