7 Reasons Clients Leave Drug and Alcohol Treatment Early and What You Can Do
Treatment centers are more than a place for people struggling with addiction. They can be the first step in a long recovery journey, but treatment doesn’t always last.
Many clients leave drug and alcohol rehab early because they don’t have the right resources or support to stay clean and sober after being released.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about some of the main reasons why clients leave drug and alcohol treatment early and how you can help them by providing tangible resources on an ongoing basis.
Why Do Clients Leave Drug and Alcohol Treatment Early?
There are many reasons why people leave drug and alcohol treatment programs early. Some of the most common ones are:
- The uncomfortable feeling of being in a strange environment.
Living with other addicts can be challenging, especially when you’re new to sobriety. Clients might feel like everyone is watching you, waiting to see if you’ll crumble under pressure.
Clients may feel uncomfortable with the other clients in your group sessions or one-on-one counseling because they’ve never been around people who are also recovering from an addiction. Unfortunately, this often leads to relapse.
You can help by letting your clients know that the feelings they’re experiencing are normal, and it will take time before they feel comfortable in their new environment. You should also let them know that they’ll get whatever support they need to get through these trying times.
2. Expectations are too high.
Clients may expect that they’ll get clean right away in treatment, and when this doesn’t happen, they might become discouraged and leave drug rehab early. Many people think that they will overcome their addiction instantly, but sobriety is a process that can’t be rushed. If people are moving too fast and expecting to be cured in a few days, they might become frustrated.
You can help clients by easing them into their new life one step at a time while offering plenty of support as they progress. This will make the transition easier because they won’t feel like everything is happening so quickly.
3.Clients do not have the support of their family and friends.
Many people leave drug and alcohol treatment because they’re uncomfortable without the support of their loved ones.
It’s common for some family members to be conflicted about getting help for a loved one addicted to drugs or alcohol; therefore, they may not visit very often while the person is in treatment. This can make it difficult for clients to recover without the help of their families.
You can help by making sure family members understand that the person has a better chance of getting sober if their loved ones are around to support them. Then, put together an action plan for how family and friends can help when their loved one is discharged from treatment and encourage people to stick with it.
4. They’re not able to make it financially.
When people don’t have the financial means to pay for treatment services, they may leave drug treatment. In addition, they need money to provide food and shelter, so it’s hard for them to stick around when they’re struggling financially.
You can help clients by providing a financial stipend if they don’t have the means to cover all of their expenses while they’re in rehab. This will allow them to focus on their recovery without worrying about paying for basic necessities like food and shelter.
5. They’re not willing to take responsibility for their addiction problem.
Some people come into drugs and alcohol rehab thinking that it’s up to the program staff members or other clients to change them. They want others to take responsibility for their addiction, but they don’t need to do the same.
You can help people by letting them know that it’s essential that everyone in treatment to take personal responsibility for their recovery. All of the stakeholders at your rehab center should be held accountable if they want to work toward getting sober and remaining abstinent. This is why it’s so important for clients to be open and honest about their addiction problems.
6. They feel like they’re not a good fit in the program.
Some people might leave drug and alcohol treatment early because they don’t feel like they mesh well with others. They can see that the other clients are making progress, but they aren’t sure if they will succeed at their rehab center without fitting in.
You can help clients at your rehab center by making them feel like they belong there. Let them know that it’s okay if they don’t get along with everyone right away because this is common for many people in treatment. Create a plan so that the clients can learn how to maintain healthy relationships while encouraging them to move past their differences and focus on their sobriety.
7. They’re in denial about their addiction problem.
Being in drug and alcohol treatment can be difficult for some people because they have to face the issue head-on. They might not want to consider that drugs or alcohol have negatively impacted their life, so they decide to leave the program early.
You can help clients by informing them about how important it is to take responsibility for their addiction. If they want to recover, you need to help them see that drugs and alcohol have been a problem for them in the past and an issue in the present.
Final Thoughts
Your rehab center’s approach needs to be tailored toward each individual person; therefore, it’s important to assess how clients feel to help them stay motivated toward sobriety.
If a person leaves drug treatment prematurely, then it might not be possible for him or her to overcome addiction without returning to rehab. However, if you can help clients stay committed to the process, they’ll have a higher chance of improving their lives without substance abuse.
Want to learn to how to help your clients stay in addiction treatment longer? You need our AMA/APA block class. Think Intervention on steroids.
