Getting treatment for a substance use disorder is a pretty intense experience. It starts with medically supervised detoxification, a program that allows you to safely withstand the rigors of withdrawal in an environment that is free of temptations. Detox springs you free from the trap that so many people fall into: Wanting to give up drugs or alcohol but being unable to because the withdrawal symptoms are too much to overcome.
Next comes rehabilitation, a process that involves group and individual therapy sessions. In therapy, you will gain resources and learn strategies that will help you as your recovery journey gets underway. In rehab, you will also benefit from the support and understanding on offer in group therapy, which will remind you that you are not alone in your struggles or in your efforts to move forward. During the rehabilitation portion of rehab, you can also receive treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders—like depression, anxiety, or an issue based in trauma—that may be entangled with your substance use disorder.
Once rehabilitation is complete, your time in residential treatment comes to an end—and a potential challenge arises. Suddenly, you have returned to your day-to-day life without the structure and clear focus of your treatment program. In those early days of recovery, you might feel as though your ability to leave drugs and alcohol behind for the long run is shaky, at best. You may ask yourself if you will truly be able to put everything you learned in treatment into ongoing practice.
If, however, you received treatment at French Creek Recovery Center, you can lean on our robust alumni program, which is designed to ensure you receive ongoing support and encouragement. In the program, our alums continue their education in relapse prevention, trigger identification, and recovery goal strengthening. We keep our alums connect to French Creek and to each other through weekly aftercare meetings, online alumni groups, monthly activities, and annual events.
Let’s take a look at the benefits provided by French Creek’s program for our alumni.
The Benefits of Participating in Our Alumni Program
Among the major benefits of our alumni program is our steady calendar of activities and events that are, of course, free from drugs or alcohol. These events ensure you have access to fun events that will not involve any temptations that might undermine your hard-won recovery. Equally importantly, these events connect our alums with one another and have a celebratory feel. After all, everyone involved has accomplished something difficult in an effort to improve their lives—and that is definitely worth celebrating.
Ongoing mutual support and a strong network of alumni to connect with are two additional benefits that are closely related to the first. Via weekly meetings of our aftercare groups, you have access to others who truly understand your situation (just as you did in treatment) and who can provide encouragement. At the same time, you have the opportunity to provide encouragement to others in these gatherings.
Further, our network of alums extends throughout Pennsylvania and New York—and that means there are people who can support you in your recovery in various ways. For example, if you are traveling and need to know about available recovery meetings in the places you are visiting, there is a good chance someone in French Creek’s alumni network can help you out.
Alums also have ongoing access to French Creek’s alumni coordinator, who is available seven days a week to those who have completed our treatment program. The coordinator can answer questions, offer support, help you locate resources, connect you with other alums, or just listen when you need a friendly, understanding person to talk with.
Additionally, our CaredFor app is a secure, online platform that also facilitates connection, engagement, and support. Your personalized dashboard tracks your recovery milestones while the app also offers articles and other resource materials to support your ongoing journey.
All in all, our alumni program is designed with the specific needs of those who have completed treatment for a substance use disorder and have dedicated themselves to building a life free from the influence of drugs or alcohol. We are always proud to welcome a new graduate of our treatment program into the ranks of our alumni. It is a mark of accomplishment—and an acknowledgement that ongoing support can be essential to ongoing success in recovery.
Ready to Get Started? We Are, Too.
Located in Meadville, Pennsylvania, French Creek Recovery Center helps everyone we serve take back control of their life. On our serene and restful campus, we help individuals leave drugs and alcohol behind by relying on personalized treatment plans and evidence-based practices. All of our work is informed by our expertise, experience, and empathy.
If you have a problem with drugs or alcohol but have been putting off seeking out treatment for one reason or another, we encourage you to change course and pursue treatment right away. Launching your recovery is a life-changing experience that reopens a world of possibilities for your future. When you are ready to get started, we will be here.