People often enter addiction treatment with the misconception that their initial 30- to 90-day stay in rehab is enough to “cure” their disease. In truth, the recovery process extends for many years after someone decides to walk away from drugs or drinking for good. Successfully remaining clean and sober for a lifetime requires careful planning and an aftercare program that addresses the unique needs of people in recovery.
What Is Addiction Aftercare?
Aftercare programs benefit recovering addicts for several reasons. The most significant of these is that people may still be vulnerable to a relapse even after completing their inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation. Estimates from the National Institute on Drug Abuse suggest relapse rates with substance abuse disorders range between 40 and 60%. An aftercare program such as a sober living home can help reduce the risk of relapse by providing additional support, structure and accountability. Though everyone’s reasons for relapse are different, one common cause is that people leave their stint in rehab without having a strategy for what comes next in their lives. They may try to return home and resume their typical day-to-day responsibilities, only to realize they have not fully equipped themselves to handle real-world stresses and common triggers without the crutch of intoxicating substances. Aftercare provides a transition period between the disciplined environment of a rehab facility and the many demands of a busy lifestyle.
Why Choose to Pursue Aftercare?
Though aftercare is optional, it can make all the difference if your goal is to preserve your newfound sobriety. In many cases, getting discharged from treatment and immediately returning to the same environment and behavioral patterns that characterized your active addiction can be a “too-much-too-soon” scenario. A sober home can provide a valuable step down for people who are not quite ready to pick up where they left off when addiction derailed their lives. In pursuing an aftercare program, you’ll be able to get comfortable using the life skills you learned in therapy and adapt to life without substance abuse, so you don’t resume bad habits. Taking time to do so can be a crucial step in preventing relapse.
Make Segue Recovery Support Part of Your Aftercare Plan
While traditional residential addiction treatment programs might end after 30, 60 or 90 days, we know that the longer you pursue addiction recovery, the better off you’ll be. The initial treatment phase is only one part of the process that leads to lifelong sobriety. You’ll need to be willing to commit to ongoing work to reach your goals, and for many people, that takes the form of participating in aftercare such as sober living and continuing group therapy. At Segue Recovery Support, our philosophy rests on the fact that the chronic illness of addiction requires commitment to remaining on a full continuum of care, specifically within the first year of sobriety. To learn more about what we provide and how it can benefit you as you work toward your goals, please contact us today.