by Tony Messbarger

Despite a successful career as an executive with a major computer corporation, I began my own struggle with addiction. After seeking treatment, I realized that my purpose was to help others in the same position that I was in and made it my life’s work. In the following years, I realized that the most difficult part of the recovery process, for me and for many of the people I’ve worked with, was the transition from treatment back to everyday living.

Industry studies, discussions with colleagues and reflection upon my own experiences set me on the path to discover why the transition process can be so difficult. Despite the quality of traditional treatment and continuum of care programs, between 40% and 60% of people relapse after drug treatment, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Relapse rates within traditional continuum of care programs are high because of the many challenges that a person faces following treatment. This is due to a number of factors including lack of structure and accountability, fear or anxiety about combating addiction alone, difficulty opening up in public or feeling intimidated about addressing issues in certain settings, time constraints for meetings or counseling and even traveling can become issues that greatly interfere with successful recovery.

Programs that are exceptions to the high relapse rate and a consistent example of success are programs for licensed professionals, such as pilots and medical professionals, and have shown successful recovery rates of up to 95%. The secret to the success of these programs is their ability to maintain structure and accountability of residential treatment centers and after-care programs as well as provide support and guidance throughout the difficult transition from treatment to recovery.

Longer treatment programs are proving to be a key component in successful recovery and breaking the rehab-relapse cycle. “Treatment is dose-related,” says Dr. Harry Haroutunian, director of the licensed professional program at the Betty Ford Center.

“More is often better, depending on what you do with the time.” Other addiction experts agree that treatment programs which incorporate a longer timeline will lead to fewer going through the cycle of 30-day treatment and relapse.

After witnessing the enormous success rates in programs such as these, I joined with other colleagues who shared the same set of ideals and we began working on a way to bridge the transition to recovery, a program modeled after the successful ones we had seen. We looked at the major challenges that face those in treatment and developed a program to complement existing continuum of care programs and provide support.

Standard 30-day treatment programs have such high relapse rates because 30 days is simply not enough time for someone to overcome addiction. After 30 days, there is no accountability or structure. The difficult transition to recovery is rarely accomplished alone. The Bridges Network provides structure and accountability through the guidance of an after-care program that educates and connects people via online group sessions.

Our Virtual Bridging Programs utilize the flexibility, anonymity and connectivity of the internet to provide a structured program consisting of up to 26 group sessions for the first 90 days. This innovative new approach to continuum of care programs has a variety of features including the flexibility to attend sessions at home or on the road, complete anonymity, live video chats with a mentor and establishing important bonds with others in treatment across the country.

In addition to group sessions, the Virtual Bridging Programs provide many vital resources to help with real-world issues such as addressing triggers that can lead to relapse like finances, relationships and parenting. Other resources include early intervention to prevent relapse, additional advocacy for those at greater risk of relapse or with special judicial or licensing requirements, and additional recovery services such as consulting for employers and families, referrals, interventions and transportation services.

In the future, we hope that programs such as this can collaborate and develop into a social network where those who have been through the recovery process and those being introduced can interact in a secure, safe online environment. The Bridges Network has the potential to build a social network that would connect people going through the transition process to sobriety the same way that Facebook connects friends, family and colleagues.

We are certain that The Bridges Network and our Virtual Bridging Programs will increase the chances of successful recovery, decrease the rate of relapse and improve program success rates by complementing existing continuum of care programs. The ease of use, convenience and interactivity will increase willingness to participate and commitment to staying with the programs.