Concerning drug and alcohol relapse and its prevention, there is a good news, bad news, scenario. Here are three important points that everyone should be aware of:
1. Relapse is not uncommon following drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
The frequency with which relapse can occur following treatment is the bad news, the good news is relapse need not be a part of anyone’s addiction recovery. It is not mandatory that you have one or two slips or a full-blown relapse in order to achieve lasting abstinence and sobriety. However, relapse happens with her frequency that cannot and should not be ignored. Provisions should always be made for an action plan if relapse does occur.
2. Relapse is most certainly preventable.
It can be arguably stated that the most common cause of relapse is complacency. It is very important for someone in recovery to be monitoring their thoughts, feelings, urges, and actions at all times. It has been shown that being active in a 12 step program, and/or extended professional treatment at some level increases positive outcomes, and helps against relapse. Both sobriety and addiction treatment should be seen as an ongoing process and not an event with a definitive beginning and end. You never quite graduate.
3. Relapse is fairly predictable.
That statement may come as a surprise to some people. However, there are distinct signs and symptoms of one who is engaged in the relapse process. Unfortunately, the early stages of relapse are not noticeable to the person in recovery themselves, but they are apparent to those surrounding them. In easily remembered danger gauge is the acronym H.A.L.T. this stands for being hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. On a professional level, work should be done in identifying patients’ individual external relapse triggers and cues, as well as emotional triggers. It can be a little more complex than simply avoiding “people, places, and things”.
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I never did doubt that relapses were preventable. I’m generally on the negative side, but to go that far? Nah.
Still, you need to keep an eye out for it, it just takes one drink to start the whole thing over again.