21 Sep How Can an Alumni Group Help Me Stay Sober After Rehab?
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 21 million Americans over the age of 12 battled drug addiction in 2014.[1] Recovering from drug addiction can be difficult but with the proper tools and determination, lifelong recovery is possible.
There are many options when it comes to addiction treatment, including intense residential programs and flexible outpatient options. No matter what kind of addiction treatment an individual attends, recovery doesn’t end when they complete their program. Ongoing care is essential to long-term sobriety, as addiction is a chronic disease that requires consistent effort and dedication.
Alumni groups from addiction treatment offer individuals the ongoing support they need to maintain their sobriety for the years to come. To explain, alumni programs provide graduated patients with continued support from their peers and staff, new coping techniques, and a safe space to vent when they need extra help. There are many ways alumni groups help people stay sober after rehab.
What is an Addiction Treatment Alumni Group?
Addiction treatment alumni groups are a vital aspect of the aftercare plans that individuals receive when they complete a drug rehab program. Once an individual is done with treatment, they will have the opportunity to take advantage of the services their alumni program offers.
Alumni opportunities may include:
- Weekly sober support meetings
- Alumni reunions
- Workshops to freshen up their sobriety maintenance techniques
- Group volunteer opportunities like beach clean-ups
- Opportunities for service and status in the alumni group
- Fellowship and lifelong connections
Alumni groups provide individuals with ongoing sober support when they need it the most. Transitioning to everyday life after completing treatment can be stressful and confusing, often triggering a relapse for individuals without the proper tools. Thankfully, alumni groups provide individuals with the tools they need to manage their stress and triggers without relapsing.
How Do Alumni Groups Benefit Long-Term Sobriety After Addiction Treatment?
Joining an alumni group benefits long-term sobriety in a variety of ways, while simultaneously improving your overall well-being. Including:
Provides Fellowship and Support
The fellowship that is cultivated between recovering individuals cannot be found anywhere else. Alumni groups offer graduated patients the opportunity to remain connected to the friends they made in treatment. Additionally, individuals can make new connections with other alumni from past years.
This large network of support provides recovering addicts with a sense of belonging, accountability, and mutually beneficial friendships that will last a lifetime. Being able to connect with people who have been through the same hardships helps individuals immensely.[2]
Offers Motivation to Keep Recovering
When recovering addicts stay in touch with other people who are also recovering, it motivates them to continue getting better. Making connections with peers in your addiction treatment center’s alumni group motivates individuals to stay accountable by attending meetings, reducing their risk of relapse.
Provides a Safe Space to Vent
Oftentimes, individuals in recovery from addiction continue to deal with past traumas well into their first few years of sobriety. Sometimes, these issues can be difficult to discuss with other people due to fear, shame, and even feelings of guilt.
However, belonging to an alumni group after addiction treatment makes it much easier for individuals to open up. Recovering individuals feel safe in their alumni groups because they know that their fellow alumni understand. Additionally, seeing older alumni members open up at meetings provides new alumni with the courage to do the same.
Learning New Relapse Prevention Skills
Alumni groups understand that relapse is a valid concern for graduated patients. Because of this, these groups have frequent discussions about relapse prevention skills, healthy coping mechanisms, and how to work through triggers when they arise.
Members of alumni groups have access to:
- 24-hour hotlines
- Alumni social media accounts
- Addiction education classes
- Relapse prevention workshops
- Group therapy sessions
Alumni Groups a Smooth Transition Between Addiction Treatment and Everyday Life
Alumni networks help their members during their transition from treatment to everyday life. For example, sober living homes are a huge aspect of alumni networks. When individuals take advantage of sober living homes and support groups, they have a higher chance of long-term sobriety and less chance of experiencing a relapse.[3] This is because sober living homes provide individuals with the accountability, structure, and support they need to adjust to life outside of the facility.
Become a Part of Florida Recovery Group’s Alumni Program
Making the transition from living in an addiction treatment center to living on your own can be extremely difficult. Dealing with new responsibilities, outside stressors, and other aspects of daily life can cause a person to relapse. However, when individuals utilize the proper tools and practice recovery maintenance techniques, lifelong sobriety is obtainable.
Alumni programs offer individuals everything they need to be successful in their recovery. If you or a loved one are wondering, “how can an alumni support group help me stay over after addiction treatment?” contact Florida Recovery Group for more information. We can help you build a strong foundation of recovery, allowing you to maintain your sobriety for life.
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