There is a reason people who have received treatment for drug or alcohol addiction are referred to as being “in recovery.” Addiction is a chronic disease that is treatable, but for which there is no cure. It falls into the same category as other chronic diseases as diabetes, asthma, chronic kidney disease, and coronary heart disease. While addiction can’t be cured, many people find that they can manage it by getting professional treatment that includes an aftercare program.
What is an Aftercare Program?
Aftercare is the ongoing treatment clients in a drug and alcohol treatment program receive once they achieve sobriety. Here’s how it fits into the overall treatment plan:
Say someone has gone through detoxification (detox) to get free from the influence of all chemicals at a drug and alcohol treatment center. Next, they moved directly to a residential treatment program for at least 30 days. The highly structured atmosphere of the residential program is designed to help clients complete all aspects of their treatment plan. It also includes receiving nutritious meals, exercising regularly, and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.
On leaving a drug and alcohol treatment program, clients are at higher risk for having a slip or a full-on relapse. It’s unfair to let them leave the structure and support of a residential treatment program without putting some supports in place. This is where aftercare programs come into play.
Types of Aftercare Programs
Aftercare programs are available in multiple formats, depending on the level of support a client needs after completing their drug and alcohol treatment program. It isn’t a question of whether one type of aftercare is “better” than another. What counts here is what is best for each client.
12-Step Programs
A 12-step recovery program may have been part of a client’s residential program at a drug and alcohol treatment center. These programs offer peer support and education to people who want to stay sober from alcohol and drugs.
The philosophy of 12-step programs is that once a person becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol, they will always have an addiction. They must admit that they are powerless over their addiction and that a Higher Power can help them heal. Participants must take responsibility for their prior actions and make amends when they can.
One advantage of attending 12-step programs is that they are self-funded. Members “pass the hat” at some point during the meeting to collect money to pay for the cost of renting the space and providing coffee. Another advantage is that meetings take place multiple times a day, every day, in just about every city in North America, as well as at several locations worldwide. A person in recovery can attend meetings to get support every day if they feel they need it.
Alumni Programs
Many residential addiction treatment centers offer alumni programs for clients who have successfully completed their program. An alumni program provides tools to help clients transition from the treatment center to home.
Each treatment center has its own type of alumni program, which may offer these types of services:
- A telephone hotline to contact for support
- In-person check-ins
- Online support through apps, email, or message boards
- Sober events are held on a monthly or quarterly basis
- Telephone check-ins
Alumni programs provide continued support after people complete an inpatient program. In-person events allow people in recovery to meet others in similar circumstances. It’s a comfortable atmosphere where they can discuss their challenges and strategies to avoid urges to resume use. In-person events also include fun activities.
Sober Living Homes
A sober living home is a place where someone who has completed an inpatient treatment program can live independently, with some support. Sober living homes have rules that residents must follow, including attending 12-step programs, being accountable, finding a sponsor, and undergoing regular drug screening.
Sober living homes’ support systems mean that residents avoid the isolation of returning home. They live with a group of people going through the same experience, who can support each other.
Residents agree to the rules and guidelines before moving into a sober living home. The basic rules include keeping personal areas clean, avoiding causing disturbances, being respectful to others, and helping with chores and cooking.
Some homes require residents to sign in and out of the house, and to be home by a curfew. Finding paid work or volunteering may be required by other sober living home programs.
Partial Hospitalization Treatment
Partial hospitalization treatment (PHP) is also called “day treatment.” Participants are treated by a team that includes medical staff, psychiatrists, and psychologists qualified to treat complex medical and psychiatric conditions, or patients who need a high level of medical or mental health support.
This level of care is suitable for clients with complex medical or psychiatric needs, but who don’t require 24-hour supervised care. As the name implies, they attend the program during the day and return home at night.
Intensive Outpatient Programs
Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) provide similar intensive forms of care to what individuals receive in a residential treatment program. These programs focus on changing participants’ behavior and run for several weeks.
IOPs are structured so participants can attend treatment in the evenings and on weekends. That way, they are free to go to work or school during the day. Participants can also return home each night and rely on support from family members and friends while attending the treatment program.
Standard Outpatient Programs
Standard outpatient programs for drug and alcohol addiction focus on helping participants make changes in their behaviors. Generally, these programs offer nine hours or fewer of treatment per week.
Aftercare is Part of an Addiction Treatment Plan
When a client comes through the doors of English Mountain Recovery Center, our experienced medical and psychological team is already starting to determine what type of aftercare might be appropriate. Aftercare is part of each client’s treatment plan.
We work with each client to determine what they want and expect from their aftercare program. The right aftercare program is one that the client feels comfortable participating in, and that will provide the most benefit after leaving English Mountain Recovery Center’s residential program.
