What To Expect After You Leave Drug Rehab.

Entering alcohol or drug rehab can be exciting, scary, and nerve-wracking all at the same time. While a month to two month treatment program can help turn your life around, a 30 or 60 day program is not long enough to fix all your problems. In treatment, you learn a plethora of skills. Though, when treatment is over and the real world approaches, putting these tools and skills to the test can seem unconventional and uncomfortable. 

It’s important that any alcohol and drug rehab set you up with a solid aftercare plan to maintain your newfound sobriety. After a number of weeks away from the real world, it’s going to take time to adjust to a new lifestyle, especially with family, friends, employers, co-workers, and significant others who may see you in a new light. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, relapse rates of those with Substance Use Disorder are between 40 and 60 percent. Other research suggests that most relapses occur within the first six months after treatment. 

For those who are on the path to sobriety, life after alcohol and drug rehab should be a time of continued progress. Though, associations of old friends, hobbies, street corners, and even  particular smells can oftentimes be triggering and spur relapse. If we don’t have solid aftercare and support to continue to hone our skills, we can find ourselves in the midst of relapse. With different types of continued support after drug rehab, an aftercare plan should incorporate the following:

Individual Therapy

Getting sober involves so much more than just putting down the drink or the drug. It also encompasses handling stressors and emotions that once lead to negative and maladaptive behaviors such as using. In treatment, most individuals are assigned a therapist to work closely with on core issues. Though, it’s even more important to continue seeing a therapist once you depart from alcohol and drug rehab. Working with a professional clinician to address triggers, highly-energized emotions and behaviors can allow patients to uncover the root issues of what because their addiction in the first place.

Support Groups

12-Step support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and even alternative groups such as SMART Recovery (Self-Management and Recovery Training) should always be apart of a solidified aftercare plan. These groups are typically informal self-help groups to provide members with an opportunity to meet other people on the same path. Twelve step groups can cater to a number of different specific groups including men, women, LGBT, or disabled individuals. Before deciding on a specific support group, it’s wise to try a number of them and find the best one that works for you.

Sober Living

For some who leaves treatment, a common form of aftercare is transitioning to a sober living home or halfway house. These settings create a safe and structured environment for those in early recovery. Residents live in this type of housing for months at a time and are expected to live a clean and sober lifestyle. Most times, drug tests are regularly provided and mandated support groups can be enforced to create a sense of accountability. While each sober living home has their own rules, some other common expectations can include completing daily household chores, following a curfew, and limiting guests. Sober living in Ohio is often available and those currently in drug rehab are encouraged to address follow up plans with their therapist or case manager.

Outpatient Services

Outpatient services entail someone participating in group, individual therapy, or medical services once they leave residential treatment from home or sober living for continued support. Outpatient programming includes attending services one time or more a week and helps bridge the gap from treatment to the real world. Oftentimes, before leaving residential treatment, your therapist or case manager will go over outpatient treatment options to accommodate a work or volunteer schedule.

Finding New Hobbies

Attending alcohol and drug rehab can open up possibilities that one once thought were impossible. Remember that project you started years ago but never finished because your addiction got in the way? Now is the time to set new goals and create new hobbies. Nobody gets sober to be miserable, and in creating a new life, it’s crucial to learn how to cope with boredom. There’s plenty of sober friendly activities in your area and new drug-free hobbies that you can learn to enjoy. 

Alumni Programs

Most residential Ohio drug and alcohol rehabs have established alumni programs. These types of programs often involve previous clients returning to the facility to speak with current clients about what their time was like in treatment. There are also components of alumni programs that have monthly events, support groups, and help stay in touch with others who are trudging the same road that you’re on. 

At Lumiere Healing Centers, our monthly alumni program meets to share their experience, strength, and hope with current clients that were once in your shoes. To learn more about Lumiere Healing Center’s distinguished treatment and alumni programs, learn more here or call us today at: 513-847-3573.