Last Updated: February 15, 2023

After going through rehabilitative addiction therapy, you should feel accomplished. After all, admitting that you need help and then taking the necessary steps to get it is never easy, nor is it always easy to stay clean afterward.

However, for long-term addiction recovery, a healthy aftercare support system is essential to making sure that your hard work in getting and staying clean does not go to waste with a relapse. After rehab, such as a stint at The Recovery Village Columbus, there are several excellent reasons to seek out support programs. Here are four of the top reasons why aftercare is recommended and some pointers for finding resources.

“Addiction should never be treated as a crime. It has to be treated as a health problem. We do not send alcoholics to jail in this country. Over 500,000 people are in our jails who are nonviolent drug users.” ― Ralph Nader

According to Time Magazine, 39 percent of the prison population is not a risk to the public. A substance use disorder is a health issue. Recognizing that you are not a bad person can help you find better health.

“Whether I or anyone else accepted the concept of alcoholism as a disease didn’t matter; what mattered was that when treated as a disease, those who suffered from it were most likely to recover.” ― Craig Ferguson

Alcoholism and other substance use disorders are caused by many factors, including the way your brain and body work. Many studies have shown differences between those who are prone to substance use disorder and those who are not.

For example, a study published in the journal PLOS One stated that those with an alcohol use disorder may have a different lateral habenula, a part of the brain that is responsible for learning from negative experiences.

“Addiction: When you can give up something any time, as long as it’s next Tuesday.” — Nikki Sixx

While this quote is humorous, the sentiment behind it is real. It is hard to begin and to continue the rehab process. Less than 20 percent of those who are treated for an alcohol use disorder stay alcohol-free for the year.

However, if you make it to two years, 60 percent of people stay free of alcohol. Those who are sober for five years are likely to continue this pattern indefinitely. Finding support for taking that first step is important, and aftercare is just as critical to maintaining sobriety.

“There are multiple pathways to addiction recovery and all are cause for celebration!” — William L. White

You do not need to approach addiction recovery in the same way as others around you do. You are unique. You have the ability to navigate your own addiction recovery journey.

“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work. You don’t give up.” — Anne Lamott

When you experience a substance use disorder, your life can seem dark. It may be hard to see the way through your challenges. However, others before you made it through this dark time, and you can do it too — especially with a supportive community around you.

“The hopeful part about that is when you do have that help, you will feel better. It still doesn’t make this easy. Nothing makes this easy, but you can make better decisions.” — David Sheff 

It is difficult to fight a substance use disorder by yourself. Help such as counseling and therapy can give you the support and tools avoid substance use.

“People spend a lifetime searching for happiness; looking for peace. They chase idle dreams, addictions, religions, even other people, hoping to fill the emptiness that plagues them. The irony is the only place they ever needed to search was within.”  — Ramona L. Anderson

Getting support for your addiction recovery journey also means getting support for your mental health. If you deal with anxiety, depression or other mental health issues, it can be more challenging to avoid drugs or alcohol. However, with assistance for your mental health, you can navigate the challenges of substance use.

Are you looking for support in your addiction recovery journey? At The Recovery Village Columbus, medical professionals can help you better manage your addiction. Contact The Recovery Village Columbus today to learn more about how treatment can help you heal.