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What Are My Drug Rehab Aftercare Options?

Medically Verified: 2/1/24

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All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.

If you are considering attending or have recently completed a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program as the first step in your recovery program, then you deserve to be congratulated.

Seeking treatment is the first and most vital step in reclaiming your power and agency over addiction, but it is by no means the last step. For many, rehab is one component in the continuum of care, but what comes after?

Addiction treatment aftercare will prove vital in maintaining the sobriety that your drug rehabilitation program helped you to achieve. When you reenter “the real world” after rehab, you may find it difficult to live without the structure, routine, and round-the-clock support you once had.

However, it is absolutely possible to remain empowered in your recovery and find the community, support, and accountability you need outside the walls of your rehabilitation center.

It may be overwhelming when considering your options for drug rehab aftercare. Here are a few great places to start.

Sober Living Homes

A sober living home, sometimes called a “halfway house,” it is a sort of in-between. They are similar to rehab centers in that they are residential facilities that enforce a basic set of rules to help residents maintain their sobriety. But, unlike when you attend an inpatient rehab center, you also get to enjoy your independence.

Sober living homes are all different. Many are independently owned and operated, but others are government run, and some may even be affiliated with your rehab facility.

They can be found all over the United States and are an evidence-based approach to aftercare that can help set you up for long-term success by providing you with a great network of other people who understand how difficult the transition you’re making is.

Each sober living home will have its own set of rules. Some may have a designated “leader,” who implements rules and some may be run as a resident collective. Most sober living homes have a similar structure in that they enforce a curfew, sharing expenses, and a communal promise made between all residents to remain sober.

If you are nervous about jumping right back into your “real life” this could be a great rehab aftercare option for you.

Continued Counseling

It is very likely that in your rehabilitation facility you received daily in-house individual and/or group counseling services to help you develop coping mechanisms or to address contributing factors that may have led to your addiction. For most people, continuing this treatment is one of the most critical components of their addiction treatment aftercare.

Generally, in the days, weeks, and months immediately following your completion of a drug rehabilitation program, it is advised that you see a counselor or therapist weekly. Over time, as you begin to become more secure in your recovery, you will likely be able to gradually reduce the frequency of your sessions.

Finding a counselor to help with your rehab aftercare will depend upon what kind of therapy you think will work for you. There are a wide range of equally successful approaches. Which is right for you will depend on your unique needs.

It is likely that your rehab will either help you to secure a counselor as a part of your aftercare treatment plan, or they can help point you in the right direction. Either way, this sort of focused, structured attention will be vital in maintaining your long-term sobriety.

Medication Management

If MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment) was a part of your treatment plan while you were in a rehabilitation program, then it is important that you pursue this aftercare option.

Medication-Assisted Treatment is a popular treatment option for opioid and alcohol addiction, but it can also help treat any co-occurring illnesses like Major Depressive Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or Bipolar Disorder.

If your drug treatment center had an on-site psychiatrist that prescribed medication for the treatment and management of any other diagnoses, then it is likely that they will either continue to see you to help manage your medications or they can refer you to another psychiatrist to monitor your progress.

Either way, if medication has proven helpful for you, it is important to pursue this avenue of rehab aftercare long-term. Going off your medication suddenly on your own can pose a threat to both your physical and emotional well-being.

Support Groups

In most rehabilitation facilities, group therapy is an integral component in the treatment plan for all residents. As you transition back into your life, support and understanding from people who can truly empathize with your experience can provide great comfort.

While many kinds of support groups are available, by far the most popular are 12-Step Programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). These programs have been linked to higher rates of long-term sobriety in patients who incorporate them into their drug rehab aftercare regimen.

If you are interested in attending a support group or a 12-Step Program after rehab as a part of your long-term treatment plan, staff at your rehab will help to find meetings and connect you with groups in your area.

Alumni Services

Many rehabs provide continued services and programs for patients who have graduated from their programs. This can be a fun, connective approach to rehab aftercare that allows you to feel like a part of a community.

It is likely that while you struggled with your addiction you felt isolated or lonely.

An alumni community could provide you with a network of people who not only understand and share your experience with addiction, but also your experience in rehab!

The alumni services that may be available to you will vary from facility to facility. They may include mixers, retreats, podcasts, evenings with guest speakers, and much more!

Find The Support You Deserve

When choosing what rehabilitation facility is right for you, it’s important to consider the role that they will play in helping you to establish a plan for drug rehab aftercare.

At South Carolina Addiction Treatment Center our team of dedicated and dedicated treatment professionals will help you to achieve sobriety while you are in our care and help provide you with the tools to maintain your newfound freedom and peace beyond our walls. Contact us today for more information about our addiction treatment program.

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