Things You Need to Know About PHP Aftercare Services in Boston, MA
Clinically Reviewed by Dr. Kate Smith
Today, there are a lot of resources available to help people struggling with substance abuse and drug addiction. Patients can choose between numerous treatments and effective recovery programs, to make their transition towards sobriety. Partial hospitalization programs for drug addiction recovery are among some of the preferred treatments and completing the program is a major milestone. But your journey to be addiction-free has one final leg and also the most crucial one, and that is aftercare and relapse prevention. In Boston, many rehab facilities offer a handful of resources and aftercare services to assist their patients with this transition back to their routine.
Why Is Aftercare Important for You?
Dealing with drug addiction takes a toll on one’s body, both physically and emotionally. Moreover, it is something that affects you psychologically and the slightest inconvenience and can trigger a relapse. The recovery treatments are often administered under medical supervision and closely monitored. But, once you return to your routine, it changes to passive monitoring and you need the right support and tools that can make this a smoother transition. And that’s where specialized aftercare services are important, to equip you with what you need to reduce the chances of relapse and make your drug-free journey successful.
What to Consider and What to Expect?
Once you have completed your partial hospitalization program and received clearance from your advisor, you move on to aftercare. While it may seem like a continuation of your addiction recovery treatment, it is more of a comprehensive roadmap. A plan to make you self-reliant to manage your triggers and take charge of your life.
Depending on one’s needs and medical profile, an aftercare program is tailored to their particular situation. Overall, it is an amalgamation of therapy, social support groups, counseling and enablement workshops spanning over a period. Each of these is an abstraction of what you would have received during your PHP and is more focused on making you self-reliant.
All Aftercare Plans Are Not the Same!!
Though the primary goal of drug addiction aftercare is to prevent relapse, there is a bigger picture. An aftercare plan also focuses on helping you build a healthy lifestyle and establish long-term goals. Depending on your medical condition and overall routine, the aftercare plan can vary, and can only be effective if it is planned strategically.
Depending on your goals, whether it is in terms of developing employment skills, addressing underlying medical conditions and/or family reunification, your aftercare program can vary significantly. And these can be greatly influenced by your current environment including your living conditions, social situation, employment and psychological wellness.
Therefore, before you conclude your rehab program, whether it is as an inpatient treatment or partial hospitalization program, you need an aftercare plan in place. In Boston and across Quincy, Massachusetts; there are many rehab facilities like GBAC that specialize in aftercare services.
How to Choose the Right Aftercare Plan and Service?
Most aftercare services and treatments are very similar, however, there can be subtle differences that can differentiate between their effectiveness. Before you choose your aftercare program, you should do a thorough assessment of each of your options. Here’s what you should certainly look for:
- Access to medication management
For patients undergoing simultaneous medical treatments, managing medication dosages and schedules can sometimes be overwhelming. Moreover, simultaneous medication-assisted treatments should be regularly reviewed for any adjustments and side effects. So having professional medication management assistance can be great for your physical and mental health.
- Having a reliable support framework
Another important aspect of recovery and post-treatment care is to have a strong support system. Dealing with drug addictions can be emotionally draining and challenging. Having a support system of family, friends and people who are dealing with similar situations can make a big difference. Social support groups can offer you a platform to meet people and to share your experiences with others. All of which can help you feel heard and acknowledged, thus offering you a safe place for your transition.
- Continued therapy is essential
Similar to the therapy sessions during your rehabilitation program, aftercare therapy would be a big part of your overall roadmap. These sessions can help you address your underlying issues and develop coping mechanisms to deal with your urges and reduce chances of relapse. These therapies can be for individuals, groups and families, each addressing different aspects of the emotional and physiological challenges of drug addictions treatments. Also, these therapy sessions would enable your counselor to monitor your progress and make necessary adjustments to your overall plan.
Your journey from struggling with substance abuse addiction to successfully recovering and completing your PHP treatment is a big achievement. And the transition from post-recovery to aftercare is just another pivotal phase of your journey. If you are ready to take this step and need some assistance, contact us at 877.926.3034 and our experts at GBAC will get you started.
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