Outpatient Drug Rehab + Sober Living = Effective Relapse Prevention

What Is Relapse Prevention?
Relapse prevention is a general term given to anything and everything that aims to keep addicts and alcoholics from succumbing to a relapse, or in other words, using again. Addicts typically require an arsenal of “tools” to combat their addictions, as addiction is a disease that centers in the mind and, if you wish to extend the metaphor, aims to deceive the addict into believing that he or she can get high “just one more time” without consequence or, worse, that he or she isn’t an addict in the first place. Unfortunately for most addicts, a relapse rarely ends in a one-time dance with the addict’s drug of choice, but instead catapults them right back into the vicious cycle of using to live and living to use. Thus, relapse prevention is of paramount importance to the addict in early recovery.

How Outpatient Drug Rehab Can Help
A new-to-recovery addict’s greatest nemesis is often time or, rather, free time. An addict with too much time on his hands can be a recipe for disaster, so it is highly recommended that in early recovery, addicts fill there time with as many self-esteem and healthy habit building activities as possible. To this effect, outpatient drug rehab can be the perfect time-filler for an addict transitioning back into the “real world.” Whether he has yet to return to the workforce or is holding down a low-stress part time job, an addict should take every opportunity he has to remain accountable to his own sobriety. A daily outpatient program can afford him the opportunity to check in with recovery professionals, to confirm his sobriety through drug testing, and to learn more about the recovery process.

How Sober Living Can Help
An addict who is attending an outpatient drug program for two to eight hours a day should also consider living in a sober living facility. Together, the structure and mutual support of a sober living home and the therapeutic nature of an outpatient group can greatly reduce an addict’s likelihood to relapse. Like outpatient programs, most sober living homes require residents to consent to random drug testing, which is an excellent way to ensure a safe, sober environment. Living amongst other sober alcoholics walking the same path combined with outpatient attendance can be one of the most unifying, positive experiences of an addict’s life.