5 Things You Should Do After Oxycodone Addiction Treatment

Drug abuse and addiction have many facets and disrupt so many areas of an individual’s life, which makes successful treatment an intricate dance. Effective treatment programs combine various elements, aiming at particular aspects of the illness and its concerns. For addiction treatment to be successful, the addict and treatment course must work together with the focus being on the addict’s ability to cease drug use, maintain a drug-free lifestyle, and work for fruitful relationships in the family, at work, and in society. Because addiction is a chronic or lifelong disease, an addict cannot simply stop using drugs for a week and be cured. Most patients require long-term care to reach the definitive goal of unremitting abstinence and recovery of their lives, or face repeated episodes of relapse and more rehab as needed.

Long-term addiction treatment is crucial for recovery.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that “Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior. No single treatment is appropriate for everyone. Treatment needs to be readily available. Effective treatment attends to multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug abuse. Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical.” With all of these expectations met, an addict should have a better supply of tools to be able to engage in and maintain a life free from drug addiction. However, the addict must put these tools to work and continue to seek help and support after their treatment is finished.

Recommendations for continued success after addiction treatment include:

• Seeking/continuing counseling whether individual or in a group, including 12-Step or other support group meetings
• Looking for and embracing positive support that encourages the goal of sobriety. This may translate into leaving certain people or groups in the past and no longer associating with them.
• Management of any co-occurring disorders that may foster drug use. Many addicts also suffer from other mental disorders.
• Keeping a close eye on any prescriptions that are administered and knowing if they are possible saboteurs. Monitoring the effects of any necessary medications and following physician orders for their use without fail, can lessen the possibility of relapse.
• Constantly assessing progress through recovery and trouble-shooting when issues of normal life stress the situation. An individual’s continued recovery plan must be assessed continually and modified as necessary to ensure that it meets his or her changing needs.

Identifying and managing urges to use and using support systems should be a recovering addict’s mantra. Re-entering life after addiction and making the necessary changes to support that change can be daunting and will definitely present challenges. Surrounding oneself with advocates for a successful recovery and utilizing the tools learned in treatment are the best routes to maintaining and improving this hard-won quality of life.