Addiction Aftercare in Minneapolis MN
One of the most overlooked aspects of addiction treatment is addiction aftercare. As difficult as treating an addiction may be, however, maintaining a sober lifestyle requires just as much effort as treating the disorder. Due to the fact that drug and alcohol dependence can only be managed, having a comprehensive addiction aftercare plan is essential.
Learn about various treatment programs call, Minneapolis Drug Treatment Centers at (877) 804-1531.
Addiction Aftercare Programs
While addiction treatment primarily uses therapy to help break an addiction, addiction aftercare usually involves support from family and friends and a commitment to programs like Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
These programs help recovering addicts form a circle of friends who are all dedicated to sober living, to reinforce the techniques learned in therapy, and eventually to find a purpose in helping or sponsoring others who are fighting addictions. Some addicts also find that regular counseling is an important part of remaining addiction-free.
Aftercare programs are designed to reduce the chances of a relapse. Recovering addicts in the aftercare stage will learn:
- Coping strategies to deal with the stressors in life that can lead to relapse
- Their own addiction triggers and ways to avoid them
- How to foster healthy habits and relationships
- How to minimize the damage if a relapse does occur
- Some aftercare services even include help finding employment, affordable housing and childcare, and local health clinics.
Relapse Prevention
A staggering 80% of people who go through an addiction recovery program will relapse at least once, with about half of those relapses occurring within the first two months after detox. A large percentage of those who relapse fail to receive adequate aftercare. Some of the most effective relapse prevention tactics include:
- Support groups
- Family relapse prevention education
- Individual and group therapy
- Sponsors or case managers
- Sober living homes
For those living with a dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorders, mental health management can be the most important part of addiction aftercare. A mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, or depression, can quickly cause a relapse if it is not managed along with an addiction disorder. Most addiction treatment centers are able to offer dual diagnosis treatment as well as a relapse prevention plan for addicts who also suffer from a mental health disorder.
Relapse Intervention
Since relapses do occur, it is essential for the family and friends of a recovering addict to know how to do an intervention in case of a relapse. Confrontational interventions are the classic intervention models. These include formal interventions, that are carefully planned and conducted with the help of a professional, and informal interventions, which are more like conversations between the addict and loved ones. Forcible interventions can be staged as well, in which the addicted person is admitted to a rehab facility without consent.
In recent years, motivational intervention has become the preferred method of intervention over confrontational models. Some motivational intervention models include:
- Motivational interviewing. This involves a conversation that is designed to lead a user to conclude on his or her own that the addiction is a problem that needs treatment.
- Systemic. Systemic intervention requires family involvement, with the use of a series of actions that are designed to encourage the user to seek treatment.
- ARISE. A Relational Intervention Sequence of Engagement, or ARISE, is similar to systemic intervention with a more targeted approach to treatment.
- CRAFT. One of the most popular intervention models, Community Reinforcement and Family Training addresses the environmental factors that may enable a user.
Confrontational models of intervention often work more quickly, giving the user some sort of ultimatum, but motivational interventions result in lower relapse rates and are designed to help users realize the consequences of their own actions.
If you are looking for an addiction treatment program for yourself or a loved one, call Minneapolis Drug Treatment Centers at (877) 804-1531 for help.