Massachusetts Aftercare Services For Addiction

Entering a drug rehab program for drug or alcohol addiction is only the first step towards achieving lifelong recovery. For most people, recovering from addiction is a process that will take months or years.

Continuing care, also known as aftercare, is a form of substance abuse treatment that serves to connect people in early sobriety to outpatient and community-based resources for maintaining their commitment to recovery.

Massachusetts aftercare programs are a low-intensity form of care that typically follows a more intensive treatment program for substance abuse, such as detox or an inpatient or residential rehab program.

Aftercare services for sober residents can come in many forms, including:

• alumni support groups
• case management services
• individual counseling
• recovery housing

Aftercare services are commonly offered by drug and alcohol treatment centers and some sober living homes as part of a continuum of care. The types of aftercare services available at a Massachusetts rehab center may vary.

Aftercare Services For Substance Abuse In Massachusetts

Aftercare services for addiction focus on relapse prevention and ensuring individuals who have recently completed an intensive treatment program are able to continue their treatment on an outpatient basis.

Goals of addiction aftercare programs include:

• maintaining sobriety from addictive substances
• developing supportive strategies for relapse prevention
• achieving self-sufficiency and greater confidence in sobriety

Aftercare programs that are offered by a drug rehab center may differ based on the treatment facility. Here are some of the most common types of aftercare services provided within aftercare programs.

Alumni Support Groups

Alumni support groups are rehab-specific groups that are composed of individuals who have received treatment at a specific addiction rehab center. This may include people who attended rehab at the same time as you, or those who complete treatment before or after you left the addiction treatment facility.

Having access to a recovery-focused alumni support network can help individuals remain connected to others in recovery, receive peer support, and stay in the loop about recovery-oriented alumni events hosted by the rehab center.

Case Management Services

Case management services can be a critical component within the addiction treatment process. An assigned case manager may be tasked with coordinating continued care for patients within an inpatient rehab program as they transition into an outpatient treatment or community care setting.

In collaboration with other doctors or treatment professionals, case managers can identify the types of treatment services and recovery resources most suitable to meet each patient’s individual needs. From there, a case manager can search for these resources to refer the patient as they move forward in their treatment process.

Case management services may help to connect individuals to the following support services:

• housing assistance
• employment assistance
• self-help groups
• mental health counseling
• educational/vocational services
• other community recovery resources

Outpatient Counseling And Behavioral Therapy

Attending individual, group, and family counseling sessions on an ongoing basis can be one of the most important parts of the treatment process. Outpatient counseling may be offered through an addiction treatment center or other outpatient treatment providers.

Types of therapy proven to be effective for treating substance abuse include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Family Therapy
• 12-Step Facilitated Therapy

People with co-occurring mental health disorders or a history of trauma may also benefit from continued mental health counseling after the completion of a formal treatment program.

Attending individual counseling and group therapy sessions as part of a continuing care program can help residents continue to develop supportive coping strategies. These sessions may also provide a space for residents to talk about how they’ve applied the skills they’ve learned in real-life settings.

Transitioning back into a normal routine after becoming sober can be a challenging process. Continuing to attend counseling sessions can provide a safe space for people to voice their thoughts, concerns, moments of success, and times of struggle.

Treatment can also then focus on developing skills to handle new stressors that arise in early recovery. Processing through stress in recovery, and learning how to cope with stress more effectively, is an essential skill in relapse prevention.

Sober Living

Stable, supportive housing is fundamental to addiction recovery. Newly sober residents who lack a supportive housing environment may benefit from entering a sober living home, which may offer short-term or long-term housing.

Sober living homes, or Recovery Housing, provide a structured, safe, and drug-free housing situation for individuals recovering from addiction. Many sober living homes partner with nearby drug rehab centers to coordinate continued care in an outpatient treatment program.

Sober living homes generally require that residents attend some form of treatment, and encourage that residents access community support resources. Finding or holding a job may also be required by some sober residential settings for adults in early recovery.

Community Support Groups

Attending support groups at least once a week is strongly encouraged for people in early sobriety and recovery from addiction. Support groups can serve as an important opportunity for skill development, receiving feedback, and gaining insight from people who are further along in their recovery.

Not all support groups are the same, and some groups may work better for some people than others.

Types of support groups that may be helpful for formerly addicted individuals include:

• Community Support Groups (e.g. Alcoholics Anonymous)
• 12-Step Groups
• Peer Support Groups
• Psychoeducational Groups

Establishing a regular schedule can offer a helpful sense of structure as you’re transitioning back into a routine of going to work, attending school, taking care of family, and socializing with friends.

These steps can be challenging. Having a local support network can connect you to a group, or sponsor, who can help you weather the tougher moments in sobriety and avoid urges to return to drug or alcohol use. Others can also hold you accountable.

If you’re attending support groups, you’ll feel a greater obligation to be sober and participate in a way that can be meaningful for both yourself and others.

The Importance Of Aftercare

Drug and alcohol addiction is a complex but treatable disease that may require months or even years to overcome.

Aftercare programs, like alumni support groups, continued counseling, and other addiction services, can offer supportive resources for people on a long-term basis as they continue their recovery journey outside of a formal treatment program.

Benefits of some aftercare programs include:

• connecting individuals to community-based recovery resources
• access to social support services
• continued opportunities for skill development
• long-term recovery support
• reduced risk for relapse

Relapse is a common struggle among people overcoming addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, relapse occurs in up to 60 percent of people who receive treatment for substance abuse.

Learning supportive strategies for relapse prevention, and having access to ongoing support, can be critical to conquering a chronic cycle of substance misuse.

Aftercare services fit within a continuum of care approach to addiction treatment. This approach recognizes that recovery from addiction may require treatment at multiple levels of care, from inpatient treatment to a community-based support system.

Continuing care in some capacity after an inpatient program can help to bridge the gaps in treatment that can make a person more vulnerable to relapse. Aftercare can also connect individuals to secure housing and employment assistance—both of which can be supportive to addiction recovery.

Aftercare Services At Spring Hill Recovery Center In Massachusetts

Spring Hill Recovery Center is an accredited drug and alcohol rehab center in Ashby, Massachusetts that serves the greater New England area. Aftercare is one of several key components of our drug rehab programs in order to support the long-term recovery of our patients.

Aftercare support at Spring Hill is primarily offered through our intensive outpatient program (IOP), also called day treatment, and alumni recovery support network. This network, which patients have access to after their fourth week in treatment, connects patients to recovery-based alumni support groups and events.

Our alumni support group recognizes the importance of peer support and social connection in early addiction recovery. Through our aftercare program, newly sober residents can develop a stronger commitment to their recovery and remain connected to others who understand the trials and tribulations of navigating life in sobriety.

Spring Hill offers residential rehab and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) at our Ashby rehab center location. For more information about our substance abuse treatment programs and aftercare services for you or a loved one, contact Spring Hill Recovery Center today.