Treatment for a fentanyl addiction usually does not end after completing rehab programs. Recovering from an addiction is a process that lasts a lifetime, and it requires continual effort, dedication, and hard work. People in recovery can opt to go on with their fentanyl rehab treatment via an aftercare program or in sober living/transitional housing programs.
After being discharged from fentanyl rehab, you will still need a certain level of care to ensure continued success and sobriety in recovery. This can be provided in aftercare, which gives you the tools needed to continue with sobriety as you transition back into the world. Most aftercare programs are 12-step programs, but they are all different. Depending on the individual’s situation and whether they have a co-occurring disorder, there are multiple options.
Anyone who has enrolled in a fentanyl rehab program needs aftercare since it is an integral part of the rehab process. Recovery continues long after you leave the treatment center because addiction is a complicated disease that requires lifelong maintenance.
The Process of Aftercare
After completing fentanyl rehab, your primary therapist or coordinator will work together with you to develop a post-discharge aftercare plan. This plan aims to keep the individual sober, healthy, and happy. Aftercare isn’t just designed to keep the patient from doing drugs or drinking. It is also meant to actively involve you in recovery as you transition back into the real world from fentanyl rehab.
For most people, avoiding any triggers, whether people, places, or situations that can tempt you to resume drug use, is essential. This is what aftercare can do for recovering individuals after completing rehab:
- It provides you with the resources to make the right company and prevent relapse.
- It teaches you to avoid going back to harmful habits and reduce relapses.
- Aftercare helps recovering individuals determine their triggers to better avoid them
- It teaches you to deal with strong emotions like depression, anxiety, and stress.
- Aftercare helps you make the right decisions, such as avoiding addictive substances and adopting healthier nutrition.
When looking for fentanyl rehab treatment and aftercare programs, you should seek effective approaches that deal with the patient’s needs and drug use problem. It is essential to have support and assistance from family members or loved ones during aftercare to maintain sobriety and recovery and prevent relapses. This is because sometimes drug use triggers can be in your home, and if everyone in the family works together to prevent triggers, it helps the recovery process.
Additionally, you might have done some things to your family due to the addiction, and if they see you actively working towards recovery, it can ease the tension. Aftercare services involving family members ideally include:
- 12-step programs
- Educational classes teaching family members about addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders
- Individual and group therapies for children, spouses, and families.
When looking for an aftercare program after fentanyl rehab, find one that addresses all these problems. If you are unsure of the next step to take, contact a local rehab facility or your rehab coordinator for more details.
Individuals suffering from the following conditions may need aftercare even more after completing fentanyl rehab:
Physical health problems: Most people struggling with addiction also have medical issues that can influence substance use disorders, such as autoimmune diseases, diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases, hypertension, etc. Aftercare specialists are well-equipped to manage any co-occurring medical problems.- Mental health problems: Some people struggling with substance abuse and addiction may be at a higher risk of experiencing co-occurring mental health illnesses. Aftercare can help them manage a dual diagnosis to increase the chances of recovery success.
- Lack of support: Most individuals suffering from fentanyl abuse might have lost family and loved ones during their period of drug use. They may have also gained friends who contribute to their addiction. During aftercare, you’ll be in the presence of people who understand you and want you to stay healthy.
Individual therapies, 12-step programs, and group therapies provide recovering individuals with the necessary support to sustain long-term recovery. Sober living communities can be ideal for long-term aftercare for people who do not have a safe home to return to after completing fentanyl rehab. A sober living community provides an environment free from drugs where the individual can get emotional support and affordable housing during recovery.
Duration of Aftercare
The period of aftercare after fentanyl rehab will depend on the individual. Some people must follow up for years before settling into a healthy lifestyle without regular check-ins. For others, aftercare can continue for the rest of their lives. You may engage in aftercare activities such as individual therapy, group therapy, or support groups as part of your daily routine. Some people end up depending on these activities or enjoying them so much that they continue attending them out of preference.
However, relapse typically occurs within the first three months after finishing a rehab program. So remember that the longer you stay without relapsing, the higher your chances of lasting success in your recovery. Aftercare has been shown to raise the person’s chances of success since it provides them with coping resources.
Building a Support Network with Aftercare
Aftercare introduces you to a vast network of people who have undergone the same program or medical professionals. Engaging in aftercare after completing fentanyl rehab allows you to interact with these great people to get the support you need during recovery. 12-step aftercare programs also assign recovering participants a sponsor to guide them through their transition back into the real world.
Some rehab programs keep in touch with program graduates and call them in to help new members through their recovery. This allows you to stay in touch with everyone you made connections with during the program. Alumni organizations for these programs also host fun, sober events for members and their families to get together, socialize and connect.
