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Follow-up Care is Crucial to a Successful Recovery
Personal Opinion
First and foremost each person’s recovery and what works best for him or her is unique. Family situations, income and addict’s willingness to get treatment make it difficult to say what will work best for your family member.
Begin by attending AA/NA meetings as soon as possible. It may take a while to find a treatment center. The more meetings a person attends the better the chance of beginning a successful recovery. Many have recommended at least one meeting each day- 90 meetings in 90 days
A recovery program, whether residential or outpatient, should be close to home if possible so the outpatient follow-up program will be with the same group and be consistent. Also, many offer family counseling along with the addict’s recovery program. Transitioning into the home environment may be smoother and more gradual. (Individual therapy has not shown to be more helpful than group therapy in treating addictions.)
I called several programs and spoke to some very helpful people. Most programs were very expensive and insurance for rehab is typically limited. Several friends have tried various 28-day programs with their addicted teens/young adults. There is no perfect answer, except this: Even the best programs don’t work if the addict isn’t serious about quitting. Since every addict has his or her unique situation, it is difficult to recommend a program. You have to decide for yourself.
Our son wanted to go to school while working on his recovery. (As I write this, he is making his second recovery attempt.) We decided, at a minimum, that he would go to an outpatient program and attend AA/NA meetings. I called several places and found one I thought would be best for him. I wanted to find a place that also offered residential care, so that, if needed, he would already have an established comfort level. Also, he is taking Suboxone, so we needed a program that allowed this medication.
See Recovery: Recovery facilities
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It has been a year and a half since we began working on our son’s recovery. Today he is doing great. He is making the best grade he ever has in his life and has 3 semesters until he graduates from college!
SEE Get Organized for at-home details.
**Be sure to have your addict sign a consent form for any doctor, councilor, or program you all choose for help. This is consent for you to ask a few questions and work with the professional not for the doctor to divulge personal, private information. You want them to establish a trusting relationship but you also will want to work together. A family councilor would be best.
Psychologist- After working with 3 doctors we found a great one. I will admit he was still using while working with one of the doctors so I can now see why it wasn’t working. Although he didn’t want to go I told him that he needed to learn how to make good, positive decisions, to help avoid relapsing, to learn what his triggers are and to set goals for himself. I would recommend a behavior/cognitive therapist. Their focus is on changing behaviors and reprogramming their brains. He saw the doctor weekly for 3 months. It is important to see them at least weekly if not twice a week for two months so a good, trusting relationship is established. He is currently seeing the doctor bimonthly.
Psychiatrist- He is on suboxone and has been seeing the same doctor since completing detox. I thought the hospital would prescribe suboxone for at least a few days to make his transition back home easier but they did not and we scrambled to find a doctor who prescribes this medication. He has gone from 4 8mg/day to 1/2 2mg. He has just stopped his treatments and withdrawal has been mild but definitely upset his daily routine. Taking suboxone truly helped him stay focused on his recovery and healing without the distraction of his body constantly telling him to seek drugs . One day in the first few months he forgot to take his medicine and said it felt like a machine gun was going off in his brain telling him to use.
Counselor- He attended an in-patient program for almost a year. This included a monthly counselor meeting and 3 group meetings that tapered off as he progressed in the program. Also, included random drug tests. He did not say much about this program so I have little information except that the random drug tests kept him in line. He knew if he was caught using it would be illegal and he may go to jail.
Drug Testing- I would definitely recommend random drug testing. My son’s program include drug testing but I would recommend: DrugAlcoholTest.com if your program doesn’t include random testing. I emphasize random.
NA/AA meetings- I have read over a dozen books and they all recommend attending meeting and getting involved with a sponsor. “90 meetings in 90 days.” One of my son’s friends who couldn’t afford any other help has attended at least one meeting a day for over a year and is doing well. My son currently attends 4 meeting a week and is involved in 2 groups. One from his detox hospital and the other one close to our home. It took him a long time to get involved. Part of his contract for staying home was that he had to attend...stick to the contract and to what has worked for so many other people. I am truly convinced that this program works for everyone who “works at it.” There is no reason it won’t work if they are dedicated. This includes relapses. Remember relapsing isn’t failing it is often part of recovering.
Al-Anon/Narcon meetings- I would recommend these. I have been reading books, news articles and networking with people throughout the country. I have not attended a meeting yet but plan to do so the begiinning of the year. If you don’t have a network this is a great place to start to find help.
Eating Habits- In the beginning he ate sweets all the time. (I tried to discourage all the sweets and wish I would have found the information about sweet addiction. After not eating for almost a year and loosing so much weight I was thrilled that he was at least eating something. He drank Coke like it was water. He did gain a great deal of weight but after a few months began to focus on eating healthy. (A good check for using again is if their eating habits change.) Once he began working out daily his eating habit dramatically changed. He began to eat 6 small meals a day and weighted his food. Now he still eats well enjoys a sweet item at night but is less extreme. I believe this was all part of progressing in his recovery.
Exercise- A KEY TO Recovery especially for opiate addicts. See Exercise for additional information. He worked out every day for 2 months for approximately 3 hours. Although this was extreme I think this helped him physically and mentally and eventually he changed his workout routine so a less intense schedule. He currently alternates working out with playing basketball. He has also met a nice group of guys at the YMCA. He looks good and his shallow breathing which resulted from use of drugs (repressed breathing) and lack of exercise no longer exists!
Spirituality is “an inner sense of something greater than oneself. Recognition of a meaning to existence that transcends one's immediate circumstances.” (Nature.com) Spirituality is distinct from religion. The AA/NA programs works on developing the spiritual side to life and a successful recovery. In my opinion, it is moving from the self-centered life of an addict to a compassionate, self-giving life of a caring, person working on recovering. I am very spiritual and love God and my religion. I can truly say without God in my life I wouldn’t have had the strength to accept what had happened to our son nor the courage, desire and hope to help others. As for my son, I pray through all of this he develops a love of God and learns to depend on Him for help and strength.
Treatment programs- As I previously mentioned on my “Our Story” page my son wanted to continue his education without loosing too much time. We told him that would be great but if he relapsed we would find a residential program. I called many program (See recovery page for some of my recommendations.) After speaking with people and reading so many books I would recommend finding a facility close to home so their support group would be close when they have completed the residential part of the program. If they will be returning home. This may not be possible if their drug using environment is too tempting. Also, make sure their is a good follow-up program/outpatient so their transition will be easier back into the real world. I can’t say I have heard many success stories from people who have gone to 28-day programs.
As you may have gathered abstinence from one’s substance of choice is really only the first step to a success recovery. The body , mind and soul have to change from artificial substances controlling their lives to living in the real world, making good decisions and beginning to enjoy life drug-free.
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