Substance use disorder is certainly a treatable condition, but it takes a lifetime of effort to ensure recurrence of use never happens.
Of course, preventing drug overdoses from happening is incredibly important, as is detox and rehab programs to help people suffering from addiction eliminate the toxins from their bodies and develop the tools needed to go through life without using.
However, this is simply not enough.
Continuum of Care Increases Chances of Lifelong Sobriety
Recovery is a lifelong endeavor that requires a continuum of care to maintain long-term sobriety. About 85 percent of people with substance use disorder end up using again within a year following Colorado addiction treatment. This is a staggering number and is reflective of the need to constantly be vigilant about keeping up with recovery throughout life.
Ongoing addiction treatment programs are certainly effective and are even required to ensure sobriety is maintained. In fact, studies show that treatment programs that encompass a lifelong continuum of care are more successful at helping those suffering from addiction refrain from using ever again.
Continuous group therapy, 12-step programs, and other educational programs and tools can help keep recovering addicts on the path to sobriety.
It is one thing to quit using drugs or alcohol, but it is quite another to maintain that lifestyle for good. By incorporating an indefinite care program, lifelong sobriety is much more likely.
Think about someone who has embarked on a weight loss journey and lost all the weight needed. Once all the weight has been lost, keeping it off over the long run can prove to be much more difficult if care is not taken to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise program. Many people end up gaining all the weight back – and even more – once their “diet” stops.
Similarly, a person suffering from addiction may go through detox and complete a rehab program. But once that process is done, the work is not over. If proper care is not taken to make real changes in life and participate in programs that keep the person on the straight path to sobriety, it can be very easy to fall down that slippery slope back to using the drug of choice.
Leaving No Gaps Between Various Phases of Recovery
Luckily, there are plenty of programs available for those suffering from substance use disorder that take you from detox all the way through to ongoing recovery. Long after you leave rehab, such programs can help ensure that recurrence of use never happens.
Ideally, there should be no gap between stages of recovery. From detox through aftercare, a continuum of care can increase the odds that you will never again fall into the trap of addiction. With a continuum of care, you increase the chances of successfully completing your treatment and going on to live a drug-free life.
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To find out more about drug and alcohol rehab programs that can help you to successfully manage substance use disorder and go on to lead a rich life free of drugs or alcohol, contact us today!
