National Recovery Month: The Importance of Relapse Prevention

Massachusetts communities are gearing up for upcoming festivals and much-anticipated Labor Day celebrations, filled with great food, music, and opportunities to spend time with friends and family. Yet for those in recovery, these gatherings pose significant challenges.

The presence of alcohol, old friends, and familiar environmental triggers, coupled with social pressure, can increase cravings and the risk of relapse. Having coping strategies in place to manage these situations can help people in recovery navigate them without jeopardizing their sobriety.

This makes September the perfect time for National Recovery Month. With celebrations and other potential triggers on the horizon, keeping sobriety at the top of mind can help those in recovery remember the relapse prevention strategies that can make relapse less likely.

These strategies are often learned through a relapse prevention program that addresses emotional instability, cravings, and managing triggers. This whole-person approach to care can provide the tools needed to continue on the road to recovery while reducing the risk of repeated relapse.

In this blog, you’ll discover why some people in recovery relapse, how relapse-prevention programs address common risk factors, and why having a relapse prevention plan can make lasting sobriety more likely.

What Is Relapse?

Relapse happens when someone with a substance use disorder (SUD) goes back to using the addictive substance they’re abstaining from. There are numerous causes for relapsing after a period of abstinence, including maladaptive habits, environmental triggers, and untreated withdrawal symptoms.

Individuals recovering from various forms of addiction frequently encounter relapse as part of the recovery process. In fact, the National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction — the most severe form of an SUD — as a “chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences.” This is why relapse is a key feature in substance use disorder and addiction.

Common Relapse Factors

Prolonged substance use causes changes in the brain that lead to drug or alcohol cravings and withdrawal symptoms during periods of abstinence. Without treatment, these symptoms may cause a person to reinitiate substance use. However, it’s important to note that even without cravings, certain factors can trigger a person to relapse.

Common stressors and contact with addictive substances during recovery are listed among the top causes for relapse, though they aren’t the only factors.

Fear of Relapsing

After abstaining from drugs or alcohol, some people begin to obsessively worry about relapsing. This increases stress, reduces appetite, and makes it difficult to sleep. Poor sleep and malnutrition make it harder to regulate emotions, creating disruptions at work, school, and in relationships. Unfortunately, these changes often lead to relapse as a coping strategy.

Substance Cravings

Addictive substances can affect areas of the brain responsible for pleasure and reinforcement. This is known as the brain’s reward system, where chemicals like dopamine and others are released when you do something pleasurable. When addictive substances activate this area, they cause the release of more of these chemicals than normal, resulting in an intense high. With repeated use, however, the brain adjusts by secreting less of these chemicals than it did initially. This produces a blunted high, causing individuals to need more of the substance to achieve the original effects.

During this cycle, the brain and body grow dependent on the increased chemical release and have difficulty adjusting without the substance. This difficulty adjusting can cause a range of unpleasant physical and mental effects, commonly known as withdrawal symptoms. As this discomfort increases, the person may begin to crave the substance in an attempt to stop these unpleasant feelings. Unfortunately, the discomfort, along with the shame, guilt, and distress surrounding repeated substance use, can increase the risk of relapse.

Believing a Relapse Is Justified

Drug and alcohol cravings are intense and can lead to bargaining. Someone experiencing these cravings can begin to exaggerate the perceived benefits of relapse and downplay the consequences. This line of thinking can lead to a planned relapse because they believe the outcome is justified.

Emotional Trauma and Environmental Factors

While physical cravings and worry top the list of relapse factors, trauma and environmental factors play a major role.

These include:

• Witnessing the death of a loved one
• Going through a separation or divorce
• Developing a new or worsening mental health condition
• Losing employment or being demoted
• Living with someone who has an addiction
• Attending celebrations where drugs or alcohol are present

How a Relapse Prevention Plan Can Help

A relapse prevention plan outlines steps anyone with an SUD can follow to maintain recovery and achieve long-term sobriety. The plan contains both cognitive and behavioral approaches for overcoming addiction and outlines goals that lead to lasting sobriety. While the primary goal is relapse prevention, an effective plan expands beyond substance use itself and incorporates co-occurring concerns. These can include unresolved trauma, difficulty controlling anger, and additional emotional concerns that increase the risk of reengaging in use.

A Relapse Prevention Plan also identifies the steps to take when these triggers are present. These could include contacting a sponsor or trusted person, attending 12-step groups, speaking to a licensed therapist, or removing themselves from environments where the substance is present.

Components of a Relapse Prevention Plan

Relapse prevention plans are personalized, ensuring each individual receives the support they need to overcome their unique recovery challenges. They should include mental and emotional needs, as well as individual triggers and their support system. As these factors change, so will the relapse prevention plan. This ensures the plan always meets their needs and offers the best chance of prolonged recovery.

Common components of a relapse prevention plan can include:

• A recovery goal: This goal should be clear, concise, and simple, such as “to abstain from drinking” or “to stop smoking.”
• A reason for achieving this goal: Why is this relapse prevention goal important to you? If you maintain sobriety, who will it affect and how?
• Ways to make your environment more supportive: Certain people, places, or objects trigger cravings and lead to relapse. The plan will include ways to build connections with positive influences while staying away from these environments.
• Ways to improve your mental and physical health: This part of the plan includes positive diet and nutritional changes, improved physical activity, maintaining a healthy sleep routine, and participating in mindfulnessactivities like meditation.
• A list of community support groups: Most aftercare programs include support groups, such as 12-step or family groups, to assist individuals throughout their recovery. Here, they’ll meet like-minded individuals, discuss their triumphs and difficulties, and learn helpful coping strategies from their peers.

Who Needs Relapse Prevention?

Relapse during and after recovery is a normal part of the journey to overcoming addiction. However, with each relapse, the risk of an overdose increases. For these reasons, relapse prevention remains integral to any recovery program. Therefore, anyone struggling to overcome a substance use disorder or addiction can benefit from attending a relapse prevention program.

Finding the Best Relapse Prevention Program in Acton, Massachusetts

Relapse prevention isn’t just about avoiding addictive substances like drugs and alcohol. It includes recognizing the factors that trigger use, learning the early warning signs of an impending relapse, developing coping skills to avoid giving in to cravings, and knowing when to reach out for additional support.

At Engage Wellness Acton, we understand the unique challenges that individuals face in recovery and beyond. Our facility offers several outpatient, inpatient, and aftercare programs to help you reach your sobriety goals and overcome addiction. We approach relapse prevention holistically, considering each person’s mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.

If you or someone you know struggles to maintain sobriety after recovery, reach out to our experienced team to learn about our relapse prevention programs and how we can assist with addiction recovery.