What happens once you have been physically stabilized in a medical detox center? You have safely undergone drug or alcohol withdrawal and you are ready to take the next step on your personal journey of recovery. But where do you go? How do you know which level of care is the best option for you? At CuraSouth we provide our clients with individualized treatment and aftercare plans, custom-tailored to their unique, personal needs. Once you have undergone withdrawal in our inpatient detox center, you have the option to transition directly into our intensive outpatient treatment program, or into a higher level of care if need be. As part of the Guardian Recovery Network we work closely with residential inpatient, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs across the country, and we will always develop an aftercare plan that includes a smooth transition into the next appropriate level of treatment. By the time you complete detox you will feel confident in your next steps. Contact us today to learn more about what happens after detox, to learn more about our Tampa, Florida detox center or to get started with our simple and straightforward admissions process.

Planning for Discharge

At CuraSouth we begin developing a personalized aftercare plan as soon as a client is admitted to our medical detox program. Several factors affect personalized discharge plans, including:

• The severity of the substance use disorder.
• The presence of any underlying mental health concern, including unresolved trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Personal history with previous stints in treatment and subsequent relapse.
• Family involvement in the addiction treatment process.
• Financial ability/health insurance coverage.
• Plans to enter into a higher level of treatment like residential inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient treatment.

By the time you have been physically stabilized you will have a solid plan of action in place. Your next steps are mapped out for you, so there is no confusion when it comes to what happens after detox.

Residential Treatment After Detox

When it comes to continuing care, we typically recommend a client transitions into residential inpatient treatment immediately after detox. Making this transition as soon as detox ends is important. People are particularly vulnerable to relapse during this time period, seeing drug or alcohol cravings can be severe. As part of the Guardian Recovery Network we work with several reputable residential treatment centers across the country. Most clients stay in a residential program for between 30 and 90 days. However, the length of the program can be adjusted based on individual need. If a client has personal obligations they cannot step away from for months at a time, we recommend partial hospitalization. In PHP clients can return home every evening. Once this level of care is complete we recommend transitioning into a lower level of care like IOP.

Outpatient Treatment After Detox

While we typically recommend inpatient rehab or PHP, outpatient treatment might be the best option in some cases. Outpatient treatment provides a more flexible level of care and is an ideal choice for clients who have personal obligations they cannot take an extended break from. You might decide to enter into an outpatient program after detox if:

• You are the sole caretaker of one or more dependents, or you have other family-related obligations you cannot step away from for weeks at a time.
• You have a job or career you cannot step away from for a prolonged period of time.
• You are currently enrolled in school and you cannot easily take a leave of absence to attend residential treatment.
• You are uninsured and you cannot afford to cover the cost of residential treatment or PHP out-of-pocket.
• You were sober for a long period of time and recently experienced a brief return to substance use.
• You are suffering from a mild substance use disorder and no underlying issues.

At CuraSouth we do not offer an intensive outpatient program of our own, though we do work closely with several effective and reputable IOP programs. If you decide to enter into an outpatient program after detox we are happy to point you in the right direction.

Sober Living After Detox

If you choose to transition directly into an outpatient treatment program, you might also opt to live in a sober living home. While we don’t offer any sober homes of our own, we work closely with several sober home operators throughout Southern Florida. Benefits of transitioning into sober living housing after detox include:

• Sober living provides residents with ongoing guidance and support as they navigate early sobriety.
• Residents are held accountable, and required to stay completely abstinent from all mood and mind-altering substances.
• Sober living provides residents with a built-in support system.
• Many sober living homes require residents to maintain a job, participate in daily chores and attend at least one recovery meeting a day, keeping them on the right track in their personal recovery journeys.
• Residents work towards financial independence and learn how to care for themselves before transitioning back into independent living.

Continuing Therapy

At CuraSouth we believe comprehensive healing should begin during the very first stage of the treatment process — medical detox. Clients have access to individual, group and family therapy sessions, all facilitated by a licensed, on-staff therapist. After detox, clients have the option of continuing to meet with their individual therapist if they choose to transition into PHP or IOP. If a client transitions into residential inpatient treatment they will be paired with a new therapist, who they will see regularly over the course of their stay. Continuing therapy is an important component of aftercare regardless of what an individual aftercare plan looks like.

Alternative Support Groups

The 12-Step method is not the only available option when it comes to peer support groups. Alternative options include:

• Young People in Recovery – Also known as YPR, this organization revolves around providing young people with safe spaces to meet with others who are committed to overcoming drug or alcohol addiction. YPR provides young, sober people with the resources they need to maintain stable recovery.
• SMART Recovery – This non-profit organization provides an alternative to AA which focuses on self-empowerment. The official website states, “Self-Management And Recovery Training is a global community of mutual-support groups. At meetings, participants help one another resolve problems with any addiction.”
• Al-Anon – There are other 12-Step meetings some of our clients might find beneficial. For example, Al-Anon provides support to those with loved ones who are struggling with addiction. Because addiction is partially hereditary, many of our clients have other addicts and/or alcoholics in their family and benefit from the coping mechanisms taught in this program.

Alumni Program

At CuraSouth we encourage our past clients to stay connected through our alumni program. Because early sobriety can be a particularly vulnerable time, staying in touch with others who are in the same boat can be very beneficial. Members of our alumni program offer one another support and encouragement as they navigate a life of recovery. When we host events or meet-ups we inform all of our alumni, and encourage them to stay involved as much as they are able to.

Begin Your Personal Journey of Recovery Today

At CuraSouth we believe in the benefits of a full continuum of addiction treatment, beginning with medical detox and transitioning to residential inpatient treatment, partial hospitalization or an intensive outpatient program. Not only does entering into a higher level of care after detox increase your chances of staying sober, but your overall quality of life will improve the longer you stay in treatment. Medical detox is important in the sense that it helps you undergo a safe and pain-free drug or alcohol withdrawal. However, mental, emotional and spiritual healing occur in the next appropriate level of care. Active addiction affects every area of life. By the time you seek treatment you are likely juggling the consequences of your addiction while trying desperately to keep your head above water.

As soon as you make the decision to reach out for help, CuraSouth will be there to help you every step of the way. As soon as you reach out you will be put in contact with one of our experienced and compassionate Treatment Advisors, who will conduct a pre-assessment and provide a free, no obligation insurance benefit check. If we believe our detox program is a good fit for you, we arrange local transportation to our Tampa, Florida detox center. All you have to do is make the initial phone call and we will take care of the rest.