| The period after the end of drug rehab, and for a few | | | | many graduates of a drug or alcohol rehab fail to |
| months afterwards, is a very risky time for relapse | | | | make use of these vital ties to sobriety, and a failure |
| and continuing abuse. Even those people determined | | | | to maintain aftercare therapy is significantly correlated |
| to maintain sobriety and committed to change too | | | | with relapse. |
| often find the temptations overwhelming and what | | | | By maintaining a regular and frequent participation in |
| seemed so clear while in the sheltered walls of rehab, | | | | aftercare therapy, the lessons of rehab are continually |
| suddenly murky and inapplicable to the realities of the | | | | consolidated in response to the actual realities of |
| outside. | | | | temptation and cravings on the outside, and through |
| There is no denying the risk of the initial days, weeks | | | | the support of professionals and other addicts in |
| and months of abstinence once removed from the | | | | recovery, you can work through those temptations |
| sanctuary of rehab, but there are ways that | | | | threatening sobriety in a healthy, effective and |
| recovering addicts and alcoholics can minimize these | | | | constructive way. |
| risks; and the single greatest way to increase the odds | | | | Aftercare does not necessarily need to occur at a |
| of long term sobriety is simply by maintaining a long | | | | drug or alcohol rehab, and any continuing therapy after |
| and committed participation in offered aftercare | | | | residential rehab is considered aftercare; but there is |
| therapies. | | | | an advantage to maintaining therapy at a rehab. After |
| Drug rehab should never end… | | | | a month or more of intense and honest therapy, you |
| Rehab should never finish with the end of the | | | | will have likely developed working and trusting |
| residential period of programming, just as important are | | | | relationships with professionals and other addicts in |
| the continuing therapies offered to help recovering | | | | recovery, and working with these same people |
| addicts cope with the newfound realities of sobriety on | | | | through the initial months of sobriety often makes the |
| "the outside"; and a full participation in aftercare | | | | most sense. |
| therapies is one the singular most important actions | | | | While maintaining individual sessions with a therapist |
| any recovering addict can take to better their odds of | | | | you can also modify your relapse prevention plan to |
| success and sobriety. | | | | accurately reflect the threats to your sobriety as they |
| What is aftercare? | | | | emerge after rehab, and discuss ways that triggers to |
| Aftercare simply means continuing therapy after a | | | | abuse can be minimized and temptations countered. |
| residential period of stay, and it does not necessarily | | | | Most rehabs offer some degree of aftercare |
| signify any particular form of therapy; but a few of the | | | | programming, and when selecting a rehab, the intensity |
| more common forms of aftercare therapy are a | | | | and duration of aftercare as offered should factor into |
| continuing participation in 12 steps group meetings, a | | | | your decision-making process between available drug |
| continuing participation in peer support groups, and | | | | and alcohol rehabs( Why you need aftercare ). |
| continuing sessions with a therapist. | | | | There is never a guarantee; but aftercare can help a |
| Most better rehabs will offer a long period of aftercare | | | | lot. |
| therapy as a part of the admission price, but far too | | | | |