Oct
31
Back Home Again
At Heartland Intervention a lot of time is spent facilitating people’s entry into treatment. Treatment works! But treatment is only the initial phase of recovery and this week a great deal of time will be spent helping those who are returning from treatment. Coming ”home” is a necessary part of recovery but it can be a time of great fear for the entire family and should not take place without significant planning.
When someone completes their initial treatment, the discharge planning treat at the center will typically offer some assistance. This often includes making sure that the client has a meeting schedule and a list of phone numbers of other recovering people. But there are several other questions that need to be addressed.
1. Where will the person live? Often it is not wise to simply return someone to the same environment where they were using or drinking. Relocating to a sober-living facility for a time may allow the person the ability to work and build on their recovery without being exposed to the same pressures that accompanied addiction. If the person lives in a large city, it may be wise not to return to the same neighborhood. Recently a client from a small town decided his recovery would benefit if he finished high school away from where he had been using and selling drugs.
2. Is follow-up treatment appropriate? When someone leaves residential treatment it is often a good idea to have them continue with a form of outpatient treatment. Typically an intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) is three hours/day for at least three days/week. This can last for 4-6 weeks or longer. IOP provides structure and accountability to a person when the exit initial treatment. Most IOPs also require twelve-step meeting attendance as a part of their program.
3. What about family involvement and medical issues in recovery? This can be a tough one because some families recognise the need for the entire family to recovery together. Others however see the addiction as the addict’s to deal with. In any event, family therapy in the form of 12-step meetings or formal counseling can be of great benefit once the addict has a couple of months to buttress their recovery. Good discharge planning will address the entire family’s needs. Similarly, some have a need to be followed by a medical doctor. This can be a family physician, an addictions specialist or a psychiatrist. Referrals, including initial appointments are best made before the addict discharges from treatment.
Heartland Intervention is committed to all phases of recovery. Even though a great deal of attention and time is spent facilitating entry into treatment, we recognise the need to help folks when they come back home as well. If you or a loved one struggles with addiction, don’t delay! Call us today at 877/752-8811.
