Living in a foreign country can present many challenges, language being one of them. Costa Rica is home to a large number of expats, many who only speak English, fortunately many Costa Ricans speak a high level of English and expats have also identified the need and taken the opportunity to offer different services exclusively for this segment of the population; rehabilitation programs and recovery centers for English speakers are part of the services offered.

There are several alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs in the country with over 25 years of clinical experience making them the ideal place to start an English speaking treatment program.

Programs are built taking into consideration the needs of different patients, from those that require primary treatment to those already in long term recovery that are in search of a support group.

Individual classes and workshops, group sessions along with activities and 12-step meetings are also available as part of a comprehensive program or as independent tools; programs are personalized with the clear understanding that patients are unique and have particular necessities, a lot of factors have to be taken into consideration, starting with the drug-use history, the medical, emotional and psychiatric conditions, family or support network, among other elements that will determine the best treatment for each patient.

¨We also encourage our clients to attend 12-step meetings outside the facility and interact with various groups. Costa Rica has the advantage of having a large English speaking recovery community in San Jose and the country in general¨,

12-step recovery from drug or alcohol addiction is a personal journey that guides an individual towards a better understanding of why they have a substance abuse problem and how he or she can become the person they want to be free from substance abuse. However in many cases support systems are also necessary early in recovery in order to build a firm foundation of sobriety such as rehabilitation centers, half way housing and sober living facilities at least in the first 90 days.

Numerous studies confirm the importance of addicts in early recovery having a support system, even for those that have been sober for many years, being part of a community that understands what someone may be going through is fundamental to staying sober.

Family members and friends often have the best of intentions, and although they are also part of a support system, the 12-step programs and recovery centers are full of individuals that have gone through similar experiences and are working actively towards the same goal, they understand and use the tools to stay clean.

There are many things that can happen in life that can trigger a recovering addict, and although many programs provide the tools to deal with these circumstances in a constructive way, having someone to turn to that can relate to an individual’s particular struggles is invaluable.

When a person is using drugs they often associate with people that are either doing the same or enabling them in different ways to continue to use. When someone is committed to getting sober they need to surround themselves with people that are doing the same thing.

Recovery groups in Costa Rica are well organized and have formed a very tight community, even conventions are organized to provide more opportunities for members to bond and at the same time continue their path to sobriety through a healthy lifestyle.

If you or someone close to you have a substance abuse problem, whether you currently live in Costa Rica, The United States or Canada please message us at [email protected] and we would be more then happy to make a recommendation.