Relapse Prevention

As any addict knows, the process of living without drugs does not end once the rehabilitation program is completed. Dealing effectively with an addiction is a lifelong task. Some people manage it with apparent ease, while others experience periods where there is a relapse and the substance abuse resumes. Fortunately, there are basic actions that can minimize the opportunity for relapse prevention and increase the chances of living a clean life after rehab.

All too often, people successfully complete a recovery program and assume it is possible to return to their old routines and habits without succumbing to temptation again. Nothing could be further from the truth. Overcoming addiction and staying clean often involve the need to make a number of lifestyle changes. This means finding new places to go, new hobbies to enjoy, and sometimes making new friends while parting ways with old friends. Attempting to withstand the urge to begin using again by returning to the same routine and environment is not a good choice.

Remembering the coping skills and exercises learned during rehab will make a huge difference in the effort to stay drug-free. Most rehabilitation programs include workshops or sessions where addicts learn how to shift negative thinking into positive directions, how to use the mind to overcome the body’s cravings, and what to do when confronted with an opportunity to use again. They helped during rehab and they will help once the addict is back at home. But they only help if they are used. Choosing to incorporate at least a few of those mental, physical, and emotional exercises into each day can have a significant impact on the effort to practice responsible relapse prevention.

Becoming a part of a local support group will also go a long way in the process of relapse prevention. Having the opportunity to interact with other people who are also dedicated to staying clean can help in two specific ways. First, there is safety in numbers. Knowing others are facing the same types of struggle makes it possible to not feel alone.

Second, the support group can provide a wealth of encouragement, active emotional support, and possibly some new and effective ways to cope when confronted with opportunities to use again. Knowing how others manage to practice relapse prevention often reveals methods and strategies that can be borrowed and adapted to great effect. From this perspective, the support group can be perceived as an extension of the rehab program, as taking part in the group does open the door for more learning and practical application of that acquired knowledge.

One of the key tools in the process of relapse prevention is the care and nurture of meaningful relationships. The best place to start is with relatives and friends who supported the addict’s entry into a rehabilitation program. Once the initial program is successfully completed, make it a point to re-establish close relations with loved ones. Feeling valued and wanted can go a long way in helping to redirect the focus away from the urge to relapse, and toward enjoying time spent with people who matter.

Effective relapse prevention involves a combination of actively applying everything learned during rehab and replacing anything and anyone that is highly likely to trigger a relapse. Prevention also involves building a powerful support network that includes other people dealing with an addiction, and the loved ones who saw the addict through the recovery effort. Calling on all these resources and actively utilizing them will greatly decrease the chances for relapse while doing a lot to improve the quality of the post-abuse life.

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