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 Pine Tree Recovery Center 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 and partial hospitalization 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 Portland, Maine detox center or to get started with our simple and straightforward admissions process.

Planning for Discharge

The date of your discharge depends on several factors, including how severe your withdrawal symptoms are, what type of chemical substance was being used and whether or not you have any pre-existing mental illness or chronic health condition. In most cases, our detox program lasts for between three days and two weeks. The day of your discharge you will have a solid plan of action in place, and you will know exactly which steps to take.
Factors that affect the length of stay in detox and the date of discharge include:

• The severity of the substance use disorder.
• The presence of any underlying mental health concerns.
• 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 lower level of treatment like partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient care.

We never release a client from our detox program without an aftercare plan in place. We involve the loved ones of each client in the entire discharge planning process from start to finish, making sure everyone is on the same page, and ensuring clients have a detailed plan to protect and support them as they navigate early sobriety.

Residential Treatment After Detox

Many of our clients choose to enter into a residential treatment center once they have been stabilized in our detox program. Residential treatment typically lasts for between 30 days and three months depending on your unique clinical needs. In residential treatment you undergo intensive individual, group and family therapy, develop relapse prevention techniques and healthy coping mechanisms, and work through any underlying issues which might have contributed to the development of addiction. Residential treatment almost always comes recommended, seeing as it provides clients with the structure and support they need to maintain abstinence as they heal on a physical, mental and emotional basis. However, residential rehab isn’t right for everyone.

Outpatient Treatment After Detox

In some cases a client will transition from medical detox into outpatient treatment. For most people, residential treatment or partial hospitalization is the best option. Clients who are engaged in a partial hospitalization treatment program receive between five and seven days of treatment a week, though they return home once the day concludes. However, intensive outpatient or outpatient treatment is certainly better than no treatment at all. You might opt for IOP or OP 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.

Sober Living

If you do decide to attend a PHP, IOP or OP, we recommend moving into a sober living home in Portland, Maine. At Pine Tree Recovery Center we don’t provide sober living housing after detox, but we work closely with trusted sober home operators in the area. There are many benefits associated with sober living, including:

• Residents are held accountable and have extra encouragement and support when it comes to maintaining sobriety.
• Residents are encouraged to obtain or continue working a full or part-time job, working towards financial independence.
• Residents are responsible for keeping personal spaces and common areas clean and tidy by participating in daily chores, encouraging the further development of crucial life skills.
• Residents are encouraged (sometimes required) to attend at least one recovery meeting every day, helping them stay engaged in their personal recovery programs.

Continuing Therapy

We encourage all of our clients to continue with individual therapy after detox. Once you complete our program you have the option of continuing with the licensed individual therapist you saw while in detox. If you choose to go another route, we will gladly put you in touch with an experienced and licensed therapist in your area — one with a personal background in substance use disorder recovery. There are many benefits that go hand-in-hand with a continuation of individual therapy, including:

• Therapy helps you develop and hone healthy coping mechanisms and relapse prevention techniques.
• Therapy helps you improve communication skills and teaches you how to interact with other people in healthier and more productive ways.
• Therapy helps keep you on track with your recovery, providing structure to your daily routine and keeping you accountable.
• In therapy you are able to openly discuss any recovery-related challenges you might be facing in a safe and supportive environment.
• Therapy encourages you to continue working through any personal hang-ups which might be keeping you stuck.

12-Step Programs

At Pine Tree Recovery Center we support the 12-Step method of addiction recovery, and we encourage our clients to participate in a 12-Step program of their choosing after detox. Clients are introduced to the structure of Alcoholics Anonymous while in our detox program — they have the opportunity to participate in recovery meetings if they are feeling up to doing so. As part of our aftercare planning process we help our clients choose a 12-Step program which best meets their needs.

Alternative Support Groups

12-Step fellowships are not the only option when it comes to receiving ongoing support in a group setting. Alternative support groups 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.
• 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 (SMART) is a global community of mutual-support groups. At meetings, participants help one another resolve problems with any addiction (to drugs or alcohol or to activities such as gambling or over-eating).”
• 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 can be hereditary, many of our clients have other addicts and/or alcoholics in their family, and benefit from the coping mechanisms taught in this particular program.

Alumni Program

At Pine Tree Recovery Center we have an alumni program for those who have been through our detox and/or IOP program and who have successfully stayed sober. Alumni organize events and meet-ups throughout the year, allowing them the opportunity to stay in touch and support one another as they progress on their personal recovery journeys.

Contact Us Today to Get Started

At Pine Tree Recovery Center 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, Pine Tree Recovery Center 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 Portland, Maine detox center. All you have to do is make the initial phone call and we will take care of the rest.