Persuasive Essay On Relapses

It is estimated that 40 to 60 percent of people relapse after receiving drug addiction treatment. The vast majority of relapses occur within the first 30 to 60 days after treatment. Additionally, it is estimated that half of people who receive treatment for drugs and alcohol will be re-admitted into a treatment facility within five

In relation to drug abuse, relapse is resuming the use of a chemical substance or drug after a period of abstinence. The term can be said to be a landmark feature of a combination of substance abuse and substance independence. The propensity for dependency, repeated use, and tendencies that take the form of the substance being used, are some of the issues that drug users’ experience. Substances that enhance most severe tendencies in users and pose high pharmacological efficacy, are those that are cleared quickly from the body, in addition to those that bring out the highest tolerance. There can be increased substance tolerance with the increasing dependency in relation to drug in question,

“Traditional… treatment approaches often conceptualize relapse as an end-state, a negative outcome equivalent to treatment failure. Thus, this perspective considers only a dichotomous treatment outcome—that is, a person is either abstinent or relapsed.” (Larimer, 1999). For a substance dependent individual like Rosa, equating abstinence to failure is counter-productive and ineffective. Considering her history of pain management, we can expect that Rosa may feel emotional and physical discomfort without her opiate and alcohol combination. A setback in treatment would be negative, but doesn’t warrant “giving up” on established treatment goals. Relapse may be anticipated with the relapse prevention model, but it is considered to be a part of “the

One way that someone could prevent a relapse is by having support from the patient’s family. In a study done by Mei Yang “Most participants (13 of 18) spoke of lacking family or social support during abstinence periods.” With this research it’s obvious that the lack of support from peers and family members has an impact on relapse. Without support from others, the patient feels as if there is no reason to stay abstinent. Even after going to a rehabilitation program Yang’s research stated “In China, relapse rates for drug use after discharge from treatment were generally above 90% after one year.” The period after being released from rehab are especially critical because this is the first time the user is out on their own making decisions. The decisions that the person makes right after leaving rehab are the most valuable and can decide how their abstinent period will go. Granted that sometimes when the user leaves rehab not being around the parents can be beneficial in ways. In a study done by Peter

Many people who are able to successfully get off of a substance that they were once addicted to end up suffering a relapse. The good news is that if one knows the common relapse triggers, then he or she will have an easier time avoiding them. Below is a list of some of the common relapse triggers and what you can do to avoid them:

The use of drug and substance abuse interventions have resulted in a decrease of relapses throughout the United States due to the amount of support each participant receives, the unique treatments each person gets, and those who receive treatment are automatically better off than those who do not receive treatment.

In addition, abstinence is the client’s way to remain substance free, by establishing a stable and healthy lifestyle, develop coping/living skills, and increase support of family members to protect the individual’s best interest. Last, maintenance concept, is a relapse prevention or termination stabilizing their success when in treatment. Fourth, an individual may gain momentum using models such as the CENAPS Model, with self-regulation and stabilization. To clarify, teaching or educating a client about self-regulation helps a person with their thinking, emotions, thought process, memory, and judgment changing at risk of relapse to a minimum.

Relapse prevention is a comprehensive plan accounts for social interactions, emotional triggers and the development of positive coping mechanisms (Alcoholic and Drug Addict Relapse Prevention Suggestions, 2015). From the social interaction’s aspect, patients with substance abuse should interact with people who are able to recognize their issues and offer moral support in a daily basis. Loss of a loved one, change in employment, health issues, changes in financial situation, and change in marital status are considered as emotional triggers. The patient

However, the client stated that because of his addiction, "I hit rock bottom before I got locked up this time around". The client expressed that he was homeless, living in the woods, overdosed several times, has a lengthy criminal record. He was informed by his father that if he doesn’t get "clean" he would not let him see his son again. The client expressed that if he doesn’t maintain sobriety, "I could die". The client has developed insight into his addiction and has identified several triggers and relapse warning signs. The client has identified and developed several coping skills. The client expressed the importance of aftercare to maintain long-term sobriety. The client attends weekly AA/NA and Big Book meetings in the PWC ADC. The client has picked and is currently working with a

“Relapse is a blended definition of relapse is a breakdown or setback in a person's attempt to change or modify a target behavior following an initial setback, a return to the previous problematic behavior, and the continuous return to substance use or to the dysfunctional patterns of compulsive behavior” (PCN-100 Lecture 5, 2016). Next, a lapse in an individual differs from a relapse, yet can be the focal point or beginning as a one-time use after a capsule time of sobriety, which can lead to a full relapse in the individual.

There can be multiple ways of Identifying a persons warning signs of addiction relapse. It is important to be aware of what they are and how to react so you may be able to assist or get the assistance needed. On the surface many individuals believe it is simple to detect relapse signs but this is not the case. Relapse has many forms and it affects someone in all major ways. A person going through relapse will be effected mentally, physically, and socially.

The third and final stage of recovery is known as late recovery, and involves a client finding growth and meaning in life. In this stage, relapse may be less frequent as a sense of purpose is found. As this stage is found only by enduring great challenges, a client may not be as tempted by relapse and the act of back tracking in their recovery may seem tiresome and unworthy of their time. However, though a deep awareness of the consequences of substance abuse is profound, relapse is still possible if an addict forgets that he or she has a disease that is incurable and succumbs to the enticement of “just this one time can’t hurt” or has the thought that “I have been clean for so long. I am cured.” Bill W. stated in his book Alcoholics Anonymous that “This is the baffling feature of alcoholism as we know it-this utter inability to leave it alone, no matter how great the necessity or the wish” (pg. 34). Complete abstinence is the only choice for those with the disease of addiction, and so many recovering addicts forget this simple realization in the late recovery stage.

In my opinion, Step Eight has the greatest potential for relapse. Since step eight states “you have to begin repairing the things around you that were damaged by your addiction”. (Gorski, 1989, p. 117) This is what makes this step one of the hardest. Reflecting on anyone you may have harmed or anything that you may have damaged can cause someone to relapse. Alcoholics and drug user do not want to think about the damaged they have done to another or property since that’s what makes their addiction seem real. Many believe that it is easier to forget about the pain they have inflicted on others. No matter what progress an individual has made at this point will still make it hard when they reach this step. Not only does it make the fact they have an addiction real it also makes the mistakes they have made real. Not only do you make amends with the people you have hurt you also have to fix the issues with the people who have hurt you.

So the treatment should have focus not only on the person’s physical and mental health but also focus on person’s all related issues. If the addicted person completed the whole treatment, then the chances of relapse decreases, but if the person leave the treatment in between then there are chances of relapse increases. So the determination of the person to quit the addiction is most important in the treatment of drug addiction.

Addiction is a “chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.” The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most individuals, but frequent drug use can lead to brain alterations that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. These brain alterations can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a "relapsing" disease. People in recovery from drug use disorders are at increased threat for returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug. It's common for an individual to relapse, but relapse doesn't mean that treatment doesn’t work. As with other chronic health conditions, treatment should be constant and should be adjusted based on how the patient answers. Treatment plans need to be reviewed often and modified to fit the patient’s changing desires.