For many individuals, the first step toward recovery is acknowledging their personal struggle with substance dependence. The next step is finding a treatment program that can help restore their overall health, well-being and happiness.
There are countless treatment options a person can choose from. For example, some people with severe forms of addiction enter a detox program before transitioning into rehab. Others may choose to begin recovery at an inpatient or outpatient facility. After treatment, it is recommended to continue reinforcing the lessons learned in rehab by attending support groups and therapy sessions.
Remember: there is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” approach to addiction recovery. Whichever treatment path you choose, be sure that it has everything you need to help you achieve a successful recovery.
Recovering from an addiction isn’t easy. It will take a significant amount of willpower and self-discipline to achieve and maintain long-term sobriety. However, you’re never alone on this journey. During rehab, you’ll build strong relationships with others in recovery who can relate to what you’re going through. In addition, your family, friends and other loved ones have your best interests at heart during this time.
Your recovery from an addiction is dependent on how much you put into the process. Discover the ways an addiction is treated below to better understand what lies ahead.
Treatment programs are different for each individual and can be customized based on their unique needs and situations. The most effective types of treatment programs ensure that individuals in recovery are actively involved every step of the way.
Inpatient rehabs offer structured treatment programs designed to address all facets of an individual’s addiction. During inpatient rehab, patients reside in a substance-free facility and receive around-the-clock medical care and therapeutic support. Inpatient rehabs are the best option for individuals battling chronic addiction, as well as those who suffer from a co-occurring mental or behavioral disorder.
Outpatient rehabs are another form of comprehensive addiction care. These programs offer many of the same kinds of effective treatments and therapies as inpatient rehabs. However, outpatient rehabs allow patients to live at home during the recovery process. Patients can continue working and caring for their families while attending scheduled treatment sessions throughout the week.
It’s important to keep in mind that outpatient rehabs do not sequester patients from the real world; therefore, patients are at greater risk of encountering triggers that challenge their sobriety. Because of this, outpatient rehabs are best suited for individuals with mild forms of addiction and a committed, disciplined approach to recovery. Outpatient programs are also an excellent “step-down” program after inpatient treatment and are often combined with sober living homes.
Detoxification helps people safely withdraw from their from drugs or alcohol until it is no longer present in their system. It is often the first step in treating individuals recovering from moderate to severe forms of addiction.
In some cases, detoxing from certain drugs requires medication-assisted therapy to help ease the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Medications prescribed during detox are often tapered down until the patient is no longer physically dependent on addictive substances.
Sober living homes operate as a residential bridge between an inpatient treatment center and the return to normal life. These are a great option for people in recovery who need additional time reinforcing what was learned in rehab. Sober living homes help people in recovery strengthen their new healthy habits while still residing in the comfort of a structured environment.
During detox and throughout treatment, patients may be prescribed medications to help with the recovery process. These medications are used for a variety of purposes, including managing withdrawal symptoms, reducing cravings or treating co-occurring disorders. Medications for addiction treatment have the most effective results when taken in conjunction with a comprehensive treatment program.
An intervention takes place between loved ones and a person suffering from an addiction, and is often supervised by an intervention specialist. The idea behind an intervention is to help loved ones express their feelings in a constructive way and encourage a person battling an addiction to enter a treatment program.
Some people prefer a more spiritual approach to their recovery. Faith-based rehab centers provide specialized programs and facilities that center around faith. Within this type of rehab program, people in recovery can surround themselves with like-minded individuals who are looking for guidance from a higher power to stay strong in the journey ahead.
Learn about faith-based rehab and where to find a program near you.
Therapies used in addiction treatment are based on an individual’s health and substance abuse patterns. Options for therapy include an array of individual or group therapy sessions, which are typically organized by addiction counselors.
SMART is a popular alternative to 12-step support groups. It teaches people in recovery how to control addictive behaviors by addressing the underlying thoughts and feelings attached to substance abuse. SMART recovery utilizes a “4-Point Program with stages that can be completed in any order.
Recovery is a lifelong process of improving health and well-being while living independently. Many people suffering from addiction achieve sobriety. Recovery is more difficult. It involves changing your outlook on life, your behaviour and in some cases your environment. Successful recovery is inspired by the hope that recovery is possible and faith that you will recover.
The Four Pillars of Recovery:
Making decisions that support physical and mental health and avoiding drugs, alcohol or other substances of abuse.
Living for something, whether it’s taking care of someone, giving back to the community or striving to reach goals.
Cultivating meaningful relationships, characterized by friendship and love.
Having a safe, stable and stress-free place to live.
Going to a treatment facility is the first and most important step for many in their recovery from alcoholism, but it is only one step. The 25 to 30 days most individuals spend in a rehab facility is only a very small period of time compared to the many years that follow in recovery. For many, adjusting to life after rehab proves more challenging, especially the loss of the rehab routine and the reappearance of external factors and influences.
Luckily, many programs, organizations, and resources are out there to help recovering alcoholics thrive without their vice and stay sober. There are also many steps that recovering alcoholics can take themselves to minimize the likelihood of relapse.
Many rehab facilities operate their own aftercare programs. The scope of these programs varies tremendously. Examples of aftercare services some rehab facilities provide include sober-living arrangements, follow-up therapy, medical evaluations, and alumni support groups. While most rehabs are very good at letting patients know what aftercare services are available, it is best to contact them if you are unsure.
A sober living home is a residential facility for individuals recovering from substance abuse. Some are affiliated with rehab facilities and government organizations, but the majority operate independently. Sober living homes are found across the United States, but are most prevalent on the West Coast, particularly California. Sober living homes have been proven to increase the likelihood that recovering alcoholics will remain sober, as shown in many studies. While most sober living homes are designed for temporary residence of less than a year, some offer longer-term options.
Some sober living homes have a leader who creates the rules and enforces them, while others operate more collectively and democratically. Both models have proven effective, and which one is “best” depends on the individual in question. While every sober living home operates under a different set of guidelines, most share some characteristics in common, including a promise by all residents to remain sober, abiding by certain curfews, and sharing certain expenses. Most sober living homes have stricter guidelines for new residents, that are gradually lessened the longer the individual lives in the home.
Therapy and counseling sessions are held daily (sometimes multiple times a day) in inpatient rehab facilities and are perhaps the most critical part of the process. Continuing therapy and counseling after leaving rehab are equally critical. It is generally advised for newly sober former alcoholics to attend weekly sessions, gradually reducing frequency to bi-weekly and monthly as time goes on and their sobriety is more secure. Therapy and counseling are especially important for alcoholics with a dual diagnosis with an additional mental health condition, who need treatment for both.
There are many types of therapy available. Some of the most popular for the treatment of alcoholism include:
It is strongly recommended that all recovering alcoholics regularly attend support groups, especially early in sobriety. Support groups are groups of recovering alcoholics (and other substance abusers) and sometimes their families who meet and discuss shared issues. These issues range from how they came to realize they needed to get sober to how specific alcoholism treatment medications impact them. Support groups provide a number of benefits, including offering a judgment free atmosphere where members feel understood, giving a sense of stability and people to fall back on in hard times, and being a source of advice and information.
The vast majority of support groups are classified as 12-Step programs. These programs generally break down recovery into steps that all members are expected to follow. 12-Step programs are modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous, by far the best known and most widely attended substance abuse group in the world. While Alcoholics Anonymous in particular and 12-step programs in general are the most popular support groups, many others are available for individuals who feel a different approach would work best for them. Although it is difficult to accurately gauge the success rate of individual groups, studies have shown that regularly attending a support group substantially increases the likelihood that a recovery alcoholic will remain sober.
Sobriety is not a single action, but rather a continuous chain of actions and decisions made throughout a recovering alcoholic’s life. Many in recovery find that sobriety is hardest to maintain early in the process, and gradually grows easier as new habits, relationships, and routines are formed.
Here are some individual aftercare steps for an individual to take after leaving alcohol rehab, in a general timeline of when they should be made.
1 - 30 Days After Rehab
30 – 90 Days After Rehab
90 – 180 Days After Rehab
180 – 365 Days after Rehab
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