Preventing relapse
Most relapses happen within the first six months after leaving rehab. And unfortunately, one research study showed that a staggering 85% of people with alcohol use disorder relapsed one year after ending treatment. To stay sober, it’s crucial to continue treatment after rehab.
Rehab is not the end of drug treatment. Too many people relapse after they’ve completed residential drug treatment. Addiction is hard to beat, but many people recover and stay substance-free for the rest of their lives.
Relapse does not mean failure. It does not indicate that someone is weak. Relapse simply means that the drug user needs to reconnect with addiction specialists to help them get on track again.
The journey to sobriety is a long one. Some drug addictions are chronic and affect someone’s life even after they’ve tapered off the drug. And for many recovering drug users, maintaining sobriety is a life-long journey. Even after rehab, a new lifestyle must be adopted to avoid relapsing.
Your doctor and addiction treatment team will give you a thorough post-rehab plan for you to follow.
Types of treatment post-rehab
After rehab, residents are given an after-care plan that helps them stay healthy and drug free.
Sober living
Some patients need to stay in a sober living house until they’re ready to transition back into their home. Sober living helps people practice they’re skills and provides a safe, drug-free space for them to live once they’re done with residential drug treatment.
Therapy
Individual or group therapy may be part of a patient’s aftercare plan. Attending therapy as recommended can help recovering addicts process thoughts, emotions, and challenges and teach them coping skills to help them stay away from substances.
Medication
If your doctor prescribed medication, it’s essential that you take it. For example, they may have prescribed medication for anxiety or depression. Your doctor may want you to continue taking these medications so you don’t turn to alcohol, opioids, or other drugs to relieve uncomfortable symptoms.
Career Counseling
After rehab, people may need help finding or continuing their employment. Career counseling is critical, as unemployment or problems on the job can become stressful, leading to relapse.
What to do after rehab
Life after rehab can bring on many emotions and thoughts. You may be scared, happy to end treatment, excited to start a drug-free life, or a combination of all three. The most important thing you can do after rehab is continue your care plan. And if you have questions, get answers before you leave rehab.
Tips to stay sober after rehab:
- Continue any treatment recommended during rehab.
- Have important phone numbers (such as the drug hotline, your doctor, and your sponsor), saved on your phone or posted in your home.
- Keep your home substance-free.
- Identify your triggers.
- Build a new routine that supports your physical and mental health (daily walks, better nutrition, etc).
Taylor Recovery Center is a full-service rehab in Houston, TX, that provides treatment post rehab. To learn if our rehab is a good fit for you, call 713-557-8573 or complete our online form to get started.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3674771/
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery