Drug Rehab Blog

After completing an alcohol or drug rehab program the first 3-6 months can be most critical. It is the time when the alcoholic/addict is most vulnerable to relapse. A drug rehab stay provides programs and helps with the development of relapse prevention skills, but outside the safety and confine of the facility the alcoholic addict can be faced with many triggers that can creates that impulse or craving to use. To assist with sustaining sobriety, a number of programs and elements have been created to continue care in a less intensive environment.

Continuing care can consist of a number of things. Similar to the efforts of alcohol and drug rehab, such programs can provide therapies, monitoring and elements to keep the individual responsible to their recovery effort. Treatments can be quite intensive initially, but can lessen in intensity as progress is made. Most of these continuing treatments are from anywhere from 6-12 months. The purpose is to continue the efforts of the drug rehab program by helping the individual with the management and assistance in this critical transition stage of the recovery effort.

Most individuals find support and help for sustaining their recovery through a program like A.A. Alcoholics Anonymous and similar recovery efforts have shown to be a beneficial resource for those who have completed a rehab stay. A.A. (and similar recovery meetings based on specific types of drug addiction) can be found in almost every community in the United States. Many communities have a number of meetings each and every day, and specific groups are even available that blend with an individual’s particular beliefs, occupations and lifestyles. Meetings are free of charge and individuals can attend as many meetings as needed to help them stay clean and sober.

The recovery effort is not an easy one. The reality is that many relapse and require multiple drug rehab stays or treatment to find a means to sustaining recovery. It is the nature of the disease of addiction. Even when a relapse occurs, it is not time to give up hope. It is time to begin again, reassess what is needed and get proper treatment and help for the struggle. There are always programs and support to those who are in need of it; if they just ask for the help.

Alcohol and drug addiction can be very isolating. The alcoholic/addict can feel very alone against the world. This can lead to feelings of hopelessness and despair. It doesn’t have to be this way. There are always individuals willing to help with the struggles of substance abuse and addiction. Many of these individuals have walked a very similar path and found a means to sobriety. This support can be found not only through the efforts of an alcohol or drug rehab program, but through the efforts of the 12-step community and the many millions in successful recovery around the world.

If the alcoholic/addict cannot overcome the struggles of addiction without proper help, perhaps treatment is the first order of business. Professional care from an alcohol or drug rehab facility can be a means to putting the disease of addiction into check while supplying a proper means of support. Professional treatment also can offer the assistance of a psychiatric professionals and clinical therapies to address the personal struggles of the substance abuse. Hopefully these efforts can assist in reducing the despair, hopelessness and much the grief faced in the struggles of chemical dependency.

After alcohol and drug rehab, support can be found through a sober living environment, outpatient groups and the efforts of the 12-step community. Programs like Alcoholics Anonymous will supply a sponsor for continuing the work program and to provide personal support. It is a unique aspect to the recovery process that continues through the efforts of those who have recovered. They carry the message to others that are struggling and share the fellowship, hope and strength that comes within paths of recovery.

Alcohol and drug rehab is just the beginning of the recovery process. After leaving the safety and the controlled environment of an addiction treatment facility, the individual can once again be faced with triggers and situations that can lead to relapse. During alcohol and drug rehab, the individual receives treatment care and develops a number of skills needed to abstain after treatment ends. However, the cravings and impulses of the addiction do not end. After rehab has ended, recovery continues with the efforts of aftercare and continuing care plans.

Aftercare can be a number of things. For some individuals it is a continuance of alcohol and drug rehab through outpatient programs. Outpatient treatment can consist of a number of things and can also vary in intensity. More intensive efforts can be daily treatments. Less intensive approaches to outpatient can be just a few hours each week. Outpatient care can also involve additional counseling and therapy sessions from an addiction professional. Some services even assist with sober companions and therapy groups.

After rehab completes, those in recovery can also use a transitional living environment (sober house) as a place to continue their recovery effort. Sober living environments provide a place to return each day and focus efforts, after work or school, back onto recovery. Sober living environment can vary, but many do supply additional counseling and meetings and care during this transitional time.

Perhaps the most common recovery effort is through attending meetings, like Alcoholics Anonymous. The majority of treatment facilities and drug rehab out there are founded on a 12-step modality. During rehab, the alcoholic/addict begins this process. When treatment is completed, regular meeting attendance can be prescribed for aftercare. This can supply focus needed to maintain the recovery and the connection to one’s higher power. It also offers the support of fellow alcoholics and addicts. Those new to the program are initially assigned a sponsor to work with on personal recovery efforts as well.

Most alcoholics and addicts will not enter into an alcohol or drug rehab program voluntarily. It can take some arm twisting and efforts of others to help someone get into treatment. All too often this intervention is made by the legal system and the courts. Family members can be concerned for their loved one, but may not know how to properly intervene. There are means to intervention however. For those who are seeking help with a loved one’s alcohol or drug problems, there are services and interventionists available to help.

An intervention can provide the motivation to enter an alcohol or drug rehab program. There are many ways to perform an intervention and perhaps the best means is in using an addiction professional or interventionist. Such services provide experience in dealing with the behaviors and the reactions of chemical dependency. Initially, the alcoholic/addict can have resentment to those who are seeking to help them. An intervention can provide motivation, while offering the love and support needed. It can also greatly increase the chances of the alcoholic/addict agreeing to treatment from an alcohol or drug rehab provider.

Such service providers can offer so much more than just the initial intervention. Many of these recovery services also help with travel to the alcohol/drug rehab facility and with monitoring of treatment. They can also provide additional services after treatment is completed through sober companions, living environments, counseling and support services. Intervention can be a means to getting your loved one in an alcohol or drug rehab program. Working with an intervention service can help your loved one to continue onto successful paths of recovery.

Recovery is a process for not only the alcoholic/addict, but also for family members. The family can play an integral part in the successful outcome of their loved one who has gone through an alcohol or drug rehab program. Family members should be involved in this and can also take advantage of programs that are put into place to help them with support. Many addiction treatment providers and drug rehab programs involve family aspects to prepare them for this role. Here are three ways the family can better prepare to support their loved one through the recovery process.

1. Education – Loved ones can have many misconceptions and ideas about alcoholism or drug addiction. These misconceptions can lead to unhealthy behaviors in the home, even after completing an alcohol or drug rehab treatment. Effective addiction treatment can involve a family aspect that educates on the nature and science of addiction. Programs also help to address negative behaviors in the home, like codependency. Through education, the family not only becomes more aware of the behaviors of addiction, it can also help them within their supportive role in the recovery process.

2. Support for Yourself – Alcoholics and Addicts can become involved with programs like Alcoholics Anonymous to help them with sobriety after completing rehab. Loved ones of alcoholics have a similar structure of support and fellowship through a program called Al-anon. This is an environment for receiving emotional support and guidance in helping a recovering loved one. You can also become involved with your loved one’s continuing care programs and support groups as well.

3. Sober Living – If the loved one is living with you, make sure the home is a sober environment. Even if other family members do not struggle with problems of alcoholism or addiction, drinks or drugs in the house can be a dangerous trigger. Make the home a place that is conducive to recovery. If the loved one is not living with you, be an influential piece in finding them a sober living environment and with transportation to meetings and aftercare programs.

For many who struggle with drugs and alcohol, taking that first step can be the hardest. It can be embarrassing and scary. It can mean that life isn’t exactly as it was intended and that control over things is beginning to slip. The first step to getting better from alcohol or drug addiction, admitting that there is a problem, can mean lifestyle changes and possibly the help of a treatment program or drug rehab. Some addicts are not willing to take that first step; they feel they can quit at any time. Meanwhile, life continues to spiral in chaos and the substance of choice of choice is what is in control.

Individuals who struggle with alcohol and drug abuse are not always willing to admit they have a problem. It can be up to a loved one to get them the care and support they stand in need of. Early detection and intervention can also ease many of the burdens and problems that are created over an extended period of drug or alcohol abuse. The efforts of a drug rehab facility, or through a recovery program can help to lessen the burdens of taking that first step, all the while providing ample means of support and care along the way.

The first step of recovery is admittance. One must come to grips with themselves that they are powerless over their substance of choice. The result of such powerlessness has made life unmanageable. Admittance can be a very difficult step to come to grips without appropriate help. Some require the care of professionals in a drug rehab setting to realize the magnitude of their addiction struggles. Others can discover how unmanageable their life has become through the caring support of A.A. or a similar recovery group. Within these circles of recovery and support individuals can discover just how powerful the disease of addiction is. They can also discover the tools and means to overcome it. And there are plenty of people and measures of treatment and support for taking this step in life.

Recovery is a process that requires a great individual effort. The alcoholic/addict is not left alone in this time however. There are always great examples of sober living available. Such an example can be utilized as a relapse tool. It shows ways to pattern a life conducive to the positive behaviors of living in recovery. It is still up to the individual whether they choose to follow the example, but those who are committed to sobriety will see these positives take effect in their lives as they are involved with examples of how to live it.

This example can begin with a treatment provider or drug rehab program. Many influential people and successful recovery stories reside within rehab facilities. Clinicians can provide a positive and clinical support for the mental health concerns that are had with alcoholism and drug addiction. Most rehab facilities also incorporate staff that is in successful recovery to provide a positive and empathetic influence of sober living. Such foundations can provide a proper example of how to start this recovery process.

This example is also found to a much larger extent through the recovery community at large. Many millions of people who have struggled with alcohol and drugs have found solutions through the recovery effort of the 12-step program. In turn, they continue this effort by helping others achieve the same. Through attending meetings one can come into contact with many examples of sober living that are willing to share their story. A sponsor provides a personal example and help through the steps as they are constituted. Such an example can be influential in maintaining a connection to a power greater than one’s own and also can supply a willingness to serve.

A story in the Big Book talks about a man learning how to be good A.A. member. It was by watching good A.A. members and doing what they do. Those in recovery from alcoholism and drugs must always understand there are examples to follow as they work through this recovery process. It isn’t always easy and the process can be long. Influential and supportive examples are available to help in times of need. It can pave the way for many more to find a lasting solution to the addiction struggle.

An impressionable line from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous comes from an Alcoholic’s story entitled “Safe Haven”. His closing remarks strike a chord: ‘From experience, I’ve realized that I cannot go back and make a brand new start. But through A.A., I can start from now and make a brand-new end.’ For many alcoholics and addicts, the destruction of their past can be a difficult thing to bear. It is something that many get mired down by and cannot move beyond. What the addict/alcoholic needs to realize is that there is a way to overcome their destruction. It can begin with alcohol or drug rehab and many find this brand-new end through recovery programs like Alcoholics Anonymous.

Addiction treatment and therapy can be the beginning of a brand-new end. Caring counsel in a drug rehab setting can help to break down the buriers created by addiction. Analysis can be made about the struggles of the past and advanced therapies can be utilized to address these problems within the individual. Family Therapies can help the home environment with healing. Also with rehab a number of new concepts, programs and daily recovery tools are introduced to assist in the process. Drug rehab treatment also begins the work of 12-step recovery for many. However, with limited time in a rehab setting, not many of the steps are covered or accomplished within the treatment stay.

Recovery programs like Alcoholics Anonymous keep the ball rolling once alcohol and drug rehab is completed. For many alcoholics and addicts, this is where the concepts of sobriety and recovery begin to take deep root. Many find their brand-new end by becoming immersed in the program, the support and the service they can be to others. Even with the help and support in place, the reality of relapse is still very real. One should always be mindful of how far they have come and the struggles of the past they are leaving behind.

A brand-new end can be a complete change of life for those in recovery. Those who have lost friends and family because of their past can begin to find them again through sobriety. The many bridges that were burned in the days of drinking and using can be rebuilt through working the steps of recovery. One can never go back and begin again, but from today, one can begin a new life going forward.

Recovery from alcohol abuse and drug addiction is a process. Even after a treatment or drug rehab stay is completed, the individual must continue to work each day at their recovery. The cravings and impulses to use drugs and alcohol require a bit of time to be conquered. However, the alcoholic/addict is not alone in this process. Recovery is also a process surrounded by support if the individual is willing to work the program. Support can be found through many sources. This page takes a look at a few.

Drug Rehab Aftercare Support – Most drug rehab programs provide a form of aftercare for those who undertake addiction treatment. Aftercare programs provide additional treatment, support programs and therapies. Usually aftercare is structured prior to the individual leaving the safety of the drug rehab facility. Support is than in place for the individual to begin their recovery process outside of a treatment environment.

Family Support – Family members can provide a supportive home for those who are working the recovery process. Community programs and also programs offered by drug rehab facilities can help to prepare the family for such a role within the home. Family members can help with maintaining the responsibility factor of recovery by offering to participate in meetings and providing transportation to such affairs.

12-step Support – For most who have overcome the struggles of addiction, support is found through working the 12-steps and attending meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous. The 12-step community can provide the influential piece of support for those who are in the initial stages of recovery. Attending meetings provides a surround of support on a daily basis for those who need it. 12-step meetings can also provide the most powerful and needed support for those in recovery; a way to stay focused and connected to a higher power.

Sponsor Support – A sponsor or sober companion also provides a personal one-on-one support for those in recovery. After completing a drug rehab program, or beginning with a 12-step program, a sponsor is usually assigned to offer assistance and guidance through this process. Sponsors are individuals who have had many years of sobriety. They provide a positive example of recovery and the experience it takes to make it successful. A sponsor can provide that personal one-on-one support needed for social situations which can trigger the impulses of addiction.

For those overcoming alcoholism or drug addiction, positive activities can be an influential piece to their recovery. Many recovering addicts take to exercise as a productive means of relapse prevention. Exercise is a natural recovery tool. It provides a healing for body, mind and spirit which can be beneficial to the recovery process. It also provides a daily activity or goal to accomplish as a part maintaining a sober lifestyle. Many addiction treatment and drug rehab facilities have incorporated exercise into their treatment agenda.

Drug rehab programs have also implemented aspects of yoga and more importantly meditation as a positive activity for recovery. Meditation and breathing techniques can be used to combat stress, trigger situations and can help to center the alcoholic/addict. Recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction is a process. A number tools and skills are needed throughout this process to address relapse situations and cravings. The advantage to exercise and meditation is that they are things that can be done alone to calm the situation.

At Cirque Lodge, exercise and meditation is a daily aspect to the recovery process of our alcohol or drug rehab program. This can help the individual make such positive activities a part of their daily recovery routine. These elements are just a small part to a very effective and balanced addiction treatment approach. Overcoming the struggles and cravings of alcohol or drugs takes time and a personal effort. With drug rehab treatment at Cirque Lodge, we strive to provide our clients with all they need for a successful and long term recovery.