Addiction Treatment Aftercare

 

It is well documented that addiction is a devastating condition that affects millions of Americans. Most recent estimates suggest that, of the estimated 22.7 million individuals aged 12 or older in 2013 who need treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem, only 2.5 million receive treatment (SAMHSA, 2014). Addiction treatment aftercare via recovery residences represent a promising approach to expand the continuum of care for substance use disorders, but they are often viewed suspiciously, and the voices of recovery residence operators have been under-represented in the scientific literature on them.

Recovering from an addiction will likely be the hardest and most important event in a person’s life. Achieving sobriety is one thing, but maintaining it is an entirely different animal. Once individuals are put back into the environment they came from (after completing 30 day residential treatment program, for example) they are usually ill-equipped to handle the pressures of their old lifestyle. Without proper support and encouragement, relapse is seemingly a more attractive (and easier) option.

As studies have shown, addiction treatment aftercare facilities are providing recovering individuals with a much needed alternative to immediately returning to their old living environment. Using peer-based mentoring or recovery coaching, many are able to build up the tools necessary to avoid relapse.  The longer they stay in an environment that supports them and allows them to utilize all the tools they learned in rehab, the easier it is to make better decisions. Further, by living with others who are facing the same dilemmas, they build the strength needed to make healthier choices when faced with relapse.

Brady’s Landing not only provides this sober environment, we also provide access to a myriad of activities designed to assist our residents with the single most important decision that they make every single day – the choice to stay sober.