Recovery from drug addiction is a long process that requires strategic planning. An addict undergoes detoxification as part of the treatment process, but the recovery phase goes beyond detox. Even after medically assisted treatment and rehab, there has to be a plan for the continued recovery of such patient.
Aftercare treatment, therefore, refers to any follow-up or continuing treatment that happens after the end of an initial rehab program. The successful conduct of a rehab program doesn’t mean the end of substance abuse. Addicts need proper aftercare treatment to ensure total recovery from the effects of substance abuse.
Therefore, the benefits of aftercare treatment include;
- Reintegration: the physiological effects of addiction last beyond the end of addiction. Therefore, individual may still struggle with feelings, emotions, and building strong, meaningful relationships. Aftercare helps them deal with these feelings, connecting them back into the community and help to build healthy relationships.
- Purpose: also addiction affects the normal functioning of the brain, which leads to less focus and concentration. But an aftercare service will help to provide meaningful work for the individual or reintegrate such person back to school. This serves as a motivation to remain clean, as it provides a purpose for the person in recovery.
- Supportive Home: an aftercare treatment understands the importance of a supportive environment to a recovering drug addict. And are actively involved in finding a stable and supportive home for the person in recovery. They may even connect the individual to adequate transportation to work or school and back home.
- Health: one major responsibility of an aftercare treatment is to prevent a relapse of the recovering drug addict. Therefore, aftercare undergoes regular health check-ups to assess substance use. It also provides mental health treatment, as well as testing for infectious diseases.
In summary, these highlights some benefits of aftercare treatment, reaffirming its importance in the recovery process of drug addiction.