Relapse Prevention Programs in Miami Gardens, FL

Addiction is defined as a relapsing disease, meaning it is one that a person may overcome, yet resume several times before a person can truly get clean. At Miami Gardens Drug Treatment Centers, an important part of our services is not only treating a person when they need to detoxify from drugs and/or alcohol, but also to help prevent relapse from occurring.

An estimated 40 to 60 percent of people who quit abusing drugs and alcohol will relapse, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. These numbers are similar to those of other chronic diseases. Examples include type II diabetes and hypertension or high blood pressure.

Three Stages of Relapse

According to the “Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine,” there are three stages of relapse. Relapse prevention programs teach a person to recognize these relapse stages and then the behaviors that can help a person resist the urge to relapse.

Stage 1: Emotional Relapse

Emotional relapse is a stage where a person doesn’t necessarily think about using drugs or alcohol again. However, their emotions and stresses start to build up, which can set up a person for relapse. However, a person may start not caring for themselves as much as they had been. They may stop going to meetings, adopt poor eating and sleeping habits, and start focusing on other people’s problems and start to internalize them. 

Stage 2: Mental Relapse

Mental relapse represents the time when a person does think about using drugs and/or alcohol again. The person may start to picture scenarios where it might be “okay” to use again. This is known as bargaining and can be a very dangerous line of thinking for someone who struggles with addiction.

Stage 3: Physical Relapse

The physical relapse stage is when a person starts using drugs and/or alcohol again. Physical relapse doesn’t have to lead to a full return to drug abuse. A relapse prevention program can teach a person how a lapse is an opportunity to correct their behavior and learn from the relapse and re-commit to being sober again.

The Benefits of Relapse Prevention Programs

Throughout the course of a person’s sobriety, a person will likely be faced with a temptation to return to drug and/or alcohol abuse. Perhaps this trigger is seeing an old friend the person used to do drugs with, an argument with a loved one, or a day where a person experiences strong cravings. When a person experiences this high-risk situation, they can choose an effective coping response (refraining from relapsing) or an ineffective one (choosing to use drugs or alcohol again).

Relapse doesn’t have to mean a person will return to abusive behaviors. But without effective relapse prevention training, a person may not be equipped to correct the initial lapse.

Examples of “tools” a relapse training program can teach a participant include:

  • Assertiveness training – learning to say “no”
  • Building a healthy and positive group of people who promote sobriety
  • Relapse rehearsal — practicing being in certain situations where a person practices refusing
  • Relaxation training
  • Stress management

Relapse prevention programs are helpful regardless of what stage you are in the recovery process. For more information on relapse prevention, please contact Miami Gardens Drug Treatment Centers.