Aftercare services critical in treating drug addiction

The media is often awash with stories of high-profile individuals who have checked into rehabilitation centres for drug use disorders.

After successful treatment and therapy, the same individuals are spotted hooked on to the very drugs that took them to rehab.

This often raises the question of how effective the treatment and rehabilitation programmes are. 

Unfortunately, people often point fingers in the wrong direction since other than the rehab and therapy sessions, aftercare programmes exist to complement the process.

Aftercare is the part of treatment that comes after a person finishes their programme in a higher level of treatment. It is the collective plan to support an individual during early recovery and help them prevent relapse while working on new life.

Addiction treatment is an important first step toward building a drug- and alcohol-free life.

Those affected learn coping skills, how to avoid a relapse, and other important tools they can use to avoid slipping back into addiction.

Treatment facilities provide the ideal environment for them to stay clean and sober, surrounded by support from peers and staff. 

The true test of recovery begins when persons with drug use disorders graduate from the programme and leave the rehab facility.

Saying no to drugs and alcohol is easier when it is done in a place geared toward teaching people to do so.

Continuing to say no after returning to the everyday environment is an entirely new challenge and it is for this reason that aftercare treatment programmes are key in ensuring those affected resume productivity in the society.

Aftercare is a general term used to describe any ongoing or follow-up treatment for substance abuse that occurs after an initial rehab programme.

Like many serious chronic conditions, there is no easy cure for dependence. Relapse is always a possibility, which makes it challenging to measure the effectiveness of an aftercare programme.

Effective treatment reduces symptoms, and poor or absent treatment is linked to increased frequency of symptoms or occurrences such as relapse.

If treatment facilities dropped people back into their everyday lives with no ongoing support immediately after finishing the programme, relapse rates would be extremely high.

Attending treatment for a few months does not cure alcohol and drug addiction.

There is no cure for addiction; it’s a chronic brain disorder that requires ongoing care and management.

Instead, treatment equips individuals with tools they can use to stay clean and sober one day at a time.

Aftercare provides another avenue of ongoing support after an individual leaves the facility.

They don’t have to feel like they’re making the transition alone when they have the support of an aftercare plan.

There are different types of aftercare programmes and some of them are even available at certain rehab centres after completing residential programmes.

Four popular aftercare programmes are 12-step programmes, dual-diagnosis support programmes, family counselling, and traditional care programmes.

The 12-step programs are an excellent option for individuals who want to consistently check in with a group of people who share similar recovery goals, receive constant support, and possibly develop life-long friendships.

The programmes allow individuals to be vulnerable about their recovery journeys as well as listen to the vulnerabilities of others.

Family counselling is a vital component of an individual’s recovery process because families are able to analyse any behavioural patterns that may have enabled their loved one’s addiction to drugs.

As a result, better communication and healthier boundaries are established that will benefit all parties involved.

Dual-diagnosis support programmes are available for individuals who are interested in getting to the root of their addiction by identifying potential mental disorders or psychological factors that may have contributed to substance abuse.

Finally, traditional care programmes provide assistance for individuals who don’t want to, or feel they can’t, return to their previous home.

These programmes offer living arrangements for individuals who need more time transitioning into a life of self-sufficiency.   — The writer is Nacada Corporate Communications manager