Relapse Prevention Programs in Cincinnati, OH

When it comes to addiction treatments, many people underestimate the importance and necessity of relapse prevention programs. This oversight of relapse prevention programs can occur for many reasons. However, one of the main reasons is that people simply do not know enough about addiction and relapse to know what they could be missing out on without relapse prevention programs.

What is Relapse?

In order to understand the reasons behind relapse prevention programs, a person with a drug or alcohol addiction needs to understand relapse. Relapse is a process that occurs in three stages. This is in direct contrast with a lapse which is a one-time mistake or slip in which a person who has gone through addiction treatment consumes the substance they are addicted to again. The stages of relapse proceed in a specific order. At any point in the relapse process, it is possible to intervene or make changes that can get the person back on track and keep their commitment to abstinence from the substance to which they have an addiction.

The Three Stages of Relapse

Emotional Relapse

Emotional relapse is the stage in the process that does not have a direct or obvious connection to substance abuse and addiction. In this stage, a person begins to experience negative emotions or engage in unhealthy behaviors that could lead them back down a negative path (i.e. toward drug or alcohol abuse). This is not to say that a person cannot be in a bad mood once in awhile. However, if they are experiencing agitation and mood swings that seemingly have no cause or last for several days or weeks on end, this is indicative of emotional relapse and could be a major sign of trouble.

Mental Relapse

Mental relapse is the second phase of the relapse process and is tied directly to substance abuse and addiction. In the mental stage of relapse a person begins to think about consuming the drug they are addicted to once again. This does not mean that they have a simple errant thought here and there in passing. Instead, they have regular and frequent thoughts of resuming substance abuse. They may even begin to make detailed plans for how they can and/or will get the substance and consume it without being caught (i.e. working around loved ones’ schedules).

Physical Relapse

The final stage is physical relapse and it involves resuming compulsive and chronic substance abuse and resuming those problematic and self-destructive behavioral patterns. Once this stage is reached, medical detox and likely other interventions will be necessary to help a person get back on track.

Relapse Prevention Programs

Relapse prevention programs in Cincinnati seek to educate recovering addicts about how relapse works and the many signs and symptoms to watch out for in the early stages. If a person can catch themselves in the early stages of relapse, it will be significantly easier for them to redirect thoughts and behaviors and seek out the support and assistance they need in order to avoid completing the process. Relapse prevention programs help a person to develop specific plans and strategies to avoid problem situations, handle temptation, redirect negative emotions into positive and productive activities, and to develop hobbies and interests that they can focus on when their mind begins to wander.

Drug Detox Centers Cincinnati offers connections to comprehensive addiction treatment plans that emphasize relapse prevention. Contact us at (513) 914-4554 as soon as you are ready to change your life for the better.