The Life-Saving Power of Staying Connected: Why Alumni Programs Prevent Returning to Use
Substance use disorders (SUD) do not just “go away”, even after completing a treatment program. Clients often find themselves faced with the same situations or scenarios that led to substance use in the first place. When they ask where to turn, the initial facility is not always able to help, whether due to a lack of funding, resources, or available space.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the relapse rate of substance use disorders is between 40% and 60%. Over 2.7 million Floridians had a substance use disorder between 2021 and 2022, signifying the importance of remaining connected to a recovery community and treatment resources.
Clean Recovery Centers understands not only the importance of initial substance use disorder care but also the need for connection, accountability, and support once treatment is complete. Our alumni program is one of the most thriving in the Gulf Coast area, serving our recovery community and supporting the best possible outcomes of success. In this guide, we will discuss the importance of connection to aftercare and alumni programming and just how much it means to long-term recovery outcomes.
From Recovery to Returning to Use: The Truth About Post-Treatment Risk
Substance use disorders have been the topic of research for decades, with a combination of medical and psychological experts building the connection between developing an SUD, seeking and completing treatment successfully, and returning to use after the fact. This is attributed to environmental and biological factors, which include a multifaceted number of situations and reasons.
Research suggests the main contributors behind returning to use involve psychological complications, negative peer influence, family concerns, work stress, physical health issues, and tobacco use. The main highlights include:
- Psychological complications: This includes adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse, poverty, or other circumstances out of their control. Mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, are also linked to substance use.
- Negative peer influence: Research has found that when direct siblings take substances, the other are likely to, if not guaranteed to, take substances. The pressure from friends who take substances is also a negative influence, leading the person to partake as a means of fitting in.
- Stress: A direct factor of substance use is stress. This can result from job loss, financial strain, relationship complications, and more.
The issue is that so many rehab facilities do not offer any form of care beyond the initial program. The connection with the facility ends after the “allotted” time is passed, with some programs offering alumni meetings that lack connection. Let’s explore this further.
The Power of Isolation: Lack of Support After Treatment
The connection between the person taking substances and the person selling them keeps the drive of social connection going. While the drive to use is prevalent, the human connection between dealer and consumer is significant. It goes beyond the symbiotic relationship of buyer and consumer – the ties formed are often seen as friendships. While withdrawal symptoms are often a factor of continued use, having a human interaction further contributes to substance use.
After completing a substance use disorder program, it is important to have an aftercare plan that promotes success. This is not as simple as returning the person to their family and living situation, however, this is most often what happens. Those relationships are often still toxic – the friend, family member, or even their spouse has not yet stopped taking substances.
The foundation of recovery is built through support from the facility, peer groups, and personal efforts. When there is a lack of support and resources, the person is returned to the same environment where they were taking substances. This can be as simple as an enabler’s home or an area they are unfamiliar with. Without proper recovery support, these situations create multiple triggers, which diminish the rate of success for long-term recovery. Having professional support to navigate relationships is crucial in these situations. Studies have found that a key reason for divorce is a partner continuing to use substances while their spouse does not. Being prepared for divorce or lost friendships will improve recovery outcomes.
The Disappearing Act: Losing Contact With Treatment Support
One of the most disheartening experiences is when the treatment center does not have any follow-through with each person after completing the program. Contacting the center that empowered you at the beginning of recovery, only to be ghosted as if you never attended in the first place. The feeling of abandonment is a large contributing factor to returning to use, and many facilities are not available during this time.
Even if facilities promote being readily available, the team needs to understand the circumstances they are faced with. Return-to-use situations are often here and now, meaning they require a reliable source to turn to in the moment. When the facility or even employees are not able to be reached, returning to substance use is imminent.
Building a Bridge to Lasting Recovery: The Role of Alumni Connection
Building a strong alumni network is crucial in ensuring continuity in the recovery process. Alumni connections create a sense of belonging and support, reinforcing personal growth among peers. Therapies and continued engagement promote this ideal of similar mindsets of wanting success without substance use.
Keeping an active connection between alumni and treatment facilities ensures that clients continue to receive care beyond the initial rehab stay. Structured alumni programs provide follow-up check-ins, workshops, and mentorship opportunities that align with the principles of ongoing care. By integrating these alumni networks with professional support systems, individuals will have access to resources such as therapy, coping skill sessions, and return to use prevention.
The following programs are essential parts of the overall recovery process:
- Group therapy: Therapy sessions conducted in a group setting allow for learning more about triggers and management strategies. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) sessions, alongside return to use prevention counseling, will provide continued psychological support for lasting recovery.
- Peer-led discussions: Beyond therapy, discussions provide emotional support and accountability. They assist in building resilience, managing triggers, and maintaining motivation in recovery. Peer-led discussions also provide a sense of belonging beyond therapy – clients will connect on a deeper level to promote substance use disorder recovery.
- Specialized networks: Active involvement enhances alumni commitment to recovery and promotes a culture of shared healing and encouragement. Specialized networks, such as sports, arts, and activities in a sober environment, offer engagement without the pressure of alcohol or substances.
The key to these practices involves facility input and enrichment. Research suggests that the aftercare program needs to be engaging and easy to access. Lack of follow-ups and inadequate sessions were seen as a highlighting factor in returning to use. This shows the importance of engagement, especially on the facility’s end.
The Clean Recovery Centers Alumni Program: A Community of Strength
As we mentioned above, ongoing support is crucial to maintaining and continuing substance use disorder recovery. The basis of succeeding in recovery is not based on treatment alone – after completing the program, community support and accountability are the key factors in having success. Clean Recovery Centers provides a rigorous alumni program for continued education, support, and camaraderie for our clients, ensuring they are held accountable in their recovery and are putting in the effort to help others. We do this through various outlets.
Staying Active, Staying Connected, Staying Accountable
In recovery, one factor of success is to have something to do. When actively taking substances, the day-to-day schedule revolves around getting the substance, using the substance, and recovering for the cycle to continue. This takes up most or all of the person’s time, leaving no space for any other activities or hobbies. At Clean Recovery Centers, we see the need to fill the time void with healthy and enjoyable activities. In our alumni program, we offer participation in various sports and even have the opportunity to join leagues. Having friendly competition and the chance to be a part of a team boosts mood and encourages physical health to maintain recovery.
Besides sports, our clients will be connected to alumni members in person and through our private Facebook group. Recovery is not simple – individuals don’t enter a treatment program, finish the timeline, and become “cured.” Recovery takes continued work and connection to both peers and professional staff. Cravings are going to happen, especially in times of high stress or difficult life circumstances. Staying connected improves accountability and promotes successful recoveries. The thought of facing a strong support squad after a return to use invokes feelings of guilt or shame, which helps prevent a return to use in both the short and long term.
Meetings That Matter: How Support Provides Encouragement
“It works if you work it.” This is a foundational phrase of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)/Narcotics Anonymous (NA). The point of continued meeting attendance is to maintain the established peer connection and recovery. Substance use disorders are like con artists – cravings pop up and try to sell clients on the idea of taking a substance again. They bring on the good memories the person has during addiction and try to pinpoint reasons to give up recovery. These thoughts are normal, and they can occur no matter the amount of time the person has been in recovery. This is where the importance of meetings comes in. Having a safe space to voice any thoughts and concerns about recovery is key to maintaining success and abstinence from substance use.
Through the alumni program at Clean Recovery Centers, we offer weekly in-house meetings with outside speakers available. We also encourage attendance at outside meetings to gain different perspectives and insights into substance use and recovery. Group meetings also take place weekly, so there is never a time when our clients will be without support and guidance.
The True Benefit of Connection: Positive Outcomes and Results
One of the main entrances into recovery is through the judicial system. Research shows that after completing a substance use sentence in a legal program, aftercare and/or alumni support is the biggest predecessor of continuing the whole process. Those who stayed enrolled and involved had better outcomes than those who did not.
Studies show that those who attend support groups for mental health are more likely to achieve healthier, overall mental well-being. Substance use disorder is a mental health condition, and most will have a co-occurring disorder, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or other conditions that contribute to their substance use. As humans, we all want to have someone who understands us – a trusted friend, loved one, or family member who knows exactly what we are going through. Having a strong community of alumni members provides this relatability and gives you the chance to connect with peers on a deeper level.
Though connections happen when staying in recovery housing, it is important to have opportunities to connect without the common denominator of being in recovery. Clean Recovery Centers provides various activities for our alumni to get to know each other and have fun. These include movie nights, trivia and game sessions, volunteer opportunities within the community, and more. Recovery is not mundane or boring, you will have the chance to engage in life and put yourself in positive scenarios.
How to Join the Clean Recovery Centers Community
At Clean Recovery Centers, we recognize that sustainable recovery requires more than short-term treatment – it calls for long-term support, community, and connection. Our first step in welcoming individuals into this journey is enrollment in our comprehensive program, designed to serve those experiencing substance use disorders, mental health challenges, or co-occurring conditions.
Our unique, three-phase model promotes healing across physical, mental, social, and spiritual dimensions, offering a holistic foundation for recovery. We understand that each client’s journey is different, and we meet clients where they are, providing a safe, structured environment that fosters growth and long-term success.
Located along Florida’s Suncoast, Clean Recovery Centers has been a trusted provider of integrated substance use and mental health care for years. We offer housing, meals, and full clinical support throughout the treatment process. Upon completion, clients transition into an active alumni program that reinforces connection and accountability, ensuring they’re supported well beyond their time in care.
For our clinical partners, Clean offers a reliable extension of the treatment continuum. Whether you’re seeking placement for a client or exploring collaborative opportunities, we’re here to help. When someone joins the Clean community, they’re never alone – we’re in it for life. To learn more or refer a client, contact us at (888) 330-2532.
Get clean. Live clean. Stay clean.
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