What Happens after Drug Rehab?

Recovery is a lifelong process. Although rehab will equip an addict with the necessary mechanisms and behaviors for maintaining sobriety – including instilling a sense of personal accountability for one’s decisions – recovery does not end when a person is discharged from a drug or alcohol rehab facility. Most people in the medical community agree that addiction is a chronic condition that is treatable but not curable; this means that someone who has been addicted to a substance will likely never be able to use that substance casually or recreationally without falling back into the addiction. The following should occur after someone has been in drug rehab to decrease the chances of relapse and increase the chances of long-term success.

• Regular Reminders. It is important for addicts to join a group like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous to have a regular reminder of how easy it is to lose control of one’s life when addicted to a substance. Especially during the first few months, a discharged recovering addict should continue therapy; family therapy may be beneficial in healing broken relationships. Some addicts will require therapy for years or even decades. A good rehab facility will offer suggestions for post-discharge care (Read 10 Questions for a Rehab Facility). Another excellent way to keep yourself accountable is to become a mentor for someone else. Teaching another person the value of sobriety – and how to apply the lessons that you have learned to their lives – will reinforce the concept for you and give them hope.

• New, New, New. Although it is impossible to remove all potential triggers from a recovering addict’s life – including stress and social pressures – addicts should carefully evaluate old relationships and activities that could increase their risk of relapse – and remove them or reduce their presence in the addict’s life. These “gaps” should be filled with new, healthy relationships and activities.