Through our network of facilities, we have been witnesses to thousands of lives transformed for the better, families restored, and dreams realized. Over time, we have learned what works and what doesn’t, improving on our programs along the way based on client feedback. But we aren’t asking you to simply take our word for it.
Below, you can watch, read, and listen to the experiences of real people who have successfully found sobriety after treatment at All In Solutions.
What Is an Aftercare Plan for Substance Use?
Aftercare is your individualized, structured, after-treatment plan that is an essential part of maintaining sobriety and supporting your overall health after completing a formal, intensive treatment program.[1] A good aftercare plan will be developed between you and your clinical team prior to your discharge and will include your specific risks, needs, and goals, rather than just a general checklist.
Your aftercare plan for substance use disorder should generally include:
- Continuing your outpatient treatment by stepping down to an outpatient or Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) to continue receiving clinical support while you rebuild your daily life
- Continuing therapy sessions — both individual therapy and group therapy — to continue processing the underlying issues of your substance use disorder and develop healthy coping skills
- Having a peer support network and participating in a 12-step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or SMART Recovery, to continue to provide accountability and a sense of community
- Having a sober living environment established if needed, to help provide a safe and supportive living environment during the early period after treatment
- Overseeing any medication-assisted treatment and psychiatric medications as part of your overall treatment plan
- Getting your family involved through family therapy, education, and support to both heal your family relationships and build a strong support system at home
- Working with your case manager to coordinate ongoing aftercare needs, including physical health, mental health, employment, and other resources
- Establishing a relapse prevention plan that outlines how to identify triggers, manage cravings, and proactively deal with potentially dangerous situations before they become crises
At All In Solutions, aftercare planning and development begin long before you discharge. Case managers work closely with each client throughout the entire treatment process, beginning at day one, to ensure that you will have a solid, workable plan prior to entering your new post-treatment life.
Why is Aftercare so Important?
The importance of continuing care in order to avoid relapse after treatment cannot be overstated. Research from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) indicates that those who engage in extended aftercare following residential or inpatient treatment have continued successes in the long run compared to those without any aftercare support.[2] Here is how:
High Rates of Relapse
Relapse rates for substance use disorders are similar to other chronic medical conditions and can reach 40-60% according to National Institute on Drug Abuse statistics.[3] While this can feel discouraging, it also serves as a strong argument for continuing care. Just as diabetes or hypertension require ongoing medical management to remain stable, addiction requires continued recovery support services to maintain the successes obtained through treatment.
The First 30 Days
The first 30 days after discharge are the highest-risk period for relapse.[4] After leaving a treatment program, clients will once again become exposed to the same environments, relationships, and stressors that contributed to their original substance use. Having a strong aftercare plan and alumni support network in place provides those transitioning out of treatment with the scaffolding necessary to comfortably navigate their re-entry into their communities.
Recovery is More Than Simply Abstaining from Substance Use
While continuing aftercare increases the ability to prevent relapse, aftercare is about more than simply preventing relapse. Recovery involves not only stopping the use of substances, but actively rebuilding a meaningful, connected, and healthy life. Continued access to peer communities, group therapy, and alumni support programs all provide opportunities to help achieve and maintain optimal levels of well-being.
Recovery Does Not End at Discharge
Finishing a treatment program is one of the most important milestones you will accomplish on your road to recovery. However, it is also a very vulnerable point during your recovery.
The structure, support, and daily accountability of your life in treatment are not automatically carried over into your new daily life. Without a good aftercare plan in place, the risk of relapse is greatly increased as you transition back into your daily life.
This doesn’t mean that you are weak or have failed; it is simply part of the clinical reality of being treated for a substance use disorder. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has consistently reiterated that continuing care is one of the most important factors in long-term recovery success.[5] Addiction is a chronic disease like many others and must be managed long after the initial intensive treatment period.
The good news is that with the right aftercare program that has continued support, connection, and ongoing accountability, the chances of recovering from addiction are drastically improved. At All In Solutions, it is this understanding that serves as the foundation of our alumni support program. Our commitment to you is that recovery is a lifelong journey and we will continue to walk alongside you long after you leave our treatment facilities.
The Efficacy of Aftercare and Alumni Support
Evidence to support the efficacy of structured aftercare is consistent and significant through research. A recent study published by the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment determined that individuals who participated in continuing care following discharge from an inpatient substance abuse treatment demonstrated significantly reduced substance use and improved mental health at follow-up.[6] Additionally, individuals who remained engaged in peer support groups and outpatient treatment following discharge had a substantially higher long-term sobriety rate than those who did not.
National data supports these findings. These studies also demonstrate that having strong social support systems and receiving continuing care assists in protecting those suffering from substance use disorder and mental health disorders from relapse.[7] There is equally compelling research to support that participation in 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and similar programs provides participating individuals with a greater rate of prolonged sobriety.[8]
While both types of support are effective, the alumni program provides what cannot be fully replicated by a typical aftercare referral: a recovery support community based on shared lived experience with a specific treatment center and specific recovery philosophy. This shared lived experience creates a unique and powerful connection within the community to support the longevity of recovery.
Finding Local Alumni Support Groups for Addiction
Connecting with others in a recovery community is one of the best indicators of long-term recovery. Whether through 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, alternative peer support programs such as SMART Recovery, or alumni support networks such as those provided by All In Solutions, communities provide accountability, understanding, and hope to help those in recovery maintain their sobriety when faced with the inevitable challenges of daily life.
For many people in recovery, connecting with local alumni groups is one of the most important steps after completing treatment, as group members can relate to and connect with one another’s experiences and provide support and encouragement as they continue in sobriety.
At All In Solutions, our alumni network consists of more than 7,700 members across all of our facilities and continues to grow. Our alumni connect with each other and the broader community through events, group meetings, and ongoing outreach.
The All In Solutions Alumni Program
The All In Solutions Alumni Program consists of three primary components: the recovery journey, lifelong family, and giving back.
- Recovery Journey — The journey towards life-long recovery begins right at admission to All In Solutions. Numerous studies have confirmed that those who attend recovery support groups have increased chances for continuing successful long-term recovery.[9] While in treatment, clients will have access to alumni events and meetings, and aftercare support continues throughout their lives.
- Lifelong Family — Many people in recovery have their own families and friends, yet feel disconnected from them in the early months of recovery. Through monthly recovery meetings, regular staff contact with clients, and an active alumni community, each person will have a sense of belonging to the All In Solutions family throughout their lifelong recovery journey, regardless of their location.
- Giving Back — Those who volunteer their time and efforts to help others navigate the recovery process have the opportunity to create a lasting impact on many others’ lives. Through sponsoring and mentoring, one person helps many others create positive life changes while simultaneously strengthening their own ability to maintain sobriety. Alumni members may share their experiences, encourage and support newer clients, and stay involved in the network that helped them heal.
