Key Factors For Lasting Recovery From Addiction

It’s commonly mentioned in rehab centers and support groups that addiction recovery is a lifelong process. Fortunately, it doesn’t take long for people in substance abuse treatment to start feeling better. After a few days or weeks of inpatient or outpatient rehab, there is generally an improvement in physical well-being. Unfortunately, this preliminary relief may cause some to believe they are “healed” and no longer need to complete a treatment program.

Addiction is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. The initial reprieve is the result of physically being without drugs or alcohol straining your system. Without the mental tools to manage emotions, responsibilities, peer pressure, and consequences of substance abuse, a person is likely to revert back to old behaviors, which can lead to a relapse.

Like many parts of life, addiction recovery exists on a spectrum. There are many facets that can support long-term sobriety apart from physical recovery. This guide covers key factors for lasting recovery, such as accessing treatment, forming a healthy support network, having a safe living environment, practicing self-care, and discovering a sense of purpose.

Beginning Long-Term Recovery From Addiction

Living with a drug and/or alcohol addiction is mentally and physically taxing. Addiction is all-consuming and affects every area of life. Addiction recovery often begins when a person has had enough: enough pain, enough repercussions, enough setbacks, and enough hardships. In recovery support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), this realization is referred to as “rock bottom.” No matter how severe a person’s rock bottom may be, it can serve as the tipping point for transformative change.

Although ideally a person will be ready to recover, it’s also important to note that whether someone enters addiction treatment by way of choice, legal ramifications, or interventions, recovery is possible. Treatment need not necessarily be voluntary to be effective, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

1. Attending An Addiction Treatment Program

Treatment is recommended for people facing a drug and/or alcohol addiction. Professional addiction treatment provides the opportunity to heal physically, mentally, and spiritually in a secure, supportive environment. It gives people access to therapies that teach them how to manage emotions and handle relationships and situations that would normally trigger them to seek out substances.

Not everyone is enthusiastic about disrupting their life to start treatment. In fact, most people aren’t. But treatment for drug and alcohol addiction can provide a life-changing experience for those who are ready to recover, empowering them with the tools for long-term sobriety.

Because addiction recovery involves transforming the way a person thinks and acts, in addition to overcoming the physical component of the disease, it takes time for change to occur. According to a recent study published in Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, different behaviors require different amounts of time to become habits, with the study finding that handwashing can become a habit in just weeks or even days, while an activity like going to the gym can take about two months to become a habit. A study published in the Open Journal of Psychiatry also found that the longer a person remains in rehab, and the more they engage in ongoing care following treatment completion, such as participating in therapy or 12-step meetings, the higher their success rate of long-term sobriety.

Drug and alcohol addiction don’t happen overnight. A period of progression is involved for substance use to become habitual and develop into an addiction. As a person falls deeper into the cycle of addiction, their ways of thinking and behaving change as a result. Similarly, recovery does not happen overnight, and it takes time for the brain to learn healthy ways of thinking and behaving.

Detox Is Not Complete Addiction Treatment

Although many people begin addiction recovery in detox, detox is not considered full substance abuse treatment, according to SAMHSA. With medical detox, which is also called withdrawal management, health care professionals provide close monitoring and may use medications to help manage uncomfortable or even dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Once clients are stable, they typically begin behavioral therapy or other treatments aimed at addressing the root causes of their addiction. The success of detox, according to SAMHSA, can be measured, in part, by whether a person enters treatment after completing it.

Detox in relation to addiction treatment can be likened to the healing process required for physical injury. For example, if someone arrives at the emergency room with a broken hand, they will receive immediate treatment to stabilize their condition and reduce pain. In order to fully recover, however, this person may have to undergo surgery and subsequently receive physical therapy. The role of detox in addiction recovery is similar. In other words, other means of care are required for full recovery to be possible.

2. Being Evaluated For A Dual Diagnosis

About 7.7 million adults have co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Having a dual diagnosis increases a person’s likelihood of dropping out of treatment prior to completion. There are many other ways that mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and others can complicate the path to recovery. Dual diagnosis treatment offers programs and services that simultaneously treat addiction and mental health conditions to support comprehensive healing and long-term recovery.

3. Forming A Healthy Support Network

It’s been said that the opposite of addiction is connection. Having people you can rely on for support, whether for addiction-related issues or otherwise, is imperative for your mental health and well-being, not to mention long-term recovery. There is also a strong link between loneliness, isolation, and substance abuse, which support networks help combat, according to the International Journal of High Risk Behaviors & Addiction.

A support network may consist of family, friends, counselors, support groups like AA or NA, and sponsors. When a person finishes treatment, it’s highly recommended that they join a support group for addiction recovery. Support groups offer the unique opportunity to connect with like-minded people who share similar experiences and have a common goal of sobriety. Forming friendships is not the primary purpose of these support groups, but it is a wonderful secondary benefit. Support group members are also strongly encouraged to find a sponsor and work the 12 steps of recovery, which is a lifelong process that helps to ensure accountability and keep members committed to working on themselves.

When a person in addiction recovery is surrounded by healthy supports, they are able to replace unhealthy connections, such as past relationships based around substance use. Not only do healthy relationships provide support and keep people busy—something that’s very important in early sobriety, especially—but they can also limit a person’s exposure to drugs and alcohol.

4. Having A Safe Living Environment

A person’s living environment can significantly affect their recovery long-term. Not everyone who goes to rehab has a safe home environment they can return to. Some people share living quarters with people who use drugs or alcohol or live in a high-stress home. After completing treatment, returning to this type of living environment is strongly discouraged, as it can lead a person to relapse.

If there is any concern in regard to living quarters, people in treatment can speak with their counselors about transferring to a sober living facility afterward. Sober living housing (SLH) offers residents more freedom than inpatient or residential treatment. Residents may be required to fulfill certain responsibilities, such as maintaining a job, agreeing to routine drug tests, and continuing to participate in AA or NA. SLH, also known as transitional housing or halfway housing, provides an additional level of support throughout the process of reintegrating back into society as a sober person in recovery.

5. Practicing Self-Care

Having a routine that consists of healthy habits is also essential to long-term addiction recovery. One of the most effective ways to cultivate a deeper sense of self-worth and improve self-esteem is by practicing self-care, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Some ways to practice self-care include:

• establishing healthy boundaries
• getting regular exercise
• going to therapy
• learning a new skill
• maintaining a healthy diet
• making short- and long-term goals
• prioritizing sleep
• setting aside time for relaxing activities, e.g., journaling, meditating, listening to music, painting, reading, etc.

Self-care is fluid. What works for someone at one point in their lives may not be as helpful at a later time. Be open to experimenting with your self-care routine before landing upon a system that works best for you.

6. Discovering A Sense Of Purpose

When people have a sense of purpose in their life, they feel a sense of fulfillment. One of the many gifts of continued sobriety is that it gives people a chance to reclaim their life purpose.

With a clear mind and a healthy body, you may decide to embark on new challenges, such as earning a college degree, starting a family, becoming more dedicated to your career, writing a book, traveling the world, or starting an antique collection. Being in a support group, like AA or NA, provides many people with a sense of purpose, because it allows members to use their experience in active addiction and recovery to help newcomers. When you’re sober, there is truly no limit to the ways you can continue to enrich your life.

Resources For Addiction Recovery Support

People who are interested in learning more about long-term recovery from substance use disorder can check out the informative resources below for support and guidance.

Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA): an independent 12-step self-help program and fellowship designed for people with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): a federal institute that has supported scientific research on drug and alcohol use, abuse, and addiction for 50 years

Recovery Research Institute (RRI): a nonprofit research institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital, dedicated to the advancement of addiction treatment and recovery