So, you or a loved one have completed inpatient drug/alcohol treatment. What happens next? Do you gather up your belongings from the treatment center, drive home, and resume your life where you left off?

Of course not. At the completion of inpatient treatment, whether it be 30, 60, 90 days or more, an aftercare plan will likely be prepared and strongly suggested by the treating facility. The most obvious reason for aftercare is to provide some level of defense against relapse. And, keep in mind that relapse statistics are daunting particularly if the inpatient treatment is only 30 days. Many treatment facilities report that the longer the patient stays in treatment, the better chance of long term sobriety.

If inpatient treatment occured at a 12 step based facility, attendance at AA meetings may be high on the list of aftercare options. AA is an excellent self help organization for people in early sobriety and beyond. It has a proven track record, is free, and, if you live in a medium to large city, will have many meetings to choose from. (Los Angeles has several thousand meetings per week).

If AA does not appeal to you (the powerless and higher power concepts) there are other self help organizations available for assistance in early recovery. Rational Recovery, Women For Sobriety, and Recovery, Inc. are a few examples of non-AA self help. Check Google for meeting information for these and other similar organizations.

If time and financial resources are available, the patient may be referred to a therapist, outpatient, or intensive outpatient follow up care. Presumably, the patient will have received some skills in inpatient treatment to maintain sobriety and in this new phase of recovery will be able, through the help of therapists and counselors, to continue working on issues that fueled addiction in the first place and further develop relapse prevention skills.

Sometimes the jump from inpatient treatment to life at home may be too intense for the patient in early recovery. Sober living is an excellent option for those falling into this category. Typically, a sober living home is designed to help the patient acquire the recovery skills necessary to transition into a healthy sober lifestyle while living in a structured, nurturing and sober living environment.

Sadly, aftercare may be restricted by available resources to cover the cost. If medical insurance is available a phone call to the claims department may help determine what benefits, if any, are available.