Does Drug Addiction Relapse Mean Treatment Failed?
Drug addiction is a chronic disease. That means it doesn’t go away fully, no matter how much treatment you receive.
That sounds like you’re set up to fail, that there’s no hope of recovery. That’s not the case either.
The reality is, drug addiction relapse can happen, it can often be prevented, and even if it does occur, that doesn’t mean treatment doesn’t work. Look at each one of these areas and what it may mean to your future.
At Victory Addiction Recovery Center, we offer the tools and resources to help you build a future without relapse risks and the necessary steps to get help if it does.
Drug Addiction Relapse Can Happen for Many Reasons
Data shared by the National Institute on Drug Abuse demonstrates that drug addiction relapse occurs in about 40% to 60% of people. If you compare this to the risks of other diseases, substance use disorders (SUDs) are in line. For example, acute hypertension episodes have a relapse rate of 50% to 70%, and asthma complications have a rate of 50% to 70% as well. This is why substance use should be treated like any other chronic illness. That means:
- Applying effective treatment individualized for the person
- Monitoring symptoms and maintaining routine care
- Getting treatment when early warning signs of relapse become evident
Why does relapse happen so much?
Addiction relapse occurs because of preventable reasons in most situations. Though every person’s situation is different, some of the most common reasons for relapse include:
- Intense stress and negative emotions, sometimes due to mental health complications from depression or anxiety, and other times because of boredom
- Environmental factors, including visiting locations or being with people who use alcohol and drugs with you
- Lack of support in critical periods, including after treatment
- Overconfidence in your recovery often leads to neglect of your recovery-specific goals
- Changes in your brain that do not fully go away during treatment but that can lead to resurfacing complications later
Relapse happens. It happens for many reasons and to most people. That does not mean you’ve failed.
How to Prevent Addiction Relapse
Knowing relapse is a real risk, our treatment services will incorporate specific relapse prevention strategies. These strategies aim at providing you with both the knowledge and tools about relapse and how to act when it happens to you. Consider some of the ways you can prevent relapse:
- Have an in-place and used recovery support system. These are people ready to fight for you to remain drug-free. We help you create a plan for this team before you leave treatment.
- Know and understand your triggers. You cannot always avoid triggers, but you can learn to recognize them. When you do, you then have the tools to avoid or react to them.
- Create new habits and experiences. Prevention of relapse can also happen by giving your brain new challenges and experiences, including those that support dopamine experiences. Replace the bad thoughts and negative emotions with good ones instead.
During your treatment with Victory Addiction Recovery Center, we’ll create a relapse prevention plan for you. You’ll have this tool available to always give you the support you need.
Myth: I Relapsed. Addiction Treatment Doesn’t Work for Me
This is one of the most important myths to understand. If you are facing a condition like cancer, if treatment seems to work, but the cancer comes back, would you stop getting care? The same applies to drug addiction relapse.
Treatment needs to change, and perhaps you need additional tools and resources. You may need medications to help or to finally work through a co-occurring disorder. If you relapse, that means there’s a real opportunity to see improvement in your quality of life. We can help you to apply new strategies, treatment options, and methods to your future, providing a new way for you to heal.
The reality is, addiction relapse consequences are very real and carry a significant impact on your future. With the guidance of our team, we can provide a way for you to fight back and continue your journey to a drug-free lifestyle.
How We Can Help You With Drug Addiction Relapse Support Now
Are you worried you may relapse?
Have you already stepped in that direction?
Call Victory Addiction Recovery Center now. Let our team get to work building a clear path forward. We are available 24-hours a day to provide you with support to help you avoid relapse or when you’re facing this complication. Even if you’re not sure that anything can benefit you, a very real feeling, don’t give up until you try.
Treatment for addiction relapse can be possible with a variety of therapy options. Contact our team now for the guidance you need. Contact Victory Addiction Recovery Center now.