What Happens After Substance Abuse or Addiction Therapy

Many people question what happens after substance abuse or addiction therapy, especially if they or their treatment team believe they are not yet ready to manage their drug use disorders on their own. Aftercare and alumni programs, which can give support and encouragement for keeping abstinent and continuing recovery in the short and long term after treatment, are the answers to this worry. Aftercare has a lot of phrases and concepts that are useful to understand.

What personal changes occur during recovery?

The personal changes that occur during Sunrise Native Recovery are brought about by:

Cognitive Changes –

Recognize how substance addiction affects their thoughts. This includes denying the problem and admitting the repercussions of their transgression.

Mood Shifts –

Recognize how certain feelings, such as anger and loneliness, can lead to substance addiction and learn how to effectively cope with them.

Changes in Behavior –

Recognizing how the substance influences one’s life and how much one’s habits contribute to their harassment.

People can join and participate in program meetings, which can lead to social change. Sponsorships should be earned and developed. When they are concerned about relapse, they should contact the program and re-evaluate their relationship with others who have enabled their misuse.

People may have hopes of quitting taking this chemical. Develop faith and trust in a power greater than their willpower, as well as acknowledge their difficulties, which may include moral or immoral conduct, as well as harm to others as a result of their substance use.

Do drug tests continue to be administered following treatment?

Drug tests will be administered until the individual can demonstrate the ability to avoid relapse without this continuing supervision, depending on the aftercare program. The general reasons for continuing drug testing in aftercare are described in a Behavioral Healthcare article; some of the sorts of programs that may require this prolonged drug testing include:

  • Programs that include the use of maintenance drugs.
  • Contingency Management programs reward people who stay sober.
  • Sober living houses with drug-related rules.
  • Programs for those who have been referred to drug treatment as a result of legal action.