Treatment is a time to develop the tools necessary to maintain sobriety when one reenters the “real world”. When we leave treatment, we are not cured of addiction. We are at the beginning phase of entering into a lifetime of sobriety and personal growth, free from the constraints of addiction. Our chances of maintaining our sobriety after treatment are dependent upon a variety of factors, including the quality of treatment, length of stay, and above all, our willingness to adhere to a life of recovery. Addiction relapse rates are similar to other chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and asthma. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, about forty to sixty percent of people will relapse after treatment. Relapse, however, does not mean treatment has failed or that sobriety is not possible. The NIDA explains, “Treatment of chronic diseases involves changing deeply imbedded behaviors, and relapse does not mean treatment has failed. For a person recovering from addiction, lapsing back to drug use indicates that treatment needs to be reinstated or adjusted or that another treatment should be tried.” We are much less likely to relapse if we go to a treatment facility that focuses on providing the necessary information about the disease of addiction and offers aftercare programs to support the maintenance of our sobriety. According to the NIDA, “Generally, for residential or outpatient treatment, participation for less than 90 days is of limited effectiveness, and treatment lasting significantly longer is recommended for maintaining positive outcomes.” However, these statistics do not take into account the quality of treatment being received. Certainly, the longer we stay sober, the less likely we are to relapse. However, the majority of people enter into treatment for 30 to 60-day period, and, depending on the individual, 30 days may be an adequate length of time to gain an understanding of what must be done in order to maintain sobriety. If we truly want to stay sober and maintain a happy and joyous life free from addiction, we must use treatment as a time to get through the acute symptoms of withdrawal and develop the necessary coping skills and tools to maintain our newfound sobriety.
Recovery is possible for anyone, no matter how far down they have gone into the depths of addiction and alcoholism. You, too, can recovery and find a new sense of freedom and joy in sobriety. Oceanfront Recovery, a treatment center in beautiful Laguna Beach, is dedicated to guiding and supporting you through the entire recovery process, from Detox to Aftercare. For more information about treatment options, please call today: (877) 279-1777
