Once a person completes a formal program for addiction, they still have options for keeping themselves in strong and permanent recovery. Aftercare for addiction helps many people stay in control of their impulses to drink or use drugs and continue living a substance-free life.
Retreat of Atlanta provides round-the-clock care for people ready to walk away from their substance use disorders. Our detox and residential care services cement a person’s ability to stay strong in recovery and replace their triggers to drink or use drugs with healthy coping skills. While in our treatment program, we work with each individual to help them put together an aftercare plan that keeps them focused on healing.
Contact us today to learn more about our addiction treatment programs in Georgia.
Why Aftercare After Addiction Treatment Is Necessary For Long-Term Recovery
The ability to receive continued support after completing a formal treatment program exists in the form of aftercare for addiction. For many, losing the structured daily or weekly support of a rehab program feels a little scary. Attending aftercare programs is what seals their ability to maintain their sobriety for life. People also enjoy having the option for some aftercare services that are virtual and can be attended from the privacy of their homes or another quiet location.
Having reliable aftercare options helps people continue to disarm triggers that occur as they move through post-treatment life. Many people feel better and more able to continue their sobriety by having aftercare treatment. It gives them accountability when they know they have to report in with a therapist, support group, and other places. Aftercare also offers a variety of resources for help not yet obtained that may prove useful in the future.
Aftercare programs can provide a network of peer support if the individual attends group therapy or support groups. No one better understands the challenges of fighting to live a substance-free life more than others doing the same thing. Giving and taking advice from each other and offering support helps bolster a person’s ability to continue to heal.
Types of Aftercare Programs
People who have completed a formal treatment program have several options for aftercare for addiction programs. These include:
Individual Therapy
Continuing to see a one-on-one therapist helps people by providing a trusted professional who can give them support. The person can see a therapist for a few more weeks, several months, or longer, depending on their specific needs.
Outpatient Therapy
After leaving a residential program, many people opt to continue their treatment at an outpatient center. They move back to their homes and travel to a facility for sessions that range from daily to weekly.
Sober Living Homes
People who do not have a safe or trigger-free home environment often opt for living in a sober living home. They reside with other people in recovery from substance use disorders while attending either a formal treatment program or aftercare programs.
Group Therapy / Support Groups
Group therapy and support groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and SMART Recovery. provide a safe space for people in recovery from addiction to drugs or alcohol to gather. In group therapy, they meet under the guidance of a trained therapist, while support groups are usually peer-led.
How Effective Is Aftercare for Addiction?
It can be difficult to determine a specific number for the success rate for aftercare because many studies are done using people who have completed a program but can’t be found after they have spent time in aftercare. Many reports indicate people who attend aftercare programs have a success rate for not relapsing of 67%, while others report it being a higher number. The longer the individual spends in aftercare, the more likely they are to stay sober for life.
This makes it imperative that centers like Retreat of Atlanta help set up aftercare programs for those still under their care so they make an immediate jump to places that help sustain their recovery.
How Long Do I Need To Stay In Aftercare?
How long someone should attend aftercare for addiction depends on a few factors. These include:
- How long the person’s addiction lasted
- The severity of their withdrawal symptoms, including post-treatment ones
- If the person has a support system at home or with family and friends
- Any history of relapsing
For some, as little as 30 days in aftercare works well while others do better staying 90 days or longer.
How The Retreat of Atlanta Supports Aftercare During Our Programs
The work on preparing a person’s plan for aftercare addiction starts before they leave our facility. We speak with the person about what their post-treatment goals are and how best to meet them. Our staff helps make sure that aftercare begins as soon as the person concludes their time with Retreat of Atlanta.
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Explore Aftercare for Addiction in Atlanta
Do you want to know more about options for aftercare for addiction treatment? Retreat of Atlanta works with each person we treat to make sure they achieve their treatment goals while staying with us. We also help them formulate a safety plan through plans for their aftercare once they graduate from our program.
Contact us today to learn how Retreat of Atlanta can shepherd you from detox to residential care to an aftercare program. We make it our goal to help people sustain the lessons they learn while under our care.
