my husband went to 5 rehabs and he went right back to using 5 times. Then, he finally decided that he was ready and put everything in place that he needed to get and stay clean. That was 2 years after his last stint in rehab.
Everything that he learned during that time is what ultimately helped him to "do it on his own". I don't think that he really did it on his own as much as it was on his own time.
He just wasn't ready until he was ready. But he sure did know what it was going to take.
BTW - he has now been sober from all drugs (crack abuser x20 years) and alcohol for 3 years and counting.