Relapse Prevention

Recovery is the process of participating in a group or program providing treatment and support for a longstanding psychological or behavioral problem, such as abuse, addiction, grief, or trauma (Melemis, Steven, 2015). As a non-addict it seems easy enough to make a decision to stop drinking and follow through with that decision when temptation presents itself, but for an alcoholic it is not the simple. However, an alcoholic struggles with the temptation on a daily bases. Relapse prevention begins with addressing social interactions, emotional triggers, and developing positive coping mechanisms. Recovery and relapse requires is a process that should be done with others around to support each step and each phase of the

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

Once a person who is done with rehab they may or may not keep attending the course but they still need to maintain aftercare. “Even effectively treated people with addictions will confront unexpected situations after they leave a treatment program and return to their home environment. These situations may produce intense periods of craving to re-use alcohol and other drugs. Lapse, defined as re-use of alcohol or drugs at least once following treatment, occurs in at least 50% of those who complete treatment. The most dangerous period for lapse is the first 3-6 months after completion of formal treatment. Relapse, defined as return to excessive or problematic use, is less common, occurring in approximately 20-30% of those who complete formal care in the prior year” (McLellan). After care is very hard to do because the subject is done with rehab there may be no counselor or support for them. At times it is recommended that the person keep attending rehab and also for the persons family to help them with coping. When the person gets out of treatment it is important that the families, friends, and patient prepare for the chance of a relapse or lapse happening. Early detection and understanding the proper procedures to take if a re lapse appears to be coming will help to prevent a full blown relapse to happen. Family and friends should agree to respect and follow the plan that the person out of treatment wishes to follow with

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,

What I learned about recovery and relapse is that it can happen at any time and some people

Relapse after completing a program is especially dangerous because the addicts low tolerance may cause them to overdose. Kentucky facilities report up to 75% dropout rate of the 12 step program. At the most successful facility with a 40% dropout rate, they reported half of those who completed it relapsed within the year. To paraphrase Dr. A. Thomas McLellan when the 12 step program was widely picked up no one understood the science of addiction, “We started off with the wrong model.” There is a sense of self accomplishment and strength from within that inspired this program into existence. Professionals have known the system has been broke for awhile, so it was alarming that 90% of drug recovery centers where abstinence was the only solution. Whether this practice came from alcohol treatment, or if the return opioid patients was noted and exploited, I do not know. The financial incentive to tell people their treatment is working on others exists. As residential stay can cost around $31K.

1) Learn from other people’s experiences: I learned that when other group members share their experiences it usually incudes relapsing. If a client has no experience with relapsing he/she can and probably will learn that relapsing is a part of recovery.

“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

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the relapse rate is 40-60%. Not only do we need better alternatives to recovery for alcohol and drug addiction, but we must lower the relapse rate. In order to successfully lower the relapse rate we must inform people on the effect gateway drugs can have on future addictions, educating about relapse and addiction and focusing on key factors to making a treatment a successful one. My research on lowering relapse rates taught me that the problem is not getting sober, its staying sober.

Next, a lapse in an individual differs from a relapse, yet can be the focal point or beginning as a one-time use or after a capsule time of sobriety. This usually is a temporary but a person who had sobriety for a while must restart their sobriety process all over again.

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.

DATA: Today’s group has been facilitated by Kirsten again, and includes relapse, what it is, and how each client can prevent it. Being that relapse is a process, it is an ongoing situation that can be interrupted, rather than a static event that is over and cannot be changed. It involves the individual reverting to old attitudes, beliefs, values, and risk behaviors. These are part of a progressive pattern, and will worsen until the process is interrupted or changed. Relapse is not a sign of failure, and, at times, may be part of the recovery process. There are times when individuals are more vulnerable to relapse, specifically, when they are too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (HALT), and need to be aware of this vulnerability, and take

Relapsing isn't much different. More men than women relapse. This is why finding the right rehab is so important for them.

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.