Hope & Restoration

Relapse is often seen as a setback or failure in the recovery journey, but a relapse doesn’t erase progress. While a return to drug or alcohol use isn’t inevitable or a necessary part of addiction recovery, it is common. Being prepared for the reality of relapse, whether you’re in recovery yourself or are supporting someone who is, can help you recognize the signs and symptoms of relapse and take action to prevent it.

Relapse rates for substance use disorders hover around 50%, even after intensive treatment.1 This doesn’t mean that treatment isn’t effective—it means that addiction is a chronic disease, one that requires ongoing management and support.

For some, having a name to put on their drinking habits can make problematic drinking more palatable—after all, if it’s a cultural norm, then how bad can it really be? From parent drinking culture to college binge drinking, there are various types of drinking cultures that can become labels for people’s drinking habits. However, these labels can often be misleading and mask the underlying issues that may be driving a person’s relationship with alcohol. Alcohol addiction treatment can help people who are struggling with unhealthy drinking regardless of the cultural label attached to their habits.

After completing a treatment program for alcohol and/or substance misuse, individuals are advised to remain connected to supportive family and friends, as well as to support groups. This includes returning to a safe home environment or attending a sober living facility, depending on the situation, circumstances, and needs of the individual. Doing so allows those in sobriety to get the support they need in order to reach long-term recovery. Addiction recovery apps contribute to maintaining this process by providing 24-hour access to support in some sort of capacity.

Opioid addiction has become a major problem in the U.S. and it’s important for people to become more informed. You should learn the main signs of opioid addiction. Doing so will help you learn when a loved one is struggling so you can help them find help.

What Are Opioids?

Opioids are a type of drug that is used to treat moderate to severe pain. They are most commonly prescribed to patients with chronic pain. Opioids are derived from the opium poppy plant. In addition to prescription opioids, there are also illegal varieties including heroin.

You may be dating an alcoholic and not realize it until their habit becomes more detrimental to your relationship. On the other hand, you might be suspicious. You have a feeling that your partner’s drinking has gone a little too far, or they are spending more time drinking or recovering from drinking than sober.

Alcoholism is a progressive disease that can happen to anyone, so if you believe you are dating someone with a drinking problem, do not wait to get help.

Addiction treatment arms you with the tools you need to recover. You learn how to manage triggers, cravings, emotions, and the dangers of relapse. Treatment centers provide a highly structured environment to help you focus on your recovery and a support system to help keep you motivated. But the actual test of your recovery starts when you leave the outpatient or inpatient rehab and enter back into your day-to-day routine.

Is your loved one in recovery from substance use disorder? Healing your family in the process means mending the bonds, embracing each other’s flaws, and growing stronger in the shared journey of recovery. Here are six tips to help you as a family begin healing together:

Entering rehab is a brave and extraordinary choice to make that can improve your life as well as the lives of everyone who’s close to you. It’s difficult for someone who hasn’t experienced addiction to understand it, leading the sufferer to experience shame and withdrawal. The nature of addiction makes it challenging to self-diagnose because the reward centers in your brain firmly compel you to continue using substances. If you’ve developed the strength and clarity to consider that you may need help, you should feel proud.

Going through a drug or alcohol detox can be extremely hard on your body and brain. It can also put you on an emotional roller coaster that you may not want to share. When you’re going through detox, however, you should definitely have someone available to monitor you and call for help if you are in danger.

Environment

Detoxing from any drug can leave you feeling nauseous and may lead to severe mood swings, violent outbursts or even death. Some drugs require a week to 10 days for effective detox to be complete, and your water intake and nutrition must be top-notch to prevent dangerous withdrawal symptoms. You may feel the need for multiple daily showers due to perspiration, and your sleep will be disrupted. You’ll find that a room with dark blinds will help you rest.