Pennsylvania addiction Relapse Prevention
While relapse is an accepted part of recovery, it is more dangerous today with fentanyl dominating the illegal drug trade. Most clients want to remain sober after completing detox and addiction treatment. However, withdrawal symptoms and intense cravings can make that seem unattainable. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), about 60% of people in recovery relapse within their first year sober. At BriteLife Pennsylvania, we deploy a blend of cutting-edge therapies and activities to help our clients get sober (and stay that way). Our addiction programs go far beyond teaching coping skills. We offer an immersive family program, along with wellness activities to motivate clients to be the best version of themselves.
The Three Stages of addiction Relapse
Relapse is a process that usually begins a long time before the actual event of using or drinking. This process unfolds in three separate phases: emotional relapse, mental relapse, and physical relapse.
STAGE 1 - Emotional Relapse
In this first phase, most people have no great desire to relapse, but their thoughts and actions produce the opportunity for relapse. The signs of emotional relapse include no longer attending 12-step meetings, detaching from friends, and feeling overwhelmed all the time.
STAGE 2 -Mental Relapse
In the mental relapse phase, a person may find themselves in a pickle about whether to relapse or not. Some may even daydream about using drugs and hang out with people they used to get high with. Also, some people go as far to glorify their past use and lie about showing the red flags of relapse. Failure to get help at this point will likely result in an inevitable relapse.
STAGE 3 - Physical Relapse
The physical relapse phase is the actual action of using drugs or drinking.
As you can see, relapse is a process that begins long before someone picks up a drink or a drug. It is the culmination of thoughts and behaviors that sets the stage for recidivism.
Medication Assisted Treatment is a Relapse Prevention Tool
In recent years, addiction has finally been recognized as a disease and no longer seen as a weakness or moral failing. While medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for relapse prevention is not new, it has only been used sporadically for 40 years. MAT utilization has greatly increased as the overdose mortality rates continue to leap during the opioid crisis and Covid-19 Pandemic.
One of the biggest reasons medicines like Suboxone / Subutex / Sublocade are being used to treat opioid addiction is that they significantly reduce relapse rates by curbing opioid withdrawals and cravings. Medication assisted treatment clients have much higher positive outcomes than clients in abstinence-only programs. This combination is what drives the success. At the same time, the use of buprenorphine has given people battling opioid addiction with an effective relapse prevention tool that can be used beyond residential treatment (under a doctor's care).
If you or a loved one continue to relapse and are ready to take a first step toward true recovery, then call us today at 866-470-1464.