Unfortunately, this is simply not true. Most of the actual recovery process happens when someone has gotten through the first steps of the recovery process and drug rehab and continues to actually recover in their own worlds and lives. A person cannot count themselves as healed simply because they have stopped using whatever substance they are addicted to. A big part of alcohol and drug recovery is avoiding chronic relapse.

It does not work for a person to stop going to treatment or to think that they are healed and completely finished with the process. This is a very dangerous thing, because it offers people hope that is not true hope – the hope that once they have stopped abusing substances they no longer have to worry about recovery.

In fact, the opposite is true. Once someone has stopped drinking, the next step, and the most important step, is avoiding chronic relapse. Chronic relapse occurs when a person goes back to substance abuse over and over again. This is something that is important to avoid.

In order to avoid chronic relapse, and to continue with recovery, a person must be willing to spend their lives in recovery. This does not mean that they will never get any better. It means that once a person has a problem with drugs and alcohol, there will always be an opportunity for relapse to occur. In fact, one of the major problems with alcohol recovery is the idea of chronic relapse. This usually happens when a person thinks that they are healed and returns to their normal life, which usually means returning to things that caused their addictions in the first place.

Lifelong recovery is not as terrible as it sounds. Spending your life in recovery simply means that you admit that you are always going to have the chance of a chronic relapse. In order to avoid chronic relapse, a person must be willing to talk about their problems, and to have relationships with other people that require talking about their problems and insecurities, and also talking about ways to avoid relapse.

Having meetings with people who have also had problems in their lives makes it harder to relapse because you are then held accountable to other people who have had the same type of problems that you have. These meetings are a very popular part of addiction recovery, as they allow for people to get together and talk about their problems. Studies have shown that when a person is able to talk to others who might have problems with drug an alcohol abuse, they are less likely to experience chronic relapse.

If you always remember that you are a person that is prone to addiction, and you take steps to change your life for the better, you have a good chance of making a full recovery. You must just always remember that if you have problems with drugs and alcohol, you will not be able to go back to using these substances even socially. Going back to that is a sure way to have a relapse. Chronic relapse can be avoided and steps should be taken to do so.

The good news is that relapse prevention skills will be a major focus of your drug rehab services. You are not alone. Every recovering addict faces the problem of relapse prevention; relapse is a common part of recovery from substance dependence. In addiction counseling, you will learn the skills necessary to avoid chronic relapse, such as identifying your drug and/or alcohol “triggers” and how to successfully cope with them. You will know how to respond to these triggers and avoid relapsing into drug and/or alcohol use.

Addiction counseling for chronic relapses is an essential part of your drug rehabilitation program. Relapse is, unfortunately, a difficult part of your recovery from alcohol/drug dependence. This is true for all addicts, not just for you. Keep in mind, however, that although chronic relapse is a challenge for all recovering addicts, it does not condone your return to abusing alcohol and/or drugs. With the skills you learn in addiction counseling, chronic relapses can be prevented. Either you get it, or you don’t. The choice is yours.

During your drug rehabilitation treatment for addiction, your addiction counselor will assist you in learning the personal skills necessary to prevent chronic relapse. Whether you put these skills into action in your life is entirely up to you. Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Have you had enough days in jail and/or divorce court? Would you like to keep your job? If so, then addiction counseling for chronic relapse is for you. Only you can say when you’ve had enough of negative consequences for alcohol and/or drug abuse. When you are ready, and are willing to stop denying that you have a substance abuse problem, addiction counselors are there for you.

It is very likely that your addiction counselor has been where you are now. Negative consequences, divorce, jail – your counselor has most likely been there and done that. How encouraging would it be for you to have an addiction counselor who can say, “Yes, I understand. I’ve been there too?” Since chronic relapses are a component of addiction recovery, who is better to help you than an addiction counselor who has been exactly where you are; scared of chronic relapse just like you?

To avoid chronic relapses, you will need the services of an expert addiction counselor who can assist you with relapse prevention skills. You can do this! It is never too late for you to begin a life that is substance-free.

Why some people relapse and others succeed after addiction treatment is still a matter of discussion among professionals in the treatment community. Oftentimes, addicts find that once they enter the “real world,” they find their commitment and devotion to their sobriety fading. For these individuals, it’s not a question of whether or not they will relapse, but when they will relapse.

Whether you are the individual who is suffering from chronic relapse, or the loved one of a chronic relapser, chronic relapse can be extremely disheartening. The addict may feel as if they are a failure. Loved ones may feel as if the relapser did not make a concerted effort upon returning to society. Either way, it is crucial for both the relapser and his or her loved ones to understand that a relapse is just a temporary setback and sadly, is extremely common after addicts return to their “normal” lives.

Traditional treatment tools to avoid chronic relapse include inpatient treatment centers, extended care, addiction counseling, 12-step meetings and a strong connection to a particular sponsor. A few of the more successful chronic relapse treatment tools include addiction counseling and Personal Recovery Assistants.

Addiction counseling uncovers the reasons why the individual became addicted to the substance in question in the first place. The underlying problem that leads to the addiction usually includes family issues, peer pressure, bullying or other related issues. The addict can “escape” from these problems through their addiction. Addiction counseling forces the addict to recognize these issues and cope with their problems in a healthy, more effective way. Addiction counseling will also focus on the individual’s strengths and weaknesses. Addiction counseling will work with the individual to recognize these weaknesses and find ways to avoid situations that the addict finds difficult to handle. The addict’s strengths will be acknowledged and built upon so that the individual can find ways to introduce these strengths into otherwise difficult situations that may interfere with his or her recovery. The counselor will also offer practice in dealing with negative social interactions and explore ways to deal with them in certain social situations. For example, the counselor and the recovering alcoholic may role-play a variety of social situations that the individual may encounter alcohol. However successful addiction counseling is, it is ultimately up to the patient/recovering addict to utilize the educational tools provided to them.

Personal Recovery Assistants are either personally active in recovery (for a minimum of 5 years) and/or have professional experience in the addiction treatment field. A PRA is provided to the recovering addict to reinforce the foundation gained in a structured treatment environment. The PRA returns with the individual to their natural environment and ensures that the client sticks to their written treatment plan. The PRA serves as a mentor, offering guidance and support to the recovering addict during a very difficult time.

Although both of these methods have proven to be successful against chronic relapse, the success rate varies from person to person. What works for one individual does not necessarily work for another. The important thing to remember is that chronic relapse is not a failure on the part of the individual addict; it can be directly attributed to the failure of the drug rehab treatment program itself.

Statistically 75%-90% of all alcoholics or addicts will relapse within the first year of release from traditional treatment programs. The short term 28 day inpatient model or outpatient programs have in the past demonstrated these failure rates.

Addicts and alcoholics usually do work the programs they are taught and do give their best efforts. Unfortunately many addicts fail. You hear from the professionals “he didn’t work the program” or “he’s not ready, he hasn’t hit his bottom”. In fact the drug rehab program has failed the addict and their family.

Relapse is a heartbreaking event for a family it can in fact be the breaking point. All too often relapse is where the family takes a hard line and tells the addict to “do it on their own” or “we can’t help you anymore”. This is the time families are needed most. There are other addiction treatment options such as programs that have higher success rates or that offer “peace of mind” guarantees to families. This is the time for long term effective drug rehab that will treat the biophysical drug cravings and the underlying emotional pain, the root of the addiction. Typically a 3-5 month residential program with 4-6 months of follow-up aftercare is the recommended treatment method, for most hard-core addictions

Never Give Up!
Addiction and alcoholism are tricky afflictions. The addict has most likely deeply hurt the family. Lying, cheating, stealing, job loss, violence, even criminal behaviors are all symptoms of the addictive behavior. If these were the symptoms of cancer would you give up? Of course not, you would try other treatments. You would go to the end of the earth to find something to save your loved one’s life. If you have a chronic relapse victim in your life you are in the same position as a terminal cancer patient’s family if not effectively treated. The addict/alcoholic will die or end up in prison. Unfortunately addiction is viewed all too often in the light of a lack of will power or the addict just wants to get high and doesn’t care about his family. This could not be farther from the truth.

Never giving up should not to be confused with enabling on the part of the family. The enabling behavior is destructive and must be stopped immediately upon identifying the active addict or alcoholic. The family must provide treatment options only. For the addict unwilling to get a treatment professional intervention is recommended.

Relapse in drug and alcohol addiction is considered to be a complex phenomenon that is affected by many factors including: neurobiological, behavioral, individual, environmental, social and cultural variables. An understanding of relapse and its implications for treatment interventions are necessary. However, the fact of the matter is that many professionals do not know what the actual contributors to chronic relapse are. What is known is that contributing factors for relapse vary from individual to individual. What is also clear is that further testing must be done on this topic in order to obtain any factual evidence as it may relate to chronic relapse.

The potential for relapse is part of the chronic disease that is substance abuse. Just as people with chronic medical conditions must adjust their lifestyles, so do those individuals who are suffering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Individuals must assume responsibility for managing their own care and must adjust their lifestyles accordingly. If they do not, relapse may occur.

One of the factors that have been proven to contribute to chronic relapse includes gender. According to recent reports, women are less than likely to relapse than men are in part because they are more likely to seek drug rehab treatment in the first place. Women are also less likely to relapse due to their willingness to participate and engage in group counseling sessions.

Aftercare in the rehabilitation process also plays a critical role in long-term recovery. It is has been proven that individuals who regularly attend some sort of aftercare program remain completely abstinent from drug or alcohol use, compared to 40% of patients who attend aftercare sessions sporadically.

In order to avoid chronic relapse, the addict must adhere to the lifestyle options discussed in their addiction recovery program. Whether this means the individual must refrain from attending certain social functions or stop hanging around certain individuals who tend to negatively influence the addict, failure to adhere to their treatment recovery program could lead to chronic relapse. If the addict’s family is not supportive and fails to abide by the rules/requirements of the after-care treatment plan (such as eliminating alcohol from family social functions) than the individual is most likely to suffer from chronic relapse. If the individual’s support mechanism fails to provide encouragement and emotional support, the individual may also relapse (One drink won’t kill them.). Also, if there are individuals within the support system who have a substance abuse issue themselves that has not been addressed, chronic relapse is likely.

Ultimately, as long as the individual with an addiction adheres to their treatment plan by attending group meetings or addiction counseling sessions and by avoiding social situations where the substance may be present, the individual can and will succeed in preventing relapse.

With the continued support of their family, friends, co-workers and other professionals, complete abstinence is possible.