Facebook Twitter Instagram Linkedin Tiktok
Rolling Hills Recovery Center combination logo

Our Location

855-559-8550

Get Help Now
Get Help Now
855-559-8550
Rolling hills recovery center combination logo
Take The First Step Now
Contact Us
Check Insurance
Take The First Step Now
Contact Us
Check Insurance

Aftercare Rehab Program

  • Reviewed by: Dr. Carl Williams, Ph.D., LCADC
  • Modified:
  • Reading Time: 9 minutes
  • Reviewed by: Dr. Carl Williams, Ph.D., LCADC
  • Last Update:
  • Reading Time: 9 minutes

Explore the essential aftercare strategies for sustaining long-term recovery from addiction.

Start With a Phone Call
Check Insurance

The Importance of Aftercare

Rolling Hills Recovery Center Aftercare Program

Did you know that 50% of deaths (suicides, homicides, accidents) for people between the ages of 15 and 24 involve alcohol or drug abuse? With the inclusion of alcohol and tobacco, the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS) estimates that about 165 million, or 60.2% of Americans above twelve years, have used a drug within the last 30 days.

To that end, there are many avenues where individuals suffering from drug and alcohol disorders can get help, such as rehab facilities. Rehab follows an intensive, supervised program to help individuals stop using alcohol or drugs. They also equip individuals with the tools to continuity and live life clean.

This post looks at all you need to know concerning rehab aftercare for drug and alcohol disorders.

Table of Contents

Client lounge at rolling hills recovery center
Group room at rolling hills recovery center with tv and logo mounted on the wall
picture of a candle on a shelf at rolling hills and a slogan saying you got this.
Levels of Care
Popular Topics
Families & Addiction

Sustaining Sobriety Beyond Treatment

What is Rehab Aftercare?

About 85% to 95% of people who completed their rehab program remained drug-free nine months after the program, while 80% claimed that their quality of life and overall health had improved after rehab. Additionally, it is estimated that one out of three people who complete a drug and alcohol treatment program will remain sober.

All this can be attributed to rehab aftercare. Over time, Rolling Hills Recovery Center discovered that addiction recovery is a long-term process that continues after treatment. Rehab aftercare is any help given to a patient to maintain sobriety after completing the program. It can be anything from interventions, activities, and resources that help minimize stress, triggers, and cravings that are common after treatment.

Creating an aftercare plan is crucial because most people find it difficult to transition out of treatment, especially in the first few months. When your time at the rehab facility is almost to an end, you are likely to meet with counselors, therapists, or case managers who can help to create an aftercare plan. Many factors go into creating an aftercare plan, such as how long or often you may need care. This is why consulting with a specialist will help you determine your needs and find resources in your local community. 

Diverse people in a support group

Navigating Aftercare for Substance Abuse

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Aftercare Programs

Accepting that you have a drug and alcohol disorder is the first step toward recovery. After completing rehab, you have to transition to a world where you can access unlimited drugs and alcohol, which is challenging for most. Fortunately, programs, resources, and organizations are created to help people transition into normalcy without drugs while avoiding a relapse. Here are some standard programs to help recovering addicts thrive without any substances.

Sober Living Homes

The lack of stable alcohol and drug-free living environment can be a severe obstacle for a recovering addict. There was a need for alcohol and drug-free environments for individuals motivated to abstain from their vice completely. This is where the idea for sober living homes came from and was brought to life in California. The houses are not funded or licensed by the local government or state, and the recovering addict has to pay for their costs.

Sober living homes are designed to address halfway homes’ drawbacks. There is no formal treatment, with most homes strongly encouraging a 12-step self-help group attendance. Residents of sober living homes are supposed to follow the house rules such as paying rent and other fees, avoiding relapse, attending house meetings, and participating in house chores.

Therapy and Counseling Options

Counseling and therapy sessions are part of rehab services and are often held every day and sometimes multiple times a day when a person is an inpatient. It is the most critical part of the recovery process, and the sessions should be continued as part of the aftercare plan. Therapy and counseling sessions are equally essential after rehab and are especially beneficial to newly sober alcohol and drug abusers.

As a recovering addict, it would be best to attend weekly sessions, reducing the frequency over time to bi-weekly and monthly, depending on how stable your sobriety is. The session will significantly help individuals with a dual diagnosis with an underlying mental health condition who often require treatment for both conditions.

Intensive Outpatient Programs

Intensive outpatient programs were created to address depression, addiction, eating disorders, and more without needing to detox or be supervised. It caters to recovering addicts with “multi-dimensional instabilities” such as co-occurring disorders. The program helps recovering addicts transition to normalcy, similar to after-school for alcohol and drug abuse disorder.

The programs offer structure allowing the person to keep living at home and go to work or school for the duration of the treatment. In most cases, intensive outpatient programs are used as a follow-up after the detoxification process and an aftercare plan for patients who have completed an inpatient program. The program is an entire aftercare plan, and it is what most recovering addicts settle on as their preferred care option because it provides:

Did You Know Rolling Hills Recovery Center Has An Aftercare Program?

A patient navigator is ready to help. Our team of dedicated professionals are here to help 24 hours a day.

Call (855) 559-8550

Group Support in Aftercare Recovery

Aftercare Groups

Groups form a vital part of alcohol and drug abuse disorder recovery because they can provide an individual with a network of similar people who are also looking to stay sober. The groups are highly effective because people share their personal experiences and are ideal for recovering addicts with co-occurring mental conditions like anxiety and depression.

The most popular forms of groups are 12-step programs, but there are more options available that can fit into most people’s aftercare plans. According to the NCBI, there are five types of group therapies effective in alcohol and drug abuse aftercare treatment.

Psychoeducational groups

Psychoeducational groups aim to educate recovering addicts about substance abuse, related behaviors, and the consequences. The group is designed to present content structured for a specific group and usually involves lectures, videos, or audio.

Psychoeducational groups are led by an experienced leader who facilitates discussion of the material. The information provided in the group is meant to have direct applications in the group member’s life. While the group focuses on psychological issues, it neglects intrapsychic change.

Skills development groups

Most skill development groups operate using cognitive-behavioral methodologies, but some incorporate counselors and therapists in their operations. They also include some psychoeducational elements into the process, but they will focus on skills development. The group focuses on cultivating skills that recovering addicts require to achieve and maintain abstinence. The skills could relate to alcohol and drug use or apply to broader areas relevant to the individual’s continued sobriety.

Members of the same group often practice with one another, see how other people apply the same skills, and feel positive reinforcement from fellow members instead of a single professional when you effectively use the skills. A client’s suitability for a particular skill development group varies depending on the individual’s unique needs and the skills being taught. The groups have a limited number of sessions and sizes, with an ideal range of eight to ten participants.

Cognitive-behavioral groups

These therapies are well known as an aftercare treatment for alcohol and drug abuse disorders and are ideal during the early months of recovery. The term cognitive-behavioral therapy group is an umbrella term for various formats informed by multiple theoretical frameworks. The groups focus on changing learned behavior by changing thinking patterns, perceptions, and beliefs.

The groups also attempt to develop social networks that support continued abstinence so that the individual recovering from alcohol and drug abuse disorder becomes aware of behaviors that may lead to relapse. Cognitive-behavioral groups also develop strategies to help an individual continue in recovery. The group leader provides a structure where members can examine beliefs, behaviors, and thoughts that lead to their past vices.

Support groups

Support groups are the most common type of help group in substance abuse treatment that originated from the self-help tradition. Support groups are characterized by inward reflection, unconditional acceptance, and commitment to change with open and honest interpersonal interactions. Unlike other groups, support groups tend to help recovering addicts sustain sobriety without understanding what causes the drug’s dependency. However, the group bolsters members’ efforts to develop and strengthen their ability to manage emotions and thoughts.

Interpersonal process groups

Interpersonal process groups use the knowledge of how people function psychologically to promote change and healing. The group uses a therapeutic approach to healing that changes fundamental intrapsychic or interpersonal psychological dynamics. Interpersonal process group therapy digs into significant developmental issues, looking for patterns that contribute to alcohol and drug abuse addiction or interfere with the recovery process. The group becomes a microcosm of how recovering addicts relate to others in their daily lives.

Our Patient Navigators Are Here When You Need Them

Our experienced staff is available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have. Call today and change your tomorrow.

We're Here When You're Ready

Find Out Why We Have a 4.9 Rating on Google

Testimonials & Stories of Hope

Did You KNow?

Most Major Insurance Will Help Cover the Cost of Treatment
anthem-white
cigna-1
mcr-aetna-white
mcr-beacon-white
med-mutual-white
prc-magellan
TRICARE_Logo_png
Call Today (855) 559-8550
Check Your Coverage
You Could Be Covered
100% for Treatment

We Make Getting Help Easy

Our Simple Admissions Process

Treatment Planning
Assessment

Our clinical and medical teams review your personal history and circumstances in order to determine the best treatment plan based on your needs.

Schedule Admission Date
Intake

During intake you will be asked some more questions about your background & medical history. This allows us to fully formulate your treatment plan.

Tour the Facilities
Personal Tour

One of our caring team members will take you around the clinical facilities and introduce you to the rest of our team and current community. 

Settle In
Unwind & Relax

We know that the first day of treatment can be overwhelming for anyone. We work with you to ensure you ease yourself into the treatment process.

Our Admissions Process

The Critical Role of Aftercare in Long-Term Recovery

Conclusion

Most recovering alcohol and drug addicts claim that the recovery process after completion is usually more challenging than accepting rehab. Since addiction recovery is usually an ongoing process that can take even years, you need to have an aftercare plan for leaving the rehab facility.

Facebook Linkedin X-twitter Pinterest Instagram

Written By:

Geoffrey Andaria

Geoffrey Andaria mental health writer at rolling hills recovery center
Rolling Hills Recovery Center

Mental Health Writer

About Author:

Geoffrey Andaria is an experienced mental health content writer and editor. With a B.A. in English and Journalism, Geoffrey is highly educated in freelance articles and research. Having taken courses on social work, Geoffrey is adamant about providing valuable and educational information to individuals affected by mental health and the disease of addiction.

Medically Reviewed By:

Dr. Carl Williams Ph.D., LCADC

Carl Williams, medical content reviewer at rolling hills recovery center
Rolling Hills Recovery Center

Expert Contributor

About Reviewer:

Dr. Williams presently serves on the board of Directors for two non-profit service organizations. He holds a Master’s degree in Human Services from Lincoln University, Philadelphia, Pa, and a Ph.D. with a concentration in Clinical Psychology from Union Institute and University. In Cincinnati, Ohio. He is licensed to practice addictions counseling in both New Jersey and Connecticut and has a pending application as a practicing Psychologist in New Jersey.

Start Your Journey

Stay Informed & Up-to-Date

Related Articles & Topics