After Rehab: Discharge, Aftercare and the First 30 Days at Home

If they’re still in treatment, start with the discharge questions below. This page is part of our section for families.

Why are the first weeks after rehab hard?

They come home with new skills to the same people, places and stress that were there before. NIAAA notes that people are most likely to drink again under stress or around people and places tied to past drinking.⁶ Opioids add another risk: after time away, tolerance drops, so the amount they used before can cause an overdose.¹ If opioids were ever involved, keep naloxone at home and learn how to use it.⁵

What should a discharge plan include?

Ask about the plan early in the stay, not on the last day. SAMHSA’s checklist of quality care includes help with other parts of life, such as housing, job placement and long-term recovery.³ If all you get at discharge is a printed list of meetings with nothing booked, push back before they leave.

Why does medication matter so much?

A gap in addiction medication is one of the easiest ways to lose ground. For opioid use disorder, methadone and buprenorphine are linked to a lower risk of overdose death, and stopping them suddenly can bring on withdrawal.¹ Any change should be planned with the prescriber, not decided at home. For alcohol, three medications are approved in the U.S.: naltrexone, acamprosate and disulfiram.⁶ Ask before discharge whether one fits and who will prescribe it. More on how medications for addiction work.

What should we ask before discharge?

Bring these to a family session or a call with the counselor. Staff can usually share details with you only if your loved one has signed a release, and a release typically names one program, so each new provider needs its own.⁴ Without one, you can still tell staff what you’re seeing at home; they just may not be able to answer. Our page on release forms explains how that works.

What should the first month at home look like?

Before they arrive, clear out alcohol and any leftover painkillers, sedatives or stimulants, and lock up medicines that need to stay, including their own addiction medication. Pick them up yourself if you can, and fill prescriptions that day. Keep the first few days quiet and skip any celebration with alcohol.

In the first week, sit down together and agree on a few written expectations: keeping appointments, being honest about cravings, what happens if someone uses. After that, aim for routine rather than surveillance. Offer rides, help with childcare or schedules, and say something when they make it to IOP after a hard day. SAMHSA says families can play an important role when the person in care wants them involved.³ Checking their phone isn’t that role. If you’re unsure where support ends and rescue begins, read how boundaries differ from enabling.

Outside help matters as much as yours. NIAAA says mutual-support groups add a valuable layer alongside treatment, and SAMHSA says peer support workers help people stay engaged in recovery and reduce the likelihood of relapse.⁶⁷ See how support groups and peer coaches work. You need support too: Al-Anon, Nar-Anon and SMART Recovery Family & Friends are for family members, and strong family support through family therapy improves the chances of staying sober.⁶¹⁰ Here are more options for parents, partners and siblings.

Around day 30, your loved one should check in with the treatment team about what’s working. Moving from IOP to weekly therapy, or back up to more care, is normal.

When should we call the treatment team?

Missed appointments, stopped medication, new secrecy or a sharp drop in mood are all reasons to call, even if they haven’t used. Setbacks are common, and the provider can adjust the plan.⁶ If they do use again, see what to do after a relapse.

What if they’re going to sober living instead of home?

Recovery housing can bridge the gap when home isn’t safe or stable. It’s a substance-free home with house rules and peer support, usually not clinical treatment. Ask who owns it, who pays, and whether your state certifies recovery residences; our guide to sober living and recovery housing covers the rest.

Be wary of free rent, travel or perks tied to attending one particular program. Paying or receiving kickbacks for referrals to recovery homes and treatment facilities is a federal crime.⁸ Here’s how patient brokering works and how to spot it.