Chronic Relapse

Although relapse is common, as long as the addict remains committed to his or her recovery, they can avoid becoming a statistic of chronic relapse. A drug rehabilitation program significantly reduces the chances of chronic relapse.

Addiction requires long-term treatment and lifestyle changes.  However discouraging, setbacks are very common.  It is estimated that 80% of all addicts who get off drugs by detoxification will go back to their drug/alcohol lifestyle within a year.  Only 20% of these addicts achieve a stable abstinence from a given detoxification program. 

Research is currently underway to determine the cause of these relapses.  One culprit for chronic relapse is the phenomenon referred to as a “craving” or the powerful “hunger” for drugs and alcohol which can last for months or even years after an addict quits using.  Some scientists have discovered evidence that this craving may be partly a physiological response related to the long-term changes in brain function that the initial addiction causes.  In other words, the addicted brain becomes unable to function normally without the presence of the addictive substance. Drug addiction treatment typically includes an aftercare program aimed at helping the addict eliminate or neutralize “cravings”.

Additional Chronic Relapse Information and Articles

What is Chronic Relapse

Chronic Relapse from Drug Abuse /Alcoholism

How You Can Decrease the Chances of Chronic Relapse

Key Contributors of Chronic Relapse

Does Addiction Counseling Prevent Chronic Relapse?

Chronic relapse – the possibility of launching back into destructive behavior haunts recovering addicts. Ultimately, the effectiveness of drug and alcohol addiction rehabilitation rests in the hands of the recovering addict. Whether or not the addict falls into the pattern of chronic relapse will be determined by the choices they make after they are released from drug rehab.

However, addiction counseling can be a recovering addict’s best ally in the continuing care phase of the treatment process.  That is, the six to twelve months after the patient finishes rehabilitation treatments and is released freely and unconditionally into society again.  This is typically when the recovering addict would be at greatest risk of falling into a pattern of chronic relapse.

Ongoing addiction counseling can be a safe base for the recovering addict. A sort of calm in the storm of temptation, addiction counseling provides a means of staying true to the principles learned during the treatment process.

Furthermore, addiction counseling will help the recovering addict get to the root of the problem. What was the initial issue or combination of issues that launched that person into the cycle of addiction? It may be peer pressure, family influences, stress, depression, insecurity or the loss of a job or loved one.

Addiction counseling not only helps patients identify that central issue, it helps them learn how to overcome it to live a healthy, fulfilled life. To handle the future trials that life will inevitably bring, the patient will learn new coping methods that do not involve dependence on addictive substances. This may be the first time they have ever learned these alternative, healthier coping methods.

Addiction counseling will also shine a spotlight of positivity on the patient’s natural strengths and abilities, giving them the confidence to shed negative social influences they may have depended on in the past. Although addiction counseling, treatment and rehabilitation gives a recovering addict the keys to success, it is ultimately their decision and responsibility to use them.

How to Stay in Recovery and Avoid Chronic Relapse

This addictive craving is also considered to be a conditioned response to powerful cues to use drugs or alcohol that the recovering addict may encounter such as people, places and events that have come to be associated with this drug/alcohol use.  These cues can evoke powerful emotionally charged memories of the “high” and can trigger an urge to use again. 

People who are recovering from an addiction must learn what these triggers are and how best to avoid them in order to avoid chronic relapse.

Chronic relapse is usually preceded by other problems that may make a recovering addict more vulnerable as well such as a death of a family member/loved one, loss of a job, marital separation, etc.  This event, combined with a triggering event, can be the downfall of an addict’s recovery.  Many addicts also suffer from mental health issues, that if not addressed in a dual diagnosis recovery program can lead to relapse. If not halted, this relapse can plunge the addict back to their former levels of drug/alcohol use or in some cases, the addict may even try to make up for “lost time” and consume in excess.  One researcher discovered that when alcohol is removed from addicted rats for three or four days and then returned the rats will drink 50% more than they did before. 

It is important to remember however, that if caught in time, a relapse can be merely a “stumble” on the pathway to recovery.  If an addict is able to identify what triggered the relapse, or why the relapse has occurred, they may be better able to avoid it the next time. As with any addiction, part of the addiction recovery process is learning how to avoid these urges, situations, and cues and wait out the cravings until they subside.

Our  Michigan drug rehab program in Battle Creek offers a program that decreases the chances for chronic relapse by including aftercare and family programs.If the recovering addict has a good support network in place, and regularly attends group sessions, individual therapy and/or some other form of after-care after release from addiction treatment, they will most likely be able to avoid becoming a statistic of chronic relapse.