| Going to a treatment facility is not the easiest decision | | | | 3) Attending meetings - Regularly attending AA |
| for an addict to make. Individuals addicted to alcohol or | | | | meetings is essential in an addict's recovery. They are |
| drugs may be forced to get help due to their situation | | | | useful for introducing them to other people in their |
| or by friends and family, or they may have hit rock | | | | community who are dealing with the same struggles |
| bottom and are ready for a change. Either way it can | | | | and will help to remind them of what to focus on each |
| be a scary choice for them to make which takes a lot | | | | day. |
| of courage. After going through treatment it is | | | | 4) Having support - A good support system is |
| important to take the right steps to stay sober so they | | | | important to help get them through the tough times. |
| don't end up in the same place. The following are | | | | Aside from AA meetings and sponsors, being |
| elements I believe are important for a recovering | | | | surrounded by people who love them and want to see |
| addict interested in continuing to live an alcohol and | | | | them succeed will make it easier for them to stay |
| drug free lifestyle. | | | | clean. |
| 1) Finding a Halfway House - Living in a halfway house | | | | 5) Make new friends - Joining new groups and meeting |
| is a good option for many coming out of drug and | | | | new people is very important. Many of the old people |
| alcohol treatment facilities. There they will have the | | | | recovering addicts used to hang out with will not be in |
| support and supervision they need to help them stay | | | | the same place they are. They may resent their |
| sober. | | | | courage to change and encourage them to go back to |
| 2) Choose the right roommate - If a halfway house is | | | | their old habits. Finding people to hang out with who are |
| not the right place for them, they need to find a | | | | leading healthy lifestyles will open them up to a new |
| roommate. Going home to an empty house can be | | | | world. |
| depressing at the best of times. They need a | | | | These are just some of the steps that need to be |
| roommate who doesn't drink or do drugs at anytime | | | | taken to help them stay on the path of sobriety. There |
| for any reason. The last thing a recovering addict | | | | are many other factors and resources which are |
| needs is a roommate having parties and exposing | | | | equally important in recovery. Hopefully this article will |
| them to the very lifestyle they are trying to get away | | | | shed some light on life after rehab and help people |
| from. | | | | understand what goes into starting a new life. |