Aftercare

What Is Addiction Aftercare?

Addiction aftercare is a broad term that encompasses several types of services that can help you maintain and build on the progress you made in detox and residential treatment. 

As you reintegrate into your family, workplace, and community, addiction aftercare programs can help you deal with both successes and setbacks in the healthiest possible manner, without falling back into bad old habits.

Types of Addiction Aftercare Programs 

As you approach the end of your time in residential care, your treatment team will help you determine which types of addiction aftercare are right for you. 

Depending on your unique needs, the ideal options may include a partial hospitalization program, an intensive outpatient program, and outpatient therapy.

Partial hospitalization program (PHP)

PHPs share many features with residential treatment programs. When you’re in a PHP, you will typically follow a customized treatment plan, receive five or six hours of treatment per day, and participate in a variety of therapeutic activities and support services.

One of primary differences between a PHP and a residential program is that PHPs only require you to be at the center when treatment is in session. In the evenings and on the weekends, you can return to your home or to a sober living house or other type of supported residence. 

During your time away from the treatment center, you can begin to put your developing recovery skills to the test in real-world environments. When you return to the PHP, you can discuss these experiences during individual, group, and/or family therapy sessions.

Intensive outpatient program (IOP)

Intensive outpatient programs offer fewer hours of treatment and greater flexibility than PHPs do. IOPs typically provide about three hours of care per day, with participants often having the option of attending treatment two to five days per week.

Group therapy is usually the main type of treatment at the IOP level, though many providers also offer services such as individual and family therapy. 

The IOP schedule allows you to retain a structure connection to quality clinical care, while also giving you the opportunity to work, attend classes, volunteer, and take part in other healthy pursuits during the non-treatment parts of your week.

Outpatient therapy

Outpatient therapy is the most flexible of addiction aftercare option. Sessions can be scheduled on a weekly or monthly basis, or at whatever other frequency is best for you. Individual therapy is the most common type of care at this level, though outpatient groups are also available.

Once you’ve completed treatment at the PHP and/or IOP levels, outpatient therapy can be a valuable source of long-term support. 

Why Is Aftercare Important?

The primary importance of addiction aftercare is that it can help you remain in recovery. 

More specifically, aftercare can ease your transition out of treatment by giving you additional time to strengthen your relapse prevention skills, address any co-occurring mental health concerns, and connect with resources that can serve you well for years to come.

Gradually reducing your time in treatment

Abrupt changes can be jarring, both physically and psychologically. This is one of the reasons why detox can be such a vital service for so many people, because it can soften the impact that the sudden cessation of substance use can have on the body and mind.

Exiting a residential treatment program without an aftercare plan in place can be a similarly shocking experience. One day, you’re receiving round-the-clock care from a team of experts. The next day, you’re completely on your own. 

No matter how much progress you made while you were in treatment, it can be difficult to maintain your momentum when all of your support systems have been suddenly removed.

Addiction aftercare programs are an ideal way to bridge the gap between comprehensive residential care and full independent living. With each step, you can gradually reduce your time in treatment while taking greater control of your recovery.

Strengthening your recovery skills

A longer time in treatment gives you additional opportunities to hone your skills and deepen your commitment to recovery. Multiple studies have documented the benefits of extended care, including:

• A March 2014 study in Psychiatry Journal found “considerable evidence” that people who receive treatment for alcoholism and other forms of addiction can benefit from continuing care services. “Research literature suggests that offering a combination of services after discharge from primary treatment may represent the best practice if long-term abstinence is to be expected,” the authors of this study concluded.
• A September 2021 meta-analysis in the journal Social Science & Medicine determined that patients who participated in longer-term treatment programs or continued support services had a 23.9% greater likelihood of maintaining abstinence from substances or consuming in moderation, when compared to people who took part in shorter-term standard treatment.
• A September 2023 study in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse reported that people who stayed in a sober living house for six months or more had a greater number of days abstinent, fewer psychiatric symptoms, and a lower likelihood of legal problems than did individuals who left the sober living house before the six-month mark.

Addressing co-occurring mental health concerns

Mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and trauma are unfortunately common among people who struggle with addiction. Often, though, people don’t even realize they’ve been living with a co-occurring psychological concern until they begin to receive treatment for their substance use problem.

Failing to properly address these types of challenges can undermine a person’s efforts to maintain their recovery. This is one reason why quality addiction aftercare programs also include support services for people who are dealing with co-occurring mental health concerns during dual diagnosis treatment.

Extended mental health care can improve a person’s ability to manage their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.

Emphasizing the value of sustained support

One of the many valuable lessons you can learn in treatment is the importance of shared support. Addiction aftercare programs reinforce this concept. 

Repairing relationships that were damaged due to your active substance use, connecting with others in recovery, and learning how to ask for help can improve your ability to remain in recovery.

Addiction aftercare can also connect you with peer-led programs and other community-based services in your area. In addition to supporting your recovery efforts, these resources can also be opportunities for you to help others who are just beginning their journey.