Getting over an addiction is not easy. But what can be even more challenging is maintaining sobriety after you get out of rehab.
Fortunately, many facilities offer relapse prevention programs. They provide ongoing support so they don’t fall back to their old ways. This article will discuss how relapse prevention programs are used in treatment so you can understand the steps that may be taken to ensure long-term recovery.
What is Relapse?
Relapse is defined as a state of deterioration experienced after a period of improvement. It can pertain to any disease or condition.
In terms of drug use, relapse occurs when a person starts using drugs after they have been clean for a certain period. Studies show that over 85% of individuals start using drugs again within one year of completing treatment. The right type of aftercare can help reduce these numbers.
What Causes a Person to Relapse?
Many factors may cause a person to relapse. Here are some to consider.
Withdrawal Symptoms: When a person detoxes from drug use, their body struggles to get used to sobriety. This causes withdrawal symptoms to occur that are both mental and physical. The only way to immediately relieve these symptoms is to resume the use of the drug, which is sometimes referred to as a “fix.” Therefore, they relapse before ever really getting clean.
If a person gets clean in a rehab facility, they are less likely to relapse. The staff supervises them throughout the process to keep them as comfortable as possible and ensure relapse doesn’t occur.
Getting Used to Life After Rehab: Relapse is also likely to happen after a person gets out of rehab. They must deal with the stressors that led them to use in the first place. They may also meet up with old friends they used to use with and pass by the places they used to use at and be tempted to go back to their old ways.
Relapse prevention programs offer ongoing therapy that gives people the support they need to resist the urge to do drugs after going back to their typical life.
What is a Relapse Prevention Program?
A relapse prevention program typically occurs after the person completes primary care. Primary care may be inpatient or outpatient. An inpatient program involves 24/7 care that includes detox and therapy.
An outpatient program, such as partial hospitalization, involves the patient staying in the facility 6-8 hours a day (or night) and spending the rest of the time with their family or at work. It also involves therapy and detox.
Other types of outpatient programs, such as intensive outpatient and outpatient, involve a few sessions of therapy a week. They can be integrated as primary care and can also be included in relapse prevention programs.
In addition to therapy, patients may be enrolled in an alumni program where they are invited to social activities such as picnics and other types of gatherings. These get-togethers are made to make them feel like part of a group. It can keep them from getting depressed and turning back to drugs.
Sober living homes are another effective way of avoiding relapse. They help people transition after they get out of rehab. They provide a temporary place to live, and they offer opportunities to learn job skills to find employment after treatment.
How to Find a Relapse Prevention Program Near You
Many facilities offer relapse prevention programs. You can also do your own relapse prevention by seeing a therapist, attending AA groups, and engaging in activities that keep your mind off using. But if you’d rather go for a package deal, you may want to check out Refine Recovery.
Refine Recovery is a boutique rehab center located in the upscale neighborhood of Beverly Hills, CA. We offer each of our patients an individualized treatment plan that is best suited to their needs. We follow up with aftercare planning to ensure patients maintain sobriety.
Overcoming addiction is not easy, and staying sober can be even more challenging. Refine Recovery offers services that will help you get clean and stay clean. Call us today to find out how you can achieve your long-term recovery goals.
