What Does Aftercare Involve?

Support Groups

Support groups offer the chance to connect with other addicts in recovery and allows for the sharing of experiences in a safe and supportive environment.

They also provide literature to help you reach your recovery goals and practical guidelines for coping with the challenges of addiction. Many services, including well-known 12-step groups are free to attend and cover a wide range of addictions.

Attending support groups can help maintain a life free from addiction so if you decide to participate, you are encouraged to interact with other members of the group and help each other to abstain from addictive behaviours.

Support Groups are widely available for most addictions:

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
• Overeaters Anonymous (OA)

• Gamblers Anonymous (GA)
• Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA)
• + Many other support groups

Individual Counselling

Counselling sessions with an addiction specialist can be a helpful component to an aftercare programme. The extent to which counselling is necessary will depend on the individual concerned and may be recommended for a period of weeks or months following completion of a rehabilitation programme.

Additional Support

Outpatient and inpatient rehab centres will usually offer an aftercare and relapse prevention service as part of a treatment programme.

They can advise you on the level of support that would be necessary when returning home from treatment and may be able to connect you with services in your area.

You may also receive additional support by phone, online, or in person if you live locally.

Relapse Prevention

An aftercare plan should look to promote certain skill sets as part of a relapse prevention programme. It should provide the tools necessary to prevent a fall back into addiction and allow for stressors and triggers to be managed and overcome.

Some of the skills that an aftercare programme seeks to promote are:

• Developing skills attained during rehab
• Recognising addiction triggers
• Identifying addiction warning signs

• Managing time effectively
• Considering the outcome of your actions
• Coping with stressors and cravings

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