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American Addiction Centers National Rehabs Directory

Rehab Alumni Programs

More than 22 million Americans live in recovery from some form of substance use disorder (SUD).1 Completing a rehab program is an achievement to be proud of, but recovery is a process that continues even after you finish treatment at an inpatient or outpatient facility.

Every day is an active decision to stay in recovery. It requires a lot of work, and many people face hurdles like cravings and stressors at home, school, or work. These things can increase a person’s risk of relapse, which is why having a rehab aftercare program plan is important.2

A rehab aftercare program plan may include several elements, one of which is participating in a rehab alumni program. These programs help participants stay connected with other addiction treatment alumni and receive ongoing support for sustained recovery.

What Are Rehab Alumni Programs?

A rehab alumni program helps participants receive ongoing support after completing a rehab program. Transitioning back into everyday life after rehab can be challenging, stressful, and triggering. Alumni programs for rehab connect participants with staff members who helped them during treatment and others in recovery. In doing so, addiction treatment alumni members can access resources, share experiences, and work through challenges together to help them maintain abstinence.

Benefits of Rehab Alumni Programs

Addiction treatment alumni programs offer a variety of benefits, such as:

  • Community and peer support: Having support in recovery is important. Alumni programs for rehab allow individuals to connect with others who are also in recovery. Individuals can remain connected with people they met during treatment, as well as make new connections with alumni who completed treatment at a different time.
  • Accountability: Participating in a rehab alumni program can help participants stay accountable by attending alumni events, meetings, and more.
  • Motivation: Sometimes, it can feel challenging to relate to others who aren’t in recovery. Many people in recovery are working through trauma, which can come with feelings of fear, guilt, and shame. Connecting with others in recovery can offer participants a sense of belonging while in a non-judgmental, safe space.
  • Relapse prevention skills: Relapse prevention is a priority for many people in recovery. This is why many rehab alumni groups have ongoing meetings to discuss relapse prevention skills. Here, participants can learn and share how to cope with triggers in a healthy way.
  • Resources: Many rehab alumni groups offer participants several addiction resources. Resources may include access to addiction education classes, 24-hour addiction helplines, and more. Some alumni programs may provide resources to help with things like employment, housing, and medical care.

Activities and Events Rehab Alumni Programs Participate In

Rehab alumni programs may plan various activities and events for members to participate in. This can provide fun things for members to do without feeling like they need to turn to substance. Some examples of activities and events include:

  • Cookouts.
  • Lunches or dinners.
  • Family events.
  • Networking events.
  • Group fitness activities.
  • Team sports (e.g., kickball).
  • Weekend retreats.
  • Workshops.
  • Volunteer opportunities.

American Addiction Centers (AAC) Rehab Alumni Program

American Addiction Centers (AAC) rehab alumni program offers a supportive network for graduates of facilities all over the nation. The program includes various activities to help people in recovery stay actively engaged in their care. AAC’s goal is for participants to sustain long-term recovery and offer different relapse prevention methods.3

AAC offers alumni in recovery benefits such as:3

  • Weekly virtual meetings.
  • Regular check-ins.
  • Phone contact with an Alumni Ambassador and peers in your local area and across the country.
  • Group activities and outings.
  • Invitations and reminders for local and national events, conferences, and social gatherings.
  • 12-step “Dinner and a Meeting” events, depending on your location.
  • Opportunities to include family and friends in your recovery care.

More Recovery Resources

Whether you have been in recovery for years or are just beginning your recovery journey, resources and support are available to you to help. In addition to joining an alumni program, you can join a local 12-step group or search online forums for other resources in your area. For additional resources and support:

  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline is available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST. NAMI can connect you with peer support, local resources, and treatment information.
  • American Addiction Centers (AAC) is a leading treatment service provider for substance use in the U.S. AAC admissions navigators are available 24/7 when you call to provide information and resources and help you start the admissions process for treatment if needed.

Find out How to Find and Pay for Addiction Treatment

American Addiction Centers can help people recover from substance misuse and substance use disorders (SUDs). If you are unsure about where to start looking for a rehab program, contact one of our admission navigators and they can help you figure out which program will be the right fit for you. You can also look at some of the facilities listed below to see if they provide the program you are looking for:

Cost of treatment may feel overwhelming but there are various options to help cover rehab. To find out if your insurance covers treatment at an American Addiction Centers facility, click here, or fill out the form below. Your information is kept 100% confidential. You can also click here to find a rehab near me.

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