Continuous Support

Aftercare

Aftercare refers broadly to any addiction treatment (or combination of treatment types) that is non-residential, though it usually follows residential/inpatient treatment. As its name would suggest, these are not intended to be stand-alone treatments, but rather ones that continue to provide care after intensive residential treatment.

About Aftercare Addiction Treatment

Inpatient (or residential) treatment is the general starting point in an addict’s journey through sobriety. They are detoxed, mentally and physically stabilized, possibly given medication, and receive therapy. The function of aftercare is to continue to provide similar services and a structured environment and to stay in contact with Canadian Addiction Recovery Network staff and alumni. This way, a patient’s transition from highly intense treatment back into society is not abrupt, but rather gradual.

How Aftercare Works

Inpatient is comprehensive, incorporating both clinical and residential aspects into its program. In the aftercare stage, the individual is working his or her program continuously in the outside world once more becoming a productive member of society while still maintaining their sobriety and therapy.

Clinical Aftercare

The clinical component of aftercare is run by a treatment center (often the same one where the addict attended inpatient treatment). Such programs provide the same basic services as inpatient treatment, albeit at a less intensive level. These services include:

• Attending clinical therapeutic appointments with professionals set up by the centre
• Phone consulting
• Therapy (at the group, individual and/or family level)

Canadian Addiction Recovery Network has a unique live streaming program for all its clients for continued aftercare support anywhere in Canada.

Residential Aftercare

The residential component is generally attended to by a halfway house or sober living. In such a house, addicts live within a small community of other addicts. They are expected to find gainful employment, be home by curfew, and also submit to random drug tests. In addition, they are usually required to take part in a recovery program, generally a recovery fellowship.

Upon completing both the clinical and residential aspects of aftercare treatment, addicts are more or less independent. They move back home or find their own house or apartment. They may still see a therapist and/or psychiatrist, but these are not mandatory. they have “graduated” from treatment, and are now wholly accountable only to themselves for staying sober and working a recovery program.