When you’re recovering from drug or alcohol problems, you need all the help you can get to maintain your sobriety. Rehab programs provide the core of that help through formal substance abuse treatment. However, your recovery efforts should not stop there. Addiction experts recommend that you also enroll in a substance abuse support group. There are several reasons why support groups play such an important role.
At Memphis Recovery Centers, we offer a full slate of frontline treatments for drug and alcohol rehab. We also feature additional secondary resources as part of our holistic approach. In combination with support groups, the care we provide maximizes your odds for an effective recovery. Reach out to learn more and join a substance abuse support group by calling 901-272-7751.
Substance Abuse Support Groups Provide Peer-to-Peer Assistance
In some ways, support groups resemble a group therapy program. However, these groups do not provide formal substance abuse treatment. Instead, they rely on an informal, peer-based model. When you join a group, you have ready access to others who are further along in their recovery journeys. These peers understand your experiences. They also understand the daily challenges you face in remaining in recovery.
This peer-to-peer support helps in several ways. Specific benefits include:
- Having a safe place to discuss your drug or alcohol issues
- Showing you real-life examples of how others have faced their sobriety challenges
- Providing sponsorship and mentoring to help you navigate your own obstacles
The relationships you establish will also help you accept accountability for your own sobriety.
Group Therapy Programs Make It Easier to Stay Sober
Research shows that when you enroll in a support group, you increase your chances of staying sober. This is true even if you are still receiving formal addiction therapy. It’s also true whether or not you receive treatment in an individual or group therapy program.
Even if you have not achieved full sobriety, substance support groups provide important advantages, including:
- Helping you lower your overall intake of drugs or alcohol
- Decreasing the number of days on which you use drugs or alcohol
- These benefits help you move closer to establishing a totally sober lifestyle
Support Groups Increase Your Access to Timely Help
When you’re enrolled in an inpatient rehab program, you have 24/7 access to addiction therapy and other treatment resources. However, if you’re enrolled in an outpatient program, your access is more limited. Most of the time, you will still get the help you need when you need it. But there may be times where you have to wait for an appointment or scheduled treatment day.
While substance abuse support groups do not replace formal treatment, they can make it easier to get timely help. Most groups hold frequent meetings. This means that you have a place to go for peer support most or all days of the week. And in today’s world, many groups operate online. Even if you can’t attend a meeting in person, you can still get access.
Support groups sponsors also play an important role. In times of crisis, you can reach out to your sponsor for help. This kind of direct mentorship may be crucial to your ability to stay sober.
Benefit from Substance Abuse Support Groups at Memphis Recovery Centers
Want to learn more about the many reasons for joining a support group? Just contact the addiction specialists at Memphis Recovery Centers. We understand how important group membership can be to your sobriety. We also understand that support groups are not enough. To make the most of your recovery, you must also receive formal substance abuse treatment. Our complete range of expert services will help you reach your sobriety goals. For more information, call today at 901-272-7751 or fill out our online form.
