Relapse Prevention in Westchester, PA

A major component in any drug or alcohol recovery plan is learning strong new strategies for relapse prevention in Westchester. Relapse prevention programs focus on helping people identify their own unique addiction triggers and develop ways to avoid returning to patterns of self-destructive behavior associated with addictive substance use.

Relapse prevention programs are designed to help recovering addicts develop strong coping skills and healthy strategies for reducing the risk of returning back into a pattern of substance use.

Relapse Statistics among Addicts and Alcoholics

It's common for people to believe that when a person ‘falls off the wagon' after a period of sobriety, it means that treatment has failed. In reality, addiction is a chronic disease of the brain that is characterized by occasional relapses in symptoms.

If the person had a different type of chronic health condition, such as asthma or type 1 diabetes or hypertension (high blood pressure), there would be no hesitation for that person to reach out and seek medical advice if symptoms were to recur. Research shows that the relapse rates for people with chronic conditions such as asthma or diabetes range between 40% and 60%.

Research shows that the relapse rate for recovering drug addicts averaged around 30% within the first 12 months after leaving rehab, but increased up to almost 50% within 24 months of leaving rehab.

Unfortunately, people recovering from opiate addiction may face a higher potential relapse rate than those recovering from addiction to some other types of drugs. Research indicates that up to 90% of people in recovery from opiate addiction will experience a relapse at some point after leaving comprehensive treatment in drug rehab centers. The same study also showed that 59% of people who did relapse were more likely to do so within the first week after graduating from rehab, while as many as 80% would relapse within the first 30 days after being discharged from treatment programs in Westchester.

Stages of Relapse

Relapse is never an isolated event. Rather, it's a series of events or stages that lead up to the physical act of returning to a habitual pattern of drug or alcohol use. It's also important to understand the difference between a lapse and relapse.

A lapse means the person has used once but immediately quit use again after recognizing the mistake. By comparison, relapse means the person has returned to a pattern of self-destructive drug or alcohol use.

During programs for relapse prevention in Westchester, recovering people are taught the three main stages of relapse, which are:

Emotional relapse: During the early stages of relapse, the person may not be actively thinking about using. The person may still be motivated to stay sober, but their actions and emotions could be setting them up to relapse if signs aren't recognized and acted on quickly. Signs include:

Not attending meetings
Not practicing self-care
Isolation
Uncontrolled stress levels
Poor sleeping patterns
Bad eating habits
Not asking for help

Mental relapse: If the recovering person doesn't recognize and act on signs of emotional relapse, the process can spiral down into mental relapse. During the later stages, a part of the person's mind may still want to remain sober, but another part may begin thinking idly about using again. For some, it may seem easier to return to using, rather than continue to struggle in their efforts to stay sober. Signs include:

Fantasizing past use
Glamorizing use
Believing the addiction is now under control and using ‘just once' won't hurt
Hanging out with past using friends
Thinking about relapsing
Planning a relapse around other people to avoid getting caught

Physical relapse: The act of giving in to cravings and urges to return to a pattern of drug or alcohol use is known as physical relapse.

Relapse Prevention Strategies

Relapse prevention in Westchester focuses on teaching recovering people to identify their own individual addiction triggers and warning signs. Programs for relapse prevention are designed to help each person find healthy, productive ways to manage symptoms of stress and to develop strong new coping skills for dealing with life without the need for drugs or alcohol.

Addiction specialists in drug and alcohol treatment in Westchester centers work closely with each person to engage in a range of alternative therapies that can make it easier to manage cravings and reduce symptoms of stress using natural options. Programs for relapse prevention also ensure that people who graduate from rehab treatments have access to a broad range of aftercare services that offer ongoing support and guidance through the early recovery process. Call Westchester Alcohol and Drug Rehab Centers now for help at (877) 804-1531.