Addiction recovery is a lifelong process and does not end once rehab is completed. Aftercare programs exist to ensure you or a loved one remain healthy and sober, one step at a time. To maintain a sober life, addicts develop sustainable healthy habits.

The earlier stages of recovery are more commonly discussed and well-known. Some of the most important work comes after drug or alcohol addiction treatment ends. Aftercare and sober living programs are important in developing a variety of long-term recovery skills.

Ready to get help?

(855) 430-9439

Why call us?

VIEW OUR TREATMENT CENTERS

The Journey to Recovery

The journey to recovery from substance use disorder consists of several steps that start with comprehensive treatment programs.

These programs have the goal of tackling the physical, psychological, and social aspects of addiction. They give people the tools and support they need to deal with substance abuse – and remain alcohol and drug-free.

However, the recovery process is not just about completing initial treatment. It’s also about continuing the post-treatment phase with aftercare programs that play a huge role in recovery. Enrolling in aftercare programs increases the likelihood of maintaining sobriety.

Studies show that people who take part in aftercare programs have:

Lower rates of relapse
Higher levels of overall functioning

Continuing care for longer periods that includes keeping patients engaged may produce more consistent positive results. Moreover, patients at higher risk for relapse may benefit to a greater degree from an aftercare plan. (3)

The journey to recovery is characterized by:

Perseverance
Resilience
The willingness to seek and accept support throughout the process

This leads to a healthier and more fulfilling life free from the grips of addiction. Drug and alcohol aftercare programs offer ongoing support and resources to such.

What is Addiction?

Addiction is when someone can’t stop using a substance like heroin or nicotine, even if it causes problems. They may need more of the substance over time and have withdrawal symptoms. It has also refers to the compulsive use of a substance known to be physically, psychologically, or socially harmful. (1)

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains addiction as a medical disorder that affects the brain and changes behavior. (2) It is important to note that it can happen again even after periods of not doing it due to its persistence.

Several factors can contribute to addiction, such as:

Environmental influences
Genetic susceptibility
Underlying mental health disorders

The Reality of Relapsing

It’s no secret that addiction can be incredibly hard to overcome. A former drug user or drinker may have ingrained patterns developed over months, years, and decades that can be hard to break.

They may use drugs or alcohol to combat stress, boredom, and anxiety. They may not feel like they are able to cope with life without substances.

Temptation is another obstacle to staying sober. An addict may face drugs or alcohol at social gatherings.

They may run into people with whom they formerly used drugs or drank, and that could trigger a relapse. Alcohol, in particular, is readily available and easy to access.

One relapse may be all it takes for a former addict to start regularly using again. They may see relapse as a complete failure rather than a bump in the road.

They might tell themselves that they failed at sobriety and convince themselves there is no point in trying anymore. Aftercare can help change that type of mindset.

The first year of recovery is the most important for aftercare. This is because the addict will be dealing with significant changes in their life.

During this time, they need a support system and all the help they can get to navigate their newly sober life. The more comprehensive the aftercare addiction treatment program is, the more effective it will be in preventing a relapse.

What Are Drug and Alcohol Aftercare Programs?

Drug and alcohol addiction aftercare programs help people stay sober. The time spent in a rehabilitation facility is often only a small part of recovery from addiction.

While it is crucial to create a strong foundation, some of the most challenging work comes after substance abuse treatment is over.

Most people only spend 30 to 90 days in a treatment center. This may seem insignificant compared to the following years spent outside the rehab center while remaining sober and dealing with the challenges of everyday life.

Fortunately, many aftercare programs help recovering addicts remain sober post-treatment. Treatment plans with aftercare programs provide the support needed to maintain sobriety while readjusting to the outside world.

The important aspects of continuing care in the recovery process involve:

Maintaining abstinence/initial treatment gains
Addressing relapse/non-response, including limiting the gravity of relapses
Ensuring that patients have sources of support around them

They also involve other recovery issues like employment, recreation, housing, and involvement in meaningful and enjoyable activities. A lot of these interventions focus on making goals and getting rid of things that get in the way of reaching those goals.

They also boost self-confidence, skill levels, and help patients take care of themselves with information about community tools and supporting self-management. (3)

Why Are Substance Abuse Aftercare Programs Important?

Following an inpatient or outpatient level of care, a good aftercare program can prevent relapse.

Studies show that anywhere from 40%–60% of addicts relapse in the first month after leaving a rehab program. Even worse, 85% of people relapse in the first year after a rehabilitation program.

Aftercare services help people recovering from drug or alcohol addiction by providing support after their initial treatment. While both inpatient and outpatient care programs are important for long-term recovery, they don’t cover everything.

These include:

Detox
Crucial initial support and intervention
Aftercare services

People who leave structured treatment settings and reenter their communities receive ongoing help, resources, and guidance from these programs.

Aftercare programs for drug abuse help people deal with the problems and temptations of everyday life while staying sober. They offer continued counseling, therapy, and support groups.

They are an important link between the intensive treatment part and the ongoing path to health and stability. Aftercare services make treatment much more effective by lowering the chance of relapse and encouraging long-term recovery.

Continuing care is utilized to extend and reinforce an initial period of recovery. It is recommended in several guidelines for the treatment of substance use disorders. (4)

Aftercare programs for substance abuse are important in rehab because they provide ongoing support to maintain sobriety and recovery.

Types of Drug and Alcohol Aftercare Programs

There are several options when it comes to aftercare programs for addicts. Choosing a program that best meets your needs helps lay a strong foundation for sober habits.

From coping skills to relapse prevention, aftercare treatment is fundamental to remaining healthy and sober.

1. Rehab-Based Programs

Many rehab centers throughout the United States provide their own aftercare programs for patients who have finished their time in the treatment facility.

These facility-based programs often provide:

Arrangements for a sober living home
Therapy options
Medical evaluations
Support groups (people who have completed the same treatment)

Many rehab facilities – whether drug rehab or alcohol rehab – will make these options easily accessible to those who seek treatment.

The professionals at Zinnia Health can help you develop an aftercare program that will help you start your recovery journey on the right foot. The treatment center offers a variety of therapy options that are evidence-based and holistic.

The experts specialize in treating the underlying causes of alcoholism and drug addiction to help people in recovery.

2. Sober Living Homes

A sober living home (sometimes referred to as a “halfway house”) is a residence for people to stay, live, and recover from addiction after their time in a drug and alcohol treatment center. Usually, someone staying in a sober living home will contribute to the community by doing chores and following all the house rules, but they can usually leave for work or school and return as they please.

The rules, expectations, and community in these special living accommodations give recovering addicts the support and structure they need to ease their transition back into their lives. Some are privately owned, and some homes are owned by larger businesses and organizations.

This setting can help people stay sober and healthy as they get used to their new lives. Finding sober living housing can be very helpful for someone who is trying to get better.

Recovery housing has been linked to many good outcomes for its residents, such as:

Less drug use
A lower chance of using again
A lower risk of going to jail
A higher income
More jobs
Better relationships with family and friends (5)

In a study by the Alcohol Research Group Public Health Institute, they found positive outcomes for the 300 individuals they tracked in sober living homes. They found significant improvements in levels of alcohol and drug use, arrests, psychiatric symptoms, and employment.

3. Therapy and Counseling

There are many therapy options for recovering addicts, and everyone will respond differently. While treatment usually consists of daily therapy sessions – whether group or individual therapy, sessions should continue during the aftercare process to remain mentally healthy and stable. Newly sober people should attend one or more weekly counseling sessions, whether those are individual sessions or group sessions.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common form of therapy for addiction. It focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and beliefs that may be causing destructive behavior.

CBT gives patients coping strategies to deal with negative thoughts. This way, they can prevent problems from arising or deal with them better when they do arise.

Multiple meta-analyses and reviews over the past 30 years have concluded that CBT is an effective treatment across a range of substance use disorders. The most recent study indicated that 58% of patients receiving CBT fared better than those in the comparison condition. (6)

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is another form of psychotherapy that can be useful in addiction recovery aftercare. The main goal of DBT is to teach people skills they can use to manage painful emotions.

Some of the techniques it teaches are mindfulness, emotional regulation, communication, and increasing tolerance for negative emotions.

Several randomized clinical trials have found that DBT for Substance Abusers decreased substance abuse in patients with borderline personality disorder. The treatment also may be helpful for patients who have other severe disorders co-occurring with SUDs or who have not responded to other evidence-based SUD therapies. (7)

Holistic therapy looks at the person as a whole rather than just their symptoms. It focuses on the relationships between body, mind, and spirit. The goal is to raise awareness of the connections between various aspects of the self, such as emotions, behavior, and physical health. This can boost self-esteem and self-acceptance.

4. Support Groups

The widespread use of support groups in the substance abuse treatment field originated in the self-help tradition in the field. These groups also have roots in the realization that significant lifestyle change is the long-term goal in treatment and that support groups can play a major role in such life transitions.

Self-help groups share many of the tenets of support groups, including:

Unconditional acceptance
Inward reflection
Open and honest interpersonal interaction
Commitment to change

These groups attempt to help people with dependencies sustain abstinence without necessarily understanding the determinants of their dependence. (8)

Well-established support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) provide recovery supports for addicts. These 12-step programs are proven to help addicts and alcoholics achieve recovery.

Studies suggest that AA participation is predictive of greater abstinent outcomes. In a long-term, naturalistic study of individuals with alcohol SUD, greater AA involvement in year one resulted in:

Higher rates of abstinence
Fewer drinking problems
Greater self-efficacy
Better social functioning

In another five-year study examining the association of AA and NA meeting attendance on abstinence from opiates, stimulants, and alcohol, results indicated that weekly or greater meeting frequency significantly increased the odds of abstinence. (9)

The main goal of support groups such as AA and NA is to provide safe, supportive environments where people can share their experiences of addiction.

The 12-step meetings include guidelines that are steps for recovery and social support, these include:

Admitting that substance use is a problem
Making amends to those harmed by the addiction
Continuing to take personal inventory

In addition, family members and other loved ones can also partake in these types of meetings and form a support network.

5. Sponsors

Sponsorship is integral to 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. After joining the program, new members are encouraged to find a sponsor who helps to guide them through the steps.

Sponsors are senior members who have been sober for at least a year and can act as role models for newer members. A sponsor can give advice, offer support, and keep you accountable.

Sponsorship plays a key role in AA affiliation. In an analysis of AA involvement, social network composition, and abstinence over a three-year period after intake into treatment for SUD, having a sponsor was associated with both abstinence and the percentage of the social network encouraging a reduction in drinking.

A study found that sponsorship at baseline predicted abstinence rates at both three and six months. Having a sponsor was a significant incremental predictor of abstinence outcomes over a seven-year period. (9)

Recovery can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. The more people you have surrounding and supporting you, the better your chances of staying sober for life.

How To Implement a Substance Use Aftercare Program

Sobriety is not a single decision that you make one day. It’s a series of decisions you make daily to change your life for the better. Therefore, it helps to have a plan to guide you through those decisions.

These are some ways to create a substance use aftercare program that will work for you.

Get professional help. An addiction recovery treatment center like Zinnia Health will create a customized aftercare program that fits your needs. The healthcare experts can advise you on various therapy forms, helpful activities, and support groups.
Plan for the long term. Although it is impossible to predict precisely how long you will need aftercare, you should expect it to take time. The first few months and even up to a year of sobriety can be the hardest, so your aftercare program should cover that period.
Be realistic about what you can manage. One of the biggest mistakes that newly sober people make is taking on too much too early. Ensure that your aftercare program is sustainable and includes plenty of support from others. This includes group therapy, a sponsor, or a 12-step group.
Identify your triggers and stressors. If you know what people, places, or things might challenge your recovery, you can plan ways to deal with them ahead of time. Think about what healthy activities you can do to overcome cravings.
Keep a journal. Writing in a journal helps you work through your emotions and understand your thought patterns better. A journal can also be a guide that you can look back on to see what your triggers are and how you handled them.
Celebrate milestones. Staying sober can be hard work, so it is important to recognize the great job you are doing. Reward yourself for important milestones such as your one-month, six-month, and year marks.
Practice self-care. Eat well, exercise, meditate, and get enough sleep. Try to think positively about yourself. Surround yourself with people who care about you and support you.
Commit to keep going no matter what. Realize that there is a chance that you may slip up. However, that doesn’t mean that your recovery program was for nothing. If you relapse, reach out to a recovery treatment center like Zinnia Health, and they can help you get back on track again.

Aftercare for Addiction Recovery

Addiction is a disease that needs to be managed over time. While rehab is highly effective in the early stages of addiction recovery, aftercare is equally important. The chances of relapsing are highest in the first few months of sobriety and up to a year after your quit date.

The best way to prevent a relapse is to explore drug and alcohol aftercare programs and find the best fit for your needs.

The professionals at Zinnia Health know that rehab is just the first step. They work closely with clients to make personalized aftercare programs that fit each person’s unique needs. They can help you create an aftercare program that will maximize your chances of success.

Are you or a loved one looking to enter an aftercare recovery program? Zinnia Health is here for you and ready to help. The treatment center offers customized addiction recovery programs for every patient.

Each program is created with compassion and designed to tackle the underlying causes of addiction. Call our phone number (855) 430-9439.

Citations