These halfway style houses ease the transition out of the rehab environment by allowing the recovering addict to participate in work and social environments, but allowing for continued access to safe and sober housing, and continued access to the support services they need.
The most comprehensive aftercare sometimes comes in the form of continuing to reside within the rehab facility but with freedom of access outside of the facility. Some addicts may be allowed to continue to participate within the community and take on recovery supervisory and other work roles in exchange for room and board within the facility, and often a nominal salary. The greatest benefit of a work stay program is continued and regular access to the therapy as offered and continued residence in a safe and sober environment.
The degree of aftercare required will depend on the individual needs of the addict in recovery, but all recovering addicts benefit from aftercare, and the longer and more intense the participation in aftercare, the better the prognosis for long term sobriety. Aftercare starts with the development of a recovery plan while in residential rehab, and through working with the addictions professionals within the facility, the relative need for aftercare can best be assessed, and the safest options recommended.
Although many addicts emerge from rehab full of hope and optimism, the recidivism rates demand inclusion in aftercare to sustain that optimism into a reality of sober living.
Rehab is a giant step towards recovery, but recovery remains an ongoing process, and never ends when a patient walks out of a month of rehab. Aftercare in drug rehab provides the continuing support needed to increase the likelihood of success and sobriety. The degree of aftercare support offered should be a consideration when evaluating the relative merits of prospective drug rehab environments.
page last update Aug 05, 2010
