Addiction treatment is just the first step toward a healthier, substance-free life. What comes next is a much more difficult process for most people to go through — the day-to-day commitment to lifelong recovery. We know it’s hard, which is why all of our treatment programs include a variety of alumni services that can be used after a client completes their stay with us.

Addiction is a disease with no cure, and relapses are incredibly common; in fact, around 40% to 60% of people use substances again after treatment. However, a momentary stumble doesn’t mean recovery is lost forever. With alumni resources like aftercare planning, relapse prevention plans, peer support and ongoing check-ins, people in recovery can learn helpful strategies for staying sober and find help when they’re struggling.

Aftercare Planning

After a client completes rehab treatment, they’ll work with a team of addiction experts to create a customized aftercare plan that fits their unique needs. Aftercare planning may include:

  • Medication-assisted treatment: For example, medications such as methadone or buprenorphine may be used to help people in recovery from opioid addiction.
  • Group or individual therapy: Clients may be advised to continue a therapy routine, whether at our rehab center or another local mental health clinic. A major part of healing relates to understanding the underlying causes of a person’s addiction, and these can be further uncovered through ongoing therapy.
  • Support groups: Peer support through organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery can help people hold themselves accountable and find assistance when they’re struggling. Clients will be given a list of different support groups available in their area.
  • Relapse prevention plans: Everyone has different situations, feelings, environments or even people that can trigger them into relapsing. Creating a relapse prevention plan involves listing these triggers, finding ways to avoid them and figuring out a strategy to follow when these triggers appear.
  • Follow-ups and check-ins: Staff will routinely reach out to clients to check in on their recovery and see how their aftercare plan is working out. Clients may also be asked to use mobile options or apps to record their recovery progress or visit the center for an in-person evaluation.
  • Sober living communities: For some people in recovery, home is a place filled with triggering situations that could make relapses more likely. A sober living home allows people to continue their recovery in a safe, controlled environment that’s free from drugs and alcohol.

Related Topic: Halfway Houses vs. Sober Homes

Alumni Access

After completing treatment at our rehab facility, clients gain access to a number of recovery apps, online portals and related services that foster an easier transition back to day-to-day life. Not all of these resources are strictly recovery-related; we also provide career and financial advising, family-friendly alumni events and much more. Here are some of the helpful services that alumni can enjoy throughout their recovery.

Telehealth App and Patient Portal

After completing a treatment program and registering with our patient portal, clients can take advantage of a wealth of helpful online resources. The portal provides many tools that promote wellness and recovery, such as guided yoga lessons, online journaling services, educational videos, addiction resources, support and much more.

Our telehealth app also provides clients with easily accessible therapy. All a person needs is a smartphone, tablet or computer to speak with a professional and develop new strategies for lifelong recovery or find ways to improve mental health.

Other Recovery Resources

The Recovery Village also provides several resources that are freely available to anyone, whether they attended one of our facilities or not. We offer these to help improve ongoing recovery, raise awareness and allow people to learn more about addiction treatment and support.

Free Recovery Meeting Rooms

Our online recovery meeting service allows people to host and participate in video group calls. With the ongoing pandemic, it’s more important than ever for people to find safe but effective ways to stay in touch. This service provides a private and confidential way for support groups to do so.

Video Resources

We offer many video resources about addiction and recovery, both on our website and our YouTube channel. These videos cover a wide range of topics, including mental health, different types of substances, recovery stories, FAQs, facility walkthroughs and much more.

Addiction and Mental Health Webinars

The Recovery Village often hosts continuing education webinars for professionals, but these presentations hold a lot of value for anyone looking to learn more about addiction. Whether you’re a professional looking to expand your knowledge, a person in recovery hoping to find wellness tips or someone struggling with addiction, there’s something for everyone in these content-filled webinars.

Support Groups and Sponsorships

Support groups help people in recovery connect with others who are going through the same or similar situations. These groups help members commit themselves to recovery, find a helping hand when they’re struggling and share strategies that worked for themselves. We provide a helpful guide that covers the different types of groups and how you can find them in your area.

In most support groups, people who are doing well in long-term recovery may sponsor newer members. This creates a direct lifeline that sponsees can use when they’re struggling. The sponsor provides guidance, encouragement and companionship throughout the early stages of recovery. It can make all the difference in helping someone get more practice at sober living.

If you or someone you love is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, help is available at The Recovery Village at Baptist Health. Contact us today to learn more about treatment programs and recovery resources that can work well for your needs.