Although drug treatment centers usually provide individual and group therapy, as well as access to support groups affiliated with the specific treatment centers themselves, they still recognize the assistance given by outside support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
Both support groups that are offered by treatment centers and other organizations recognize that drug treatment does not end when the initial rehabilitation phase is over. And, while additional treatment may not need to be administered on as regular a basis as it was during rehab, it must continue in some form on a regular schedule. This is important to prevent or decrease the possibility of a relapse into the addiction cycle.
This is where support groups, both those sponsored by treatment centers and others, come in. Attendance at regular meetings or sessions provide the recovering addict with the opportunity to talk to others who are or have been in the same or a similar situation, as well as receive advice and assistance when needed.
Drug treatment centers realize that it may not be feasible for a person to continue treatment at their sponsored support groups, because of time or location constraints. For this and other reasons, they support outside organizations and can refer their patients to them if necessary.
By calling 1-800-559-9503 or entering http://www.drugstrategies.org/ in to a search engine, a person needing a support group such as AA or NA can find information on meetings and locations that will fit into their individual schedules.
