Relapse Prevention for Addicts

Relapse prevention (RP) is an important part of drug or alcohol addiction treatment. The relapse prevention should be practiced by patient after recovery on daily-routine basis to cope with its ill-effects for his lifetime. After a person undergoes inpatient or outpatient treatment then he becomes aware of the ‘warning signs’ that can lead to make him indulge again in drug or alcohol addiction. They know all the ways to remain sober and clean. They follow a practical plan controlling their emotional illness. As soon as they are able to understand different aspects related to relapse conditions they start taking positive steps to prevent it. Some warning signs and factors which lead to relapse are given below:
- Not taking medicines properly
- Slippery places – old friends who take drugs
- Isolation – stay alone
- Thinking about drugs/alcohols
- Overconfidence that you are 100% drug-free
- Relation difficulties
- Feeing bored, irritation and non-routine life
- Not taking seriously for warning signs
- Avoidance
- Anger and past hurts
- Change in lifestyle.

Almost every person who has taken treatment against drug addiction passes through this phase. He finds himself in a state of dilemma. Many people are not able to make relapse prevention plan for themselves. Sometimes it depends upon the inner-ability of the person on how much he can refrain from drug/alcohol. The goals of RP are as follows:
- Prevention from return to drug or alcohol use.
- Get quick recovery from relapse.

The relapse prevention can help people in getting 100% drug or alcohol free life after the addiction treatment is over. If the person follows the techniques and routines he has been learned at the treatment center then he can surely get rid of addiction and will never fall back.

But one of the major drawbacks of relapse prevention is that it mainly depends upon the inner-ability of the addicted person to prevent itself from falling back to addiction. If a person will not try by himself to keep away from drugs/alcohol then there is no other program in the world which can help him to overcome relapse.

Every addict person who is admitted to some rehab center is given tools which would help them survive against relapse. This program is open for all people who are in trouble due to their addiction problem. The relapse prevention will help them to overcome addiction for whole life.