Support after leaving a rehabilitation centre
Support after leaving a rehabilitation centre
Completing a rehabilitation programme is a major achievement for anyone suffering from addiction. Yet, the journey doesn’t stop there. Recovery takes commitment and support in your everyday life, long after you have checked out of the recovery centre.
It is important to continue to access local support and any aftercare on offer upon leaving rehab. This will help you to adjust to a sober and clean life and help you get through the challenges of the first year of your recovery. The best way of doing this is by continuing in your commitment to your recovery and accessing ongoing support.
Guarding against relapse
There are many things that can trigger a relapse, and that trigger will depend on the individual’s experiences. Sometimes the people, places and things around you can trigger a relapse. You might see something that reminds you of your old drug use, or visit a pub where you used to drink, for example.
Your thoughts and emotions can also trigger a relapse. Special occasions, like a birthday or anniversary, can also be a trigger.
Accessing aftercare support is the best way to guard yourself against relapse. Different rehab centres offer different aftercare, so this should be an important part of your thinking when selecting a centre for in-house treatment and recovery.
As an example, a Kent-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre has launched a service to prevent people from relapsing into addiction.
The Kenward Trust in Yalding, near Maidstone, is offering a programme called Recovery Plus to support people who move on from living at the centre.
Recovery Plus was set up as a response to a perceived lack of ongoing support services for substance misuse.
Penny Williams, Chief Executive of the Kenward Trust, said there weren’t enough resources for community-based therapeutic and peer-led support.
She said Recovery Plus would provide a “safe, nurturing and trusted space” co-created by former residents.
“Long-term recovery from trauma needs this consistent relationship,” Ms Williams said, referring to the ongoing contact between ex-residents and the centre.
As part of the programme, those leaving rehab will be offered regular meet-ups with other former residents and recovery coaching sessions.
In 2022/23, 5000 people in Kent were treated for drug and alcohol addiction according to a report, external presented to Kent County Council.
Research shows that more than two thirds of individuals relapse within weeks to months of initiating treatment.
On leaving rehab it is important to follow up with a discharge plan of continued support and care. By following an action plan of discharge treatment, you will find it far easier to reintegrate back into society and keep on the new path of sobriety.