Do Rehab Therapeutic Communities Work?

1. Do Rehab Therapeutic Communities Work?

2. Therapeutic communities have been proven to be highly effective in achieving the best treatment outcomes for those that suffer from addiction. This has been evidenced through lengthily studies conducted by the National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Also referred to as third stage accomodation, sober living, supported housing and tertiary care, therapeutic communities provide a safe and controlled transition from rehab treatment into society and day to day sober living.

3. Achieving The Best Treatment Outcomes Possible The objective of a therapeutic community is to support alcoholics and addicts in maintaining their recovery within the community. Third stage supported housing provides a secure foundation for this to happen. Those that are new to recovery will reap many benefits of staying within a stable drug free environment, that not only provides randomised alcohol and drug testing but also ongoing support through addiction therapy – supplied by the associated drug & alcohol rehab. The local community is made up from other shared sober living houses. The houses are conveniently situated close to town, local 12 Step meetings such as NA, AA, CA etc, as well as facilities supporting further education and training.

4. Long-Term Rehabilitation Works Best The National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA) provided the following chart evidencing that therapeutic communities achieve the best addiction treatment outcomes in terms of preventing relapse and enhancing recovery from behavioural issues:

5. As you can see from the above chart, alcohol and drug use was substantially reduced as were suicidal thoughts and attempts. Impressively, there is nearly a 20% increase in gaining full-time employment for those that stayed in therapeutic communities for more than 6 months, against those who did not. These statistics show that the longer an individual stays within a recovery focused environment, the better their chances of integrating successfully into a life free from addictive substances.

6. Who Is Suitable For A Therapeutic Community? • Therapeutic communities are becoming more popular in the addiction treatment field and are considered a particularly effective module of treatment in achieving and maintaining long term recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction. • Therapeutic communities are best suited to: • Those that are new to recovery from alcohol and drugs • Recovering alcoholics and addicts who are homeless and rootless. • Those who do not have a safe or stable home environment to return to following rehab. • Those for whom it would be dangerous for them to return back home after rehab (i.e – local drug dealers, partners who are in active addiction, threat of violence) • Those that have completed rehab but would be return home to live alone with no local support • Vulnerable individuals who have completed rehab but require ongoing additional support.

7. There are many instances where an individual would benefit from third stage supported housing following on from a rehab programme. Each individuals case needs to be assessed on its own individual treatment criteria. In the majority of cases housing benefit can be claimed to cover the cost of rent. What Do Therapeutic Communities Help With? Therapeutic communities help those that suffer from addiction, substance misuse problems, dual diagnosis and behavioural problems. Initially a period of detoxification and stabilization is required; for most this will mean an inpatient programme in a treatment centre or rehab clinic. Once safely separated from alcohol, drugs and harmful behaviours and once a period of stability and abstinence has been established, a therapeutic community can then be of maximum benefit. In essence, recovery communities help an individual to further establish the foundations of recovery from their addiction and the behaviours that were once associated with it. They provide an alcoholic or addict with the time, resources and support to flourish within the early days of recovery – when they are at highest risk of relapse.

8. No Quick Fix To Addiction It has been recognised from many years that there is no quick fix when it comes to treating addiction successfully. Yes, an alcohol detox or drug detox may seemingly resolve the problem, but this is only a temporary measure. The real therapeutic work starts once the individual’s brain and body has been cleared of mood and mind altering substances. They then have a better chance of understanding and implementing new and healthier coping strategies that will help them to stay sober and clean. Addiction is a lifelong illness, it requires commitment and hard work in order to maintain recovery. Therapeutic communities make this whole process easier, as they are focused solely on recovery and personal growth. They provide an opportunity to practice clean and sober living before returning back to the “real world”, as it were.

9. Rehab Therapeutic Community In Essex Step by Step Recovery offer the opportunity of third stage supported housing to patients that graduate from our Lighthouse rehab clinic in Southend-on-sea, Essex near London. We believe in the therapeutic value of addicts supporting one another in recovery and so we have created a safe and supportive community to enable that to happen. Our third stage sober living accommodation is an extension of our inpatient addiction treatment, with the added freedom for independent choice and continual learning and growth. Our patients are reintegrated back into society gradually, in safe and supported manner. Our aim is to help each and every individual that walks through our doors to stay abstinent from alcohol and drugs and to gain the tools required to maintain long term freedom from alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviours. Furthermore, we help our patients to achieve their dreams and create a life for themselves where drinking and using would be unthinkable. Source https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/therapeutic-communities/are-therapeutic-communities-effective The Original article Published at stepbysteprecovery https://www.stepbysteprecovery.co.uk/do-rehab-therapeutic-communities-work/