Aftercare Treatment Options: Staying Sober
Utilizing a substance abuse aftercare program can drastically help while trying to maintain long-lasting sobriety.
What is Aftercare?
Addiction is a long, multi-step process. It’s not a matter of just providing initial physiological or mental support to addicted individuals. Even after a patient has purged their body of harmful chemicals or substances, that patient needs ongoing support to maintain sobriety and prevent relapsing.
That’s what aftercare is for. Aftercare is a structured way to help individuals recover consistently and avoid relapsing as they work toward life goals and better overall habits. Aftercare can be practiced by both addiction patients along with their friends, family, and others in their support networks.
Aftercare Structured Plans
In a nutshell, aftercare means engaging in a structured plan to:
Forms of Aftercare and Recovery
Aftercare can take many forms. A lot of treatment programs and centers provide aftercare plans for patients to follow. These plans can vary heavily depending on patients’ needs and may include:


Substance Abuse Aftercare Treatment Options
Fortunately, there are many different substance abuse aftercare treatment methods or therapies to help patients maintain sobriety. These treatment approaches will differ, depending on the unique needs and expectations of each individual. Various options may be available, depending on the program and its different approaches. Some of these opportunities will be detailed below.
Facility-Based Programs
Facility-based treatment programs take place in specific treatment facilities. These include inpatient or rehab facility aftercare programs. Facility-based aftercare programs often include:
Who Benefits from Facility-based Aftercare Programs?
Facility-based aftercare programs are primarily used by those engaged with inpatient recovery programs. This aftercare program is typically done towards the end of the recovery sequence. This allows recovering addicts to transition smoothly into the aftercare portion of the program without having to upset their daily balance or routines.
Homes Dedicated to Long-Term Sobriety
Homes dedicated to equipping individuals with the necessary tools, techniques, and support to maintain sobriety include communal residences where recovering addicts live among one another and support each other throughout the recovery process. These homes are safe, clean places that allow individuals to create safe and productive daily routines without access to substances.
Here, recovering addicts can:
What Can These Homes Help Accomplish?
Dedicated sobriety-centric homes are excellent as aftercare steps to transition back into regular life. They can be very effective for addicts who worry about the potential for relapse if they leave an inpatient program and immediately go back to their daily routines.
An Inside Look
Therapy and Counseling
Therapy and counseling are often included in aftercare treatments. Different types of therapy and counseling may be utilized depending on patient needs and therapist skill sets. Therapy and counseling:
Types of Therapy Used in Aftercare
Many substance abuse aftercare programs use different types of therapy, including:
Support Groups
Many substance abuse aftercare programs leverage support groups to great extent. Support groups are so effective because, as social creatures, most humans benefit from the support of other people and can tackle major challenges more consistently with it.
Support groups use friends, family members, or recovery program peers to give recovering addicts the social support they need to succeed and stay sober.


Support Groups for Substance Abuse Aftercare Programs
There are many different support groups that substance abuse aftercare programs may utilize.
12-Step Groups
These types of programs follow a 12-step recovery process involving introducing oneself to the group, attending meetings regularly, and meeting with a sponsor or coach. It also focuses on several core aspects:
Many 12-step groups are faith-based or heavily involve faith in the material, while some programs are atheist. Regardless, 12-step groups provide both peer support and a structured sequence of steps for recovering addicts to follow, making them very effective for aftercare treatment.
Peer Recovery Support Networks
Peer recovery support networks are similar to 12-step groups but do not necessarily involve quite as much. These recovery support networks connect recovering or recovered addicts with one another, oftentimes tethering new patients requiring lots of aftercare to “coaches” or sponsors who understand the challenges they face.
How Can Peer Recovery Support Networks Aid Aftercare?
Peer recovery support networks help during aftercare by:
Lots of aftercare focuses exclusively on helping patients rebalance themselves once outside of a treatment program. Peer recovery support networks are uniquely effective in this regard for many patients.
How is Social Support Connected to Wellness?
Adolescent Programs
Adolescent programs are aftercare programs specifically tailored to adolescents who struggle with substance abuse. Many of these programs are partially residential, then release adolescents back into the care of their parents or guardians later.
Regardless, adolescent programs mainly treat teenagers. These aftercare programs provide important social and educational support to help teens who struggle with substance abuse or behavioral disorders.
Other Support Groups
Many other support groups exist as well. Different aftercare programs may focus on support groups such as family therapy, talk therapy, and much more.
But all support groups help the overall goals of aftercare: to make recovering addicts feel strong and secure and to help them stay sober for the rest of their lives.


Common Forms of Outpatient Substance Abuse Aftercare
Lots of substance abuse treatment programs provide outpatient substance abuse aftercare options. This type of aftercare takes place outside of a recovery facility and enables recovering addicts to return to their work or families while still giving them the structure and support they need to stay sober.
Partial Hospitalization Programs
Partial hospitalization programs, or PHP, are intended for individuals:
How Can PHP Aid in Aftercare?
In a nutshell, PHP have patients return to a hospital or clinic during the day for aftercare treatment, and then they return to their homes at night. Most PHP programs run for several hours each day for three to five days each week. Partial hospitalization programs can be effective for aftercare since they consist of:
Intensive Outpatient Programs
Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are also sometimes used for aftercare treatment. These treatment programs can assist individuals who have already left a rehab clinic but who still need to build proper support mechanisms to assist with relapse management or emotional coping.
IOP and Aftercare Opportunities
IOPs are not as relaxed or flexible as some other outpatient treatment programs. These aftercare programs often involve:
Individual or Group Therapy
Many substance abuse aftercare programs rely heavily on individual or group therapy sessions. Individual therapy involves having a patient speak with a licensed therapist or counselor one-on-one. The therapist can then help them develop coping strategies during aftercare, provide educational support to build proper habits and help maintain sobriety.
Group therapy sessions are led by licensed counselors, but multiple recovering addicts can cooperate with each other, listen to one another, and support each other at the same time.
Factors That Affect the Choice of Substance Abuse Aftercare Program
There are many different substance abuse aftercare programs to consider. Certain factors may affect which aftercare program is best for you or your loved one’s needs. These factors can include:
Ultimately, only you can decide which substance abuse aftercare treatment program is right for your needs. Be sure to research each aftercare program and what it involves before signing yourself into it.


The Goals of Substance Abuse Aftercare Programs
Regardless of the program you choose, all continuing care programs have the same core goals.
Relapse Prevention
Firstly, substance abuse aftercare prioritizes the prevention of relapse. Relapsing can be dangerous and even deadly for recovering addicts, so preventing it is a major focus for all aftercare treatments.
Developing Healthy Behaviors
Next, aftercare treatment programs help recovering addicts develop healthy behaviors. These behaviors can include positive thinking, how to avoid risky situations, and how to take care of oneself after leaving the aftercare program.
Connecting People with Inspiring Support Systems
Aftercare programs connect recovering addicts with inspiring support systems, like 12-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous. These support systems can help individuals stay sober and recover more quickly, even if it may be challenging.
Continuous Engagement in the Recovery Process
Aftercare programs further assist by helping addicts engage in the recovery process all the time. Recovery is a long and complex process, and it doesn’t end when one exits a rehab clinic.
Other Goals and Benefits
Many aftercare programs provide additional goals and benefits such as:
Some Tips for Relapse Prevention
Relapse prevention is an important and complex topic in and of itself and involves a lot of careful care for the substance user to help support them. Aftercare treatment programs may provide addicts with strategies or tools they can use to prevent relapsing. Many of these prevention strategies include:
Relapse Prevention: A Deeper Look


Aftercare Program for Substance Abuse at San Diego Detox
At San Diego Detox, we offer a robust and supportive aftercare program for individuals recovering from substance use disorder. Our substance abuse aftercare plan includes in-depth therapy, group support, and connections with critical resources like peer mentors to minimize the possibility of you or a loved one relapsing.
Commitment to Personalized Aftercare Support
Our aftercare program is tailored to the needs of individuals with varying types of needs. We can give you or your loved ones the support and resources you need to recover, such as:
Opportunities for Long Lasting Recovery
Getting help for addiction is just the start of your recovery journey. Continue your journey with the help you need at San Diego Detox. Contact us today for information about our substance abuse aftercare programs and which ones might be the right fit for you.


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