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One of the hardest steps in the addiction recovery process is what happens once a patient leaves the comforting, nurturing environment of a rehab center and goes back into the real world. Here's a look at what to expect and how recovery is a long-term process.
An addiction treatment program is a caring, nurturing environment that is designed to give people an ideal setting to tackle their drug and alcohol problems. While a long-term stay can help people who are struggling with addiction and try to prepare patients for going back into "the real world" and staying clean and sober, the reality is that maintaining sobriety after leaving a drug or alcohol rehab can be extremely difficult - some studies reveal that up to 80 percent of all people who complete treatment have a relapse of some kind.
Leaving an addiction program is just the first step towards long-term sobriety. In many cases, continuing psychiatric and mental health care - such as weekly sessions with a therapist - are recommended to deal with the underlying psychological problems that lead patients to abuse drugs or alcohol in the first place. Continuing group sessions or meetings are another way to reinforce the clean and sober lifestyle.
It's very easy for people to substitute addictions after leaving a rehab program. A person who has quit drinking might begin playing online poker heavily. Or someone who has quit drugs might become addicted to shopping. It's important to leave alcohol and drug rehab centers with a game plan for long-term sobriety, including recognizing the types of activities that could lead a person to substitute one addiction for another. It's also very important to recognize the types of triggers that could cause a relapse and understand the things that can be done before a relapse happens.
A person who has successfully left alcohol or drug rehab and maintained their initial sobriety will eventually move on to advanced recovery - sometimes as long as after five years of sobriety. During this process, routine treatment will be suspended as the patient is given full independence and responsibility for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, "booster" sessions may occur from time to time to check in with patients or help them deal with difficult situations.
Nelson Conway is a freelance writer living in Pasadena, Calif. His work has been published by magazines and major online news sites. http://alcoholism.about.com/od/support/a/maintaining.htm
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