Aftercare is the phase of treatment that follows discharge, when the client no longer requires the intensity of primary treatment. NTS’s professionally-designed discharge plan helps clients continue to reorient their behavior to the ongoing reality of a sober lifestyle. Our aftercare monitoring program is structured so clients can increase their independence or review their progress in overcoming drug addiction. Aftercare treatment allows the client flexibility in determining whether they move forward in sobriety or need to check back into a higher level of care. Many clients experience the best results when the monitoring program helps them figure out how much assistance they need.

Our monitoring program can:

• Hold the monitored participant accountable for their own actions
• Help them develop responsibility for their sobriety
• Provide assurance to family members, employers or others involved
• Provide involved participants with a higher success rate in achieving long term sobriety

One of the most critical parts of the aftercare phase is discharge planning. The recovery process does not end when an individual completes our inpatient program. Continuing support upon completion of treatment is the key to a healthy recovery from addiction. Treatment is just the beginning of a lifelong process of growth and recovery in all areas of life that have been affected by drug addiction and alcoholism. Our discharge planning takes into account that, after rehab, extended care is often necessary for the kind of lifelong recovery our clients are seeking.

The Different Types of Drug Rehab Aftercare

The most common type of aftercare program is the 12-step meetings that happen on a daily or weekly basis. At the central NTS facility, the individuals who remain in the Newport Beach area often attend meetings with the same professionals they first met in treatment. These meetings may occur in any region of the world, of course, but the idea behind them is the same: to provide the recovering addict with a support structure and executable tasks that need to be achieved on a regular basis. Regular tasks help build back the sense of responsibility that the client may have lost during the height of his or her addiction.

Another form of drug addiction aftercare treatment is the work exchange program. Work exchange involves the individual working in the treatment facility after they have completed their sobriety program. During this time, the client studies to become a full-fledged counselor and interacts with and offers support to new patients.

Sober living houses are a different form of aftercare program for those who need a gentler transition back into the world. This aftercare program helps those who prefer a group setting and make the most progress while receiving the support of their peers. Studies have shown that peer mentors and a 24-hour point of contact are also highly valued by clients, even if the latter is rarely used.

Relapse: Failure or an Opportunity for a Stronger Recovery?

At NTS, we recognize that relapse can be a useful tool in a client’s recovery process. We do everything we can to prevent relapse, but when it does occur, we quickly utilize the experience to help redirect the client back towards the road to recovery.

After a relapse, the client is steered toward:

• Periodic outpatient meetings
• Relapse and recovery groups
• 12-Step and self-help groups

The components of recovery that are geared towards relapse are powerful experiences that can help keep a client strong and mindful of the reasons they quit drugs or alcohol in the first place. It can also help crystallize the feelings of not wanting to fall back on old habits. All parts of the aftercare program require the client to practice the skills which were acquired during treatment in order to maintain sobriety and begin to rebuild every area of their life.

Aftercare Programs Are Proven To Be Effective

NTS connects every graduating client with appropriate therapeutic resources. Research has shown conclusively that individuals who choose to continue with counseling after rehab are more likely to maintain sobriety. Talking to a counselor, or any supportive people, helps clients engage and avoid feeling alone. Our clients also have the option to take classes or find jobs in order to keep busy and avoid temptation. Aftercare rehabilitation within the family is also a crucial part of the process, so NTS remains an advocate for families by directing them to helpful resources.

With any of the aftercare monitoring programs, participation on a regular basis is necessary for success. Missing meetings and generally being disengaged defeats the entire purpose of the system; in addition to providing support in the struggle against relapse, regular attendance can give the client a profound sense of accomplishment.

NTS delivers effective aftercare programs to ensure that the individual who gets off drugs and alcohol stays off drugs and alcohol — and continues to build a positive, healthy lifestyle.

If you’re ready to learn more about all the options NTS offers, contact us.