Author: James Anderson
Alcohol Relapse: Rates, Prevention, and Treatment
If you’ve been in a program, immediately connect with your counselor, therapist, support group, or mentor. Recommit to your self-care plan, especially activities that eased stress and other emotional triggers. Having occasional cravings or thoughts of drinking is normal during recovery.
If you experience relapse, it is important to be honest with your treatment provider. They can recommend new strategies or interventions that can help you achieve lasting sobriety. If you haven’t been in treatment, a relapse means it is probably time to seek out professional intervention. Most physical relapses are considered relapses of opportunity, meaning that they occur when an individual feels they will not get caught. According to a review of relapse prevention, lapse and relapse are particularly common within the first year of seeking treatment.
A strong relapse prevention plan can include:
One such neurotransmitter, dopamine, reinforces the connection between drug use, pleasure, and any external triggers that remind the user of the substance. Over time, these dopamine surges teach the brain to seek the drug or alcohol any time the user encounters a trigger. There are many different physical and behavioral relapse warning signs. Becoming familiar with the signs of relapse can deter someone from using substances again. Learning about the recovery process, and the potential for setbacks, can help people set realistic expectations for addiction treatment and long-term healing.
For example, you might believe that you can’t quit, that recovery takes too much effort, and that you won’t enjoy life as much without alcohol. Some research has found that 40% to 60% of people dealing with substance abuse disorders relapse within a year. In fact, experts consider relapses part of the recovery process.
If a relapse does happen, it is not the end of the world. If it happens, it is important that you get back up, dust yourself off, and get back on the path to recovery. If it happens, it is important that you get back up, dust yourself off and get back on the path to recovery.
Addiction experts tend to define relapse as a return to uncontrolled drug or alcohol use. According to this definition, a relapse involves more than simply using drugs or alcohol one time. Instead, it involves repeated substance abuse that causes a person to meet diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder4 once again.
Alcohol or Drug Relapse Signs and Symptoms
Preventing a relapse starts with having a strong recovery plan. Surround yourself with supportive loved ones, attend self-help group meetings, and/or go to therapy sessions. When you’re recovering from alcohol use disorder, a relapse is when you start drinking again. It’s not the same thing as a lapse, which is temporary and short-term — such as when you have one drink at a party, then go back to not drinking. You attempt controlled, “social,” or short-term alcohol or drug use, but you are disappointed with the results and experience shame and guilt. You quickly lose control and your alcohol and drug use spiral further out of control.
- Drug addiction relapse triggers can be stress-inducing people, places or behaviors that can cause someone to misuse drugs or alcohol.
- If eligible, we will create a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
- If a trigger is unavoidable, consider what you can do differently next time you face it.
- The action you just performed triggered the security solution.
For some reason, you decide that participating in your recovery program is just not as important as it was. You might feel like something is wrong but can’t identify exactly what it is. If you are working toward long-term sobriety and want to avoid having a relapse, it is important to recognize the following warning signs. If you can identify them, you can take action to keep them from progressing into a full-blown relapse. Relapse is common in the alcohol and drug recovery process.
An increase in stress in your life can be due to a major change in circumstances or just little things building up. Returning to the “real world” after a stint in residential treatment can present many stressful situations. Be careful if you begin to have mood swings and exaggerated positive or negative feelings. Friends and family see the noticeable benefits of quitting alcohol when their loved one stops drinking and chooses to pursue a healthy life.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment Levels of Care
No one is perfect, and managing addiction is challenging. In fact, between 40% to 60% of people with a substance use disorder relapse at some point in their recovery journey. With CBT, you learn that recovery is based on practicing coping skills, not willpower. You can discuss trigger situations with your therapist and rehearse strategies to deal with them. If you can recognize the warning signs of each stage, you can take action to avoid a relapse.
A relapse does not mean:
Overseen by a board-certified medical director, our multidisciplinary team of addiction experts is here to help you begin a healthier, alcohol-free future. Contact us to learn more about alcohol addiction treatment programs that can work well for your needs, and begin the admissions process today. If you’re looking for help for alcohol addiction, or you’ve relapsed and don’t know where to turn, help is available at The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper.
For example, a person is considered to have relapsed if they had a sober period but returned to regular substance use and began showing signs of addiction. Most emotional relapses involve someone re-experiencing emotions that they used to feel when they were actively using drugs or alcohol. During an emotional relapse, a person may not be thinking about using drugs, but they might be heading toward familiar patterns of addiction. A person who is experiencing an emotional relapse might be in denial, grow irritable, isolate themselves and avoid friends, family and support group members.