Drug Relapse Prevention

Relapse-is defined as the process of "walking, thinking and talking" back toward the behaviors as well as the drug that created addiction. The process of relapse is not only returning back to drug use. The process of relapse begins when the addict begins displaying behaviors that are addict-like behaviors.

Is Your Life Controlled by A Drug Addict?

There are things that you can do if you are controlled by a drug addict. First, begin to recognize that you have a problem. Second, begin to know that you must reach out and find help to solve your problem. No one wants to have a problem. And, no one wants to have the problem of having a family member who has a drug problem. Many people who have a family member with an addiction are frustrated and want to pretend that the problem does not exist. They want to ignore the problem because they feel that they have so many problems due to the drug addict-they don't want to take on any more problems. If you have a drug addict in your life you have to admit that you have a problem. Then, you have to admit that you just can't continue to pretend that you don't have a problem. The problem is not goint ot go away or get better all by itself. You are must face the fact that you have to take action to help yourself and your life. 

You are not the drug addict-but you have a problem too. Drug addiction is a family illness. So, if your life has been influenced by addiction you are going to need to take some action to heal yourself. Begin to looking up information about a near by counseling center. Counseling for the family of the drug addict is a main step in recover for yourself and the drug addict too. 

Do You Know the Drug Addict is Twice as Likely to Get Help if You (his family) Gets Help First?

Do You Know the Drug Addict who Does Not Get Help will Live with Less Stress Than His Family Member who Does Not Get Help?

Do You Know the Phone Number of Your Local Drug Counseling Department? Call your local health department and ask for information to a local drug addictions counselor. If your health department does not give you assistance-hand up the phone and make another call. Call your local methadone clinic. Do you know that your government now has free Methadone Clinics for drug addiction? Call then-and save your life today.

 

Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities

24 Hours A Day Help

Hazelden Recover 1-800-257-7810

12 Palms Recovery 1-877-459-8595

Betty Ford Center 1-800-434-7365

 

 

Recovery-begins when the addict is not using drugs and is involved in a program that allows him to live a life that allows him to relearn ways of living without drugs.

An addiction can be healed when a person who is addicted to a particular substance learns behaviors that help him to recover from using that particular substance. However, the disease of addiction is not entirely arrested when the addict stops abusing the substance. The drug addict must build a program that allows him to relearn ways to live and healthy life without using the substance and a healthy program that prevents relapse.

Relapse Prevention-is a program that is establised by the addict preventing him from returning to drug use. Because a relaps of drug use begins long before an addict ever picks up a drug and uses it-relapse can begin many months before drugs are in the life of the drug addict. Many drug addicts do not realize they are headed toward relapse. The addict who is aware of what a drug relapse is and how it may begin is more likely to avoide drug relapse.

Signs of Relaps-are behaviors changes, attitude change, thought change and changes in feelings or moods. Drug addicts are individuals. Each person has his own unique qualities and way of behaving. However a drug addict who is headed toward relapse will often have increased episodes of arguing with others as well as increased episodes in behaviors that he executed when using drugs. Many drug addicts who smoked cigarettes or eat certain foods during addiction will begin to practice those same behaviors. Many addicts who behaved negatively as in lying or stealing or associating with negative individuals when they were using drugs will recover and improve those behaviors when clean from drugs. But, they will begin to practice those behaviors again when they are relapsing. Even before the addict begins to use drugs the addict will begin showing signs of of deteriortion.

Attitude change is a relapse sign. The drug addict who is in relapse will often begin to talk about recovery in new ways. He will begin to complain about recovery and the people who are involved with recovery. He may begin to believe that he can recover on his own. Or, he may begin to feel that he does not need recovery. Some addicts suggest they do not care about sobriety or life at all.

An addict who is in relapse will change the way he thinks. He may begin to feel that he deservse to use a drug. He may begin to talk about and believe that he can use other substances that he did not use in the past. For example-a person who once used heroine might begin to believe that he can use another substance other than heroin. He may begin to use cocain instead of heroin believing that he is still sober because he has not used the original substance that he was addicted.

Moods and feelings often show a shift or change when relapse is occuring for the drug addict. A drug addict might begin to show signs of anxiety, depression, extreme anger or bordome in his everyday life.

Relapse Prevention and Intervention

A relapse can be prevented if there is intervention. An addict can learn to manage his emotions. Managing stress can help the addict to avoide the types of behaviors that create relapse.

An addict can challange his own negative or irrational thoughts. Or, a partner in relapse prevention can challange thoughts or emotions for the addict. A good relapse prevention program will be one where the addicts knows what to be aware of in case of a relapse. But, a good relapse prevention program should also have one to five individuals involved who can intervene if the negative behaviors or attitudes of the addict become noticable. The drug addict will have to eventually relsolve conflicts both internal and exteral. But, assistance from an out side party who is educated knowing what to look for to recognize a relapse is helpful to the addict allowing him to work through his internal and external issue instead of using drugs.

Triggers that May Contribute to Drug Relapse

Social Anxiety

Family Stress

Financial Stress

Anger

Isolation

Health

Friends/Associations

Availability

Habbit

Avoid Drug Relapse

Make a list that records circumstances or individuals that are in your life when you are drug free. Then, record on this list how you might jeopardize this list by using drugs.

List of Drug Free Benefits (This list is an example. You are encouraged to create your own list)

good marriage-Drug use prevents a happy marriage. When one or both partners within a relationship use drugs it is impossible for the marriage to be as successful as possible.

health-Drug use prevents good health. Drugs influence body, mind and spirit. Eventually, every aspect of an individual will be influenced by drugs.

happy children-Children raised by parents who use drugs can not learn to gage the emotions of others. Children of drug addicts are never as adjusted as children raised by sober parents.

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