After successfully completing a rehabilitation program, your loved one is likely dealing with many emotions. Excitement, fear and embarrassment are common. When the time comes for them to transition from inpatient to outpatient drug rehabilitation, it is important that you take some steps to ensure recovery before they come home. Keep your home clean. Although keeping a tidy home is nice, it is more important you ensure that your home is free of drugs and alcohol. It is vital that your loved one not have any temptations available at home. It needs to be a safe haven if they are to maintain their abstinence. Set boundaries. Along with preparing your home, it is important that you are prepared emotionally. Tension can be present and is easily perceived by addicts when coming home. This is why it is important that you talk openly about their substance abuse while welcoming them back home. Make sure they know that you are supporting them. Don’t bring up the past after this. Remind them of the consequences of relapse and encourage them to talk to you or one of their counselors if they are struggling to maintain boundaries. Help your loved one find hobbies. Many addicts previously filled their time with drug-related behaviors (from being high on drugs to spending time trying to obtain them). One of the difficulties they may face in outpatient drug rehabilitation is figuring how to spend their time. Encourage them to find new hobbies or introduce them to some of yours. If you already know of their hobbies, have some things on hand for them to do when they come home. Include your loved one in your social life. Positive and healthy relationships are especially helpful during recovery; however, many recovering users find socializing to be difficult. The process of making new friends may be overwhelming. Enable them to spend time with you and your groups of friends. Along with these steps, of course encourage your loved one to continue to attend all outpatient drug rehab appointments and programs, and always be available to talk. Resources: National Institute on Drug Abuse: An Individual Drug Counseling Approach to Treat Cocaine Addiction: https://archives.drugabuse.gov/TXManuals/IDCA/IDCA11.html National Institute on Drug Abuse: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/treatment-approaches-drug-addiction
