While you may be free of drugs and alcohol physically and mentally once you’re discharged from rehab, the journey continues which is why rehab aftercare is a staple part of recovery.

Once you leave rehab, there are environmental triggers that you will evidently encounter. That being said, having a plan in place that has solutions to the most probable triggers can really help. 

Here, you can find out about our aftercare plan at Asana Lodge and what you can expect and do to ensure that your hard work to get sober doesn’t go to waste.

aftercare for addiction

What Is Aftercare?

Aftercare refers to the ongoing support and services provided to those who have suffered from addiction and have completed a rehabilitation program for substance abuse or addiction.

It is an essential component of the recovery process, aimed at helping individuals maintain their sobriety and navigate the triggers that can crop up in everyday life after leaving a rehab facility. Whether it is drug or alcohol aftercare programs, they’re designed to provide continued support, education, and resources to individuals as they transition back into their life.

In the UK, aftercare typically involves a range of services tailored to meet the specific needs of individuals in recovery. These include for the most part group therapy sessions, relapse prevention strategies, and assistance with finding employment or any other aspects to get back on your feet.

 

Benefits Of Aftercare In Addiction Recovery

rehab aftercare

So why is aftercare important in addiction specifically?

Aftercare has a huge range of benefits, but when it comes to addiction it is vital, since ultimately, you can’t live in rehab forever, you must have a plan in place for future triggers. Some of the main benefits of aftercare programs for substance abuse include the following.

#1 Continued Support

Aftercare programs provide those who have suffered with addiction with ongoing support as they transition back into their daily lives.

This support is crucial to maintain overall motivation, have immediate attention to any specific triggers, and prevent relapse. Through individual counseling, group therapy, and support groups, individuals in aftercare receive guidance, encouragement, and a safe space to share their experiences and struggles.

#2 Relapse Prevention

Understandably, knowing what to do after drug rehab or alcohol rehab when you return to your familiar environment can be daunting.

While you will learn the techniques to prevent relapse, we never want you to feel lost once you’re back home. Aftercare services are there to ensure that you still have on-going support and you don’t feel isolated once you have left the facility.

By learning how to identify potential triggers, manage stress, and develop healthier habits, those in recovery are better equipped to navigate potential obstacles and avoid relapse. With so much going on around you, stress might make cravings arise, this is why having a safety net of consistent relapse prevention is vital.

#3 Accountability

Recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction isn’t easy, and often you will need an outsourced channel of accountability to tell you why you need to get help. Since this is typically somebody close to you, it might feel a little easier to ignore it – they’ll forgive you anyway right?

In fact no, the expectation of being forgiven and having no accountability goes away in rehab and continues after rehab through outpatient treatment after rehab.

After completing a rehab program, individuals may face new challenges and temptations. Aftercare provides a level of accountability through regular check-ins. At Asana Lodge you’ll get therapy groups once a week and this keeps up consistent accountability.

#4 Community and Peer Support

It can be hard to find things to do after rehab treatment if you’re staying away from triggers, which is why meeting like minded individuals and other recovered addicts can be greatly beneficial in having an understanding and empathetic shoulder to lean on.

Aftercare programs provide a sense of community and peer support, which can be invaluable in recovery. Connecting with others who have faced similar struggles allows individuals to share alike experiences and offer mutual support that they can’t get from anywhere else.

 

Therapy Types During Aftercare

alcohol rehab aftercare

There is a range of therapies offered, which is why aftercare is so important for recovery.

The staple therapies offered are vastly group based. This will give you the opportunity to talk to other people who have been in the same situation and are all struggling with the weight of addiction recovery.

While it can be difficult to share your hurdles, it is also an opportunity to share your successes and as a result, feel inspired to reach your goals and share how long you have been clean for. This is a great way to keep up your motivation and again links to the motivational aspect of aftercare programs for substance abuse.

 

Local Community Aftercare Programmes

Most if not all rehabs will have an aftercare programme, at Asana Lodge, ours runs for 12 months and consist of weekly meetings to help you stay on track after your hard work. Although, it is a good idea to also seek further help near you in your local community.

Two of the most popular groups that operate in most communities not just in the UK but internationally are Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings. Life after rehab, alcoholism and drug addiction can be understandably difficult to navigate. That being said, having these local meetings can be a great outlet aside from the familiar rehab aftercare that can continue after the 12 month period and is a second safety net for when it gets tough or cravings strike.

 

Goals of Addiction Aftercare

drug rehab aftercare

The goal of aftercare is to provide a structured and supportive environment that promotes long-term recovery and helps individuals build a fulfilling and drug-free life.

This is the holistic goal for many, but you should also create your own personal goals, which is something you can do with aftercare. Your life after rehab can be positive and a consistent progression, yet this is more probable when you have clear goals in place.

Aftercare programs in the UK often involve ongoing monitoring and follow-up to ensure individuals stay on track with their recovery goals. This can include regular check-ins with a counselor or support team, and accountability measures.

 

Do I Need Aftercare?

In short, yes. If you have been in residential rehab, you will require some level of aftercare to stay on track, especially if your addiction is severe.

It is subjective however to how long you’ve been in rehab and how long you have been an addict. For example, since the ranges of rehab stays normally range from 7 to 28 days, once you’re discharged you’ll still be in active recovery.

This is why you should continue to take advantage of the support offered to you from your rehab and also the free aforementioned resources in your community.

 

The Aftercare Support Team

what to do after rehab

Asana Lodge has its own aftercare support team which includes medical professionals such as addiction counsellors and other specialists. Our team help put together aftercare plans tailored to your needs, and will take into account many different factors such as:

  • Your age and sex
  • Any diagnoses and addictions
  • Your behaviour patterns
  • Medical history
  • Your home and social environment
  • Work, studies and any potential sources of stress
  • Your rehab history and whether you’ve relapsed before

This gives us a full picture of the things that trigger your negative behaviours and helps us advise the best ways to support you. It may be that you’ve undergone treatment before and relapsed afterwards, so we’ll need to work out how to prevent that from happening again.

 

Aftercare at Asana Lodge

Once you’ve completed one of our programmes, you can use our aftercare groups for 12 months. Taking place at Asana Lodge or other properties owned by Rehab Clinics Group across the UK.

You’re sure of a warm welcome, and can catch up with others who went through your programme, as well as making new friends. You will have time to talk about your week, discuss coping strategies and work together in a supportive environment.

 

Get in Touch

Find out more about the treatment programmes and aftercare available at Asana Lodge by getting in touch with us today. Simply call us on 01908 489 421 or, use one of our contact forms here on our site or email us at info@asanalodge.com