Relapse Prevention: Life after Rehab | Hawaii Island Recovery ...

In drug or substance rehabilitation settings, a relapse is defined as a period of return to previous drug or substance use after a long period of abstinence. In the process of alcohol and drug treatment or rehabilitation, the ultimate goal is to flush away the toxins from the body as a result of substance abuse, and relapse prevention to substance use and abuse throughout the lifespan after rehabilitation. Many rehabilitation programs throughout the world incorporate social, cognitive, and behavioural principles in devising their relapse prevention interventions.

Importance of Identifying and Anticipating High Risk Situations

Relapse prevention strategies enable individuals with previous substance abusive habits to make action plans that will help them cope with recovery and prevent going back to their addiction. These include identifying high risk situations and dangerous signs that may lead to resumption of previous destructive behavior and habits. Through these coping strategies, clients would be able to quickly take action if a possible relapse episode is anticipated.

In most drug rehabilitation settings, a cognitive-behavioral model is usually used as a basis in relapse prevention. This model identifies risk factors that could possibly lead to a relapse episode that include emotional states such as boredom, depression, anxiety that may come as negative reactions from sudden changes in environment and life situations. Another major factor that has been related to relapse episodes is existence of interpersonal conflicts with family, friends, colleagues, and other people present in the client?s environment.

In relapse prevention, high risk situations that should also be monitored include social pressure from peers or family and extremely positive emotions related to celebrations and parties that could lead to returning to drug or substance use. However, the presence of these risk factors does not really mean that they will lead to a relapse episode. Relapses greatly depend on how the individual reacts and their self-efficacy in implementing coping strategies when faced with these situations

Relapse prevention greatly depends on coping strategies of the individual who has undergone treatment for substance abuse. Success in terms of coping with high risk situations after rehabilitation is related to an individual?s ability to remove himself from the situation on his own. Therefore, it is important for drug or substance rehabilitation programs to focus on empowering the individuals undergoing treatment so as to promote high self-efficacy and self- responsibility in terms of relapse prevention.

Importance of Emotional Stability and Supportive Environment in Relapse Prevention

Relapse prevention should also promote a strong and supportive group of family and peers that will help the individual who underwent rehabilitation to continuously proceed with recovery without returning to previous addiction. Furthermore, interpersonal group therapy consisting of members who are recovering from addiction is a common strategy for relapse prevention. In this way, members of the group help each other identify high risk situations and devise strategies that would help them cope in case they face these circumstances.

A common problem that is faced by recovering addicts is the first lapse after rehabilitation, which means a single incident wherein they use a substance they were previously addicted to. In relapse prevention programs, it should be stressed that instead of blaming one?s self for a single lapse after treatment, the recovering individual should foster a positive attitude, to learn from the mistake and persevere on preventing a single lapse to progress to a prolonged relapse. It is vital that the individual develop emotional and psychological stability to anticipate and withstand this situation and move on without going back to substance abuse.

Other Relapse Prevention Interventions and Strategies

An important strategy against relapse intervention is health education on effects of the addictive substances previously abused by the recovering individuals enrolled in a substance rehabilitation program.

In a study by Larimer et.al on alcohol relapse prevention, they emphasized the need for disproving myths on substance effects and clarifying areas of confusion with regards to their effects on the body. Perceived desirable effects of the substances should be put up against the short and long-term negative effects of substance abuse, helping the individuals make informed decisions and take responsibility for their own recovery.

Another important strategy in relapse prevention is remodelling the recovering individual?s way of thinking in terms of possible anticipated lapses after discharge from rehabilitation. Relapse prevention programs should stress that lapses are not a product of weakness, failure, or lack of willpower to recover from addiction. Instead, they should be treated as mistakes that they should learn from and viewed as areas for improvement in their coping strategies and implementation.

Most importantly, the recovering individual should enact permanent lifestyle changes that would help in relapse prevention. They should eliminate factors that predispose them to going back to substance abuse such as work and personal stressors, or organizations and affiliations that may expose them to substances that they were previously addicted to. Instead, they should focus more on productive and fun-filled activities that promotes health, well-being, and nurturing relationships at home or work.

For a person who was previously engaged in substance abuse, relapse prevention may be one of the most challenging processes in substance rehabilitation. Once an addict recognizes the need for professional help in attaining a drug-free lifestyle, the process of substance rehabilitation should be initiated as soon as possible with the help of highly-skilled health care providers. Moreover, the ultimate goal is to completely stop the use of these substances to eliminate their negative effects, not only on the person?s body, but also on their daily functions and interpersonal relationships.

If you happen to know someone who is currently facing the similar problems or if you think you need help from chronic substance abuse, be proactive and ask for professional help. You can call the Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-515-5032. You can inquire about substance abuse, treatment options for you or your loved ones. Your life does not need to be like this anymore. Do not be afraid. Be brave and take the first step on the way to recovery before it is too late.

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