Don't think you need aftercare? Think again!
Research proves that the best way to stay sober over the long term is neither AA, or standard professional treatments…but AA and professional treatment together!
The researcher's evaluated long term abstinence and recidivism data over 15 years and tracked the relapse and abstinence rates of hundreds of individuals. They then compared the long term sobriety rates associated with the various methods of treatment or therapy. The study results are not shocking in any way, but they do reinforce what everyone in rehab will tell you…you need to continue wit aftercare treatment even after finished at rehab, and AA is a pretty solid choice for long term aftercare.
Some of the specific findings of the study were:
Get help as soon as possible
The earlier AA is initiated after an individual first begins help seeking behavior, the better the long term prognosis. Which means of course if anyone is talking about maybe needing help, you should get their but into AA as soon as possible!
Stay with your aftercare program for a long time
The longer an individual stays with AA, the better the long term prognosis. The lesson here is that when you think you no longer need AA, you still do, you just may not realize how badly you do! Going to AA meetings doesn't do any harm, but not going might just ruin your life!
Get professional treatment and aftercare for the best probability of long term sobriety
People who get professional treatment and after the end of treatment attend AA meetings had the highest overall long term sobriety rate out of the study participants, and people who got professional treatment but did not continue after treatment with AA were not nearly as likely to stay sober over the long term.
There is no one right answer for everyone, and AA is just an organization that seems to work for a lot of people. I think that the lesson that should be learned by the clinical data as reported is that recovering addicts need initially intensive therapy and treatment to break their initial addiction, and then need long term continuing aftercare support to allow them to maintain their sobriety for good.
Too many people come out of rehab with the best of intentions to continue with aftercare, but because of over confidence, because of time, work or family restrictions, or due to any of a thousand other reasons, let their aftercare support fall by the wayside; and too often these people get blindsided by their addiction, and end up back at square one. Anyone who has had a serious dependency issue is always at risk for another, and whether you subscribe to the AA theory of powerlessness over addiction or another philosophy of recovery, it doesn’t seem to matter, as long as you continue to get the support and aftercare that you need.
If you are fresh out of rehab, remember how important these aftercare meetings are, and if you think that you don’t need them…think again. A lot of older and wiser addicts will tell you different, and his latest clinical study says that we're right!
