The inpatient drug and alcohol rehab in Astoria at Virtue Recovery Center is the beginning of recovery, not the end. It takes more than a month to continue having a sober lifestyle and returning home without the support, and a plan is easy for a person to relapse. Working alongside the treatment team, transitioning to a lower level of care to prepare for reintegration into work, school, and family is necessary.

Having a planned aftercare program and plan will significantly increase a person’s chances of long-term and successful recovery and reduce relapse.

One part of a successful plan is to reenter a ”clean” home, free from alcohol and drugs, wherever that may be. It is commonly best practice for people newly in recovery to ask someone else to handle substances and paraphernalia and get rid of them. Being honest and telling them where any hiding places are is important. Deleting all contact with dealers and influencers is highly recommended.

Aftercare Options

There are several variables to an aftercare program from a dual-diagnosis, drug, or alcohol treatment in Astoria. Each person will be different depending on their needs. Working with counselors, therapists, and specific staff members who specialize in the transition phase will be able to suggest the best options for you.

There are a few popular options such as:

Transitioning to a sober living home. Sober living homes, sometimes referred to as halfway houses, are places where people cohabitate in an environment free of drugs or alcohol. They have certain rules and provide a structure. They usually have an onsite person with who they check-in, though you can leave during the day. Several people like this option as they are still held accountable with drug tests have a curfew, and usually have house meetings with the sober residents.

IOP – next step down from rehab

IOP stands for Intensive Outpatient Treatment, which is often the next step for people who want to continue ongoing treatment and is highly recommended. Usually, people can live at a sober house and attend IOP, which has a reduced number of meetings for drug and alcohol recovery in Astoria and provides a good transition before returning home. IOP also provides ongoing therapy and counseling services at an average of 1-2 times a week.

Returning Home

If you need to return home and go back to work, school, or family, it is highly suggested that you work closely with your therapist or staff member who cases manages you. Have them help you find 12 -Step or equivalent meetings, a local counselor who specializes in addiction, and a phone list of people to call who are sober. Returning home can often cause stress, as it can trigger memories of using. While in Astoria’s rehab, consider having someone at home clear out any reminders of substances or paraphernalia and items which can trigger a relapse.

How to Reduce the Possibility of Relapse

Relapse should not be taken lightly, as many people are concerned about staying clean and sober when they leave our drug and alcohol rehab in Astoria, Ore. It is common to have mixed feelings about returning to a place that you once recently used.  You can take steps that can help you reduce the risk of relapse and make a safe and healthy transition.  Learning how to change your perspective in Astoria’s rehab can help. Some things to consider adding to your everyday health in sobriety are:

• Being active. Walking, running, gym, dancing, yoga, etc., can allow your body to increase healthy hormones, which will, in turn, take the place of needing the excess amounts of dopamine that substances once provided.
• Reach out to others. This is a must for long-term sobriety, as often we gravitate to the people we have something in common with. Having a sober network and being able to connect with like-minded people will help change habits.
• Find other areas to drive to. If you had a favorite liquor store or scored drugs in certain areas, be sure to take alternate routes. Some people write reminder notes in their vehicles to ensure they no longer are tempted to drive to the local bar or hang out.
• Healthy eating will help your brain. Mindful eating is medicine for the body, which in turn will help your mind and thoughts of returning to old habits.
• Learn something new. Take a class, volunteer somewhere, pick up a new instrument or language. Creating new neuropathways in your brain will help with old locked-in ideas and black and white thinking, something that drugs and alcohol do to the thought process, especially when one has trauma. Learning new things with developing better all-around brain functionality.
• Have sober fun. Go back to old hobbies you once did that you loved that don’t include anything about substances, attend entertainment shows, meet new people, engage in daily meditation activities, get a pet.

Keep phone numbers of people you have met during your stay in Astoria, Oregon, and stay connected with them. If you feel you may be triggered to relapse, always call someone first. Set yourself up for success takes a little pre-planning, and Virtue Recovery Center is here to help you do just that.