Relapse Prevention in West Palm Beach FL (877) 804-1531

Relapse prevention is a critical component of drug and alcohol rehabs that equips patients with the skills and strategies required to prevent a lapse in sobriety, which can quickly lead to a relapse of the addiction. Addiction is a disease that's both chronic and relapsing, which means that while it can't be cured, it can be sent into remission for as long as someone with an addiction maintains sobriety. Aftercare can help curb the potential that a person will use drugs or alcohol after they achieve sobriety.

For more information on available treatment options for sobriety maintenance and aftercare, call Drug Treatment West Palm Beach at (877) 804-1531.

What is Relapse Prevention?

Relapse prevention is part therapy and part education. It teaches patients about the mechanics of lapse and relapse and helps them develop personalized skills and strategies to help them maintain sobriety for successful long-term recovery. The goals of prevention programs will include helping patients gain the self-efficacy they need to maintain sobriety and identify, anticipate, and either avoid or cope with high-risk situations that can lead to a lapse.

Relapse isn't a single event, but rather a series of events that occurs in three stages.

Emotional relapse is the first stage, during which negative emotions and unhealthy behaviors are setting a patient up for a lapse. Signs include experiencing unresolved negative emotions, skipping meetings, feeling isolated or lonely, and not asking for help.
Mental relapse is the second stage and is characterized by conscious thoughts of using drugs or alcohol. Signs include thinking about old friends who still use, glamorizing past use, fantasizing about using again, and finally, planning a lapse around loved ones' schedules.
Physical relapse is the final stage, and this is where the lapse actually occurs. If help isn't received quickly, the lapse will likely result in continued substance abuse, which will require another round of medical detox and treatment therapy.

How Relapse Prevention Programs Help

Preventing a person from using drugs or alcohol after sobriety requires a high level of self-awareness and self-efficacy that patients gain through prevention programs. Patients:

Identify high-risk situations and develop ways to cope with or avoid them
Learn ways to cope with stress, triggers, and cravings that can quickly lead to a lapse.
Gain understanding of the mechanics of sobriety failure and learn the stages and warning signs of a pending lapse.
Develop a written plan for getting help in the event a lapse is imminent or actually occurs.

Much of the relapse prevention programming occurs during drug or alcohol addiction treatment. Once treatment is complete, an aftercare plan is individualized and set in place and will include ongoing prevention programming and other components designed to help prevent a lapse.

Techniques to Prevent Relapse

The sheer number of prevention techniques enable patients to assemble a personalized toolbox of effective ways to avoid a lapse and prevent a person from using drugs or alcohol.

Ongoing therapy is an essential prevention technique that continues to increase self-awareness and self-efficacy surrounding individual addiction issues.
Recovery self-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Smart Recovery provide patients with an added layer of accountability as well as provide strong support and the opportunity to support others in various stages of recovery.
Hobbies provide productive ways to fill idle time and offer opportunities to develop relationships with other non-users.
Exercise relieves stress, alleviates cravings, improves overall physical and mental health, and promotes a healthy lifestyle.
Alternative therapies like yoga, meditation, and biofeedback help reduce stress and increase self-awareness and self-efficacy surrounding the complex issues underlying addictive behaviors and unhealthy thought patterns.

Intervention Following a Lapse or Relapse

Swift intervention is essential after a lapse or relapse in order to get the patient back on the road to recovery. A lapse doesn't mean that treatment was ineffective, and a lapse won't always lead to a complete return to a lifestyle of substance abuse, especially if intervention occurs immediately after the initial lapse.

Whether or not the addiction has returned in full force, the patient will likely spend a little time in a rehab facility to address the issues that led to the lapse. The aftercare plan will be revised to include more therapy sessions and group meetings, and other components may be added based on new and changing needs.

If you are suffering from substance abuse or struggling with sobriety, get help today. Call Drug Treatment West Palm Beach at (877) 804-1531 to hear more about treatment options in West Palm Beach.