The Importance of Aftercare in Recovery

Addiction treatment is an important first step toward building a drug- and alcohol-free life. You learn coping skills, methods to avoid a relapse, and other important tools you can use to avoid slipping back into addictive behaviors. Treatment facilities provide the ideal environment for you to stay clean and sober, surrounded by support from peers and staff.

The true test of your recovery begins when you graduate from your program and leave the rehab facility. Saying no to drugs and alcohol is easier when you’re in a place geared toward teaching people to do so. Continuing to say no after you return to your everyday environment is an entirely new challenge.

This is why aftercare is such an important part of recovery treatment programs. Instead of completely leaving the supportive environment of treatment, it provides a step down from higher levels of care. Aftercare effectively transitions you from a more intensive program back into your daily life.

What are some examples of aftercare programs and how are they run? How can you make sure you receive the proper support after you leave your treatment facility? After all, drug and alcohol rehab is only the beginning of a lifelong path of recovery.

Alcohol or drug detox is oftentimes the first stop for someone attending addiction treatment. Once they’re safely and successfully detoxified from all substances, they transition into an inpatient treatment program. Their entire life is structured and centered around building a solid foundation for their recovery.

Aftercare is the part of treatment that comes after a person finishes their program in a higher level of treatment. It is the collective plan to support an individual during their early recovery and help them prevent relapse while working on their new life.

If treatment facilities dropped people back into their everyday lives with no ongoing support immediately after finishing their program, relapse rates would be incredibly high. Attending treatment for a few months does not cure alcohol and drug addiction. There is no cure for addiction; it’s a chronic brain disorder that requires ongoing care and management.

There are numerous resources, activities, and more that can be part of an aftercare plan. These vary depending on each individual’s needs and the options that a specific treatment facility offers its alumni. As you approach the end of your time in treatment, you’ll likely sit with your case manager to develop your individualized plan.

Common components of an effective aftercare plan include:

• Moving into sober living for some time
• Transitioning into an intensive outpatient program
• Checking in with your counselor or case manager
• Going to individual or group therapy sessions
• Participating in the alumni program at your treatment facility
• Attending recovery meetings, such as 12-step or another option
• Finding a sponsor or sober mentor
• Establishing a set support system to lean on after treatment

Individual counseling and group therapy are two common parts of an effective aftercare program. Individual sessions give you the space to process things you didn’t work through entirely during your stay in treatment. Group therapy provides you with support from your peers that helps you feel less alone as you transition out.

Your plan might not include every item on the list above but those are some great options to start with. Depending on your particular treatment program and case manager, you may have a good amount of say in what your aftercare program looks like.

SMART Recovery and Refuge Recovery are two common 12-step alternatives. These programs put forward their own approach to staying alcohol and drug-free. If you have a hard time getting involved in a 12-step program, try a few meetings from one of these programs instead.