Alcohol addiction rehab centers are not so difficult to find these days. Addiction is a powerful disease that afflicts more and more people each year as our youths grow into teenagers. Over the last decade more and more rehab centers have been built in even the smaller cities. The best way to get help is to stop drinking or using drugs at once in a detox unit or an inpatient rehabilitation center.
The problem is what to do once rehab is completed. After a time of being clean and sober while in rehab, many think their addiction will stop or be controlled without additional help. The fact is addiction will not magically go away. It is a progressive illness. It cannot usually be cured; however, long term sobriety is possible.
AA and NA Meetings
Most rehab centers have AA and NA meetings that the patient must attend. Once released a meeting is the first thing to do. By attending different meetings throughout the week an individual will find one that suits his or her needs. It’s important that one feels as though he or she fits in; that other people at the meeting are those the individual feels comfortable with. Many say that an individual who is released from inpatient rehab should do 90 meetings in 90 days. That one meeting per day can keep a person sober.
Get a Sponsor and Work the 12 Steps
The next step is to find a sponsor. A sponsor is someone who will be there when needed. A good way to find one is to listen carefully to the speakers at AA and NA meetings. Someone will have good sobriety. This is the person to ask for sponsorship. A sponsor should be the same gender as the person he or she sponsors and have at least one year of sobriety. The first thing a sponsor should do is start the new person on the 12 steps immediately. Working the 12 steps to sobriety is essential to AA and NA if an individual wants to stay clean and sober.
Old People, Places and Things
While all of the above is good, without eliminating old people, places and things, there is a good chance for relapse. These three things are sure triggers for a relapse. When first released from an inpatient rehab center an individual is vulnerable to drinking or drugging again. Relapse is dangerous because it can be permanent. The idea is to have the tools necessary to overcome addition and to be as far away from triggers as necessary. The worst thing to do is to go back to the old neighborhood, call old friends who use or not throw away old or hidden paraphernalia .
Prevent Relapse with Support System
Another important factor in maintaining sobriety and avoiding a relapse is to build a support system. It is recommended to hang around with people who have at least one year of sobriety. Phone numbers can be exchanged at meetings, and friendships develop from there. Most of these people will be more than happy to be of support. People in sobriety believe that they cannot keep what they have unless they give it away. Sharing oneself with another hurting alcoholic or addict is the best way to do this.
Success depends on how serious one is to maintain his or her sobriety long term. This is a serious illness and every tip or suggestion should be taken seriously to achieve sobriety. It’s serious to the point that romantic relationships probably ought to be avoided for at least the first year of sobriety. The final tip to staying sober is not to pick up that first drink, no matter what.
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