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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
The Original article
Published at stepbysteprecovery
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