Does Relapse Mean Your Treatment Has Failed?
Many addicts have asked themselves, does relapse mean my treatment failed? The fact is, just because you relapsed doesn’t mean your treatment failed. For some addicts, it’s just part of their recovery process. As addicts, we are constantly looking for what works for us, and each addict’s treatment is different. Knowing the area of Relapse Prevention helps the addict identify things that can hinder their recovery and prepare for those situations.
Relapse rates for substance use resemble rates for other chronic medical illnesses-for example, people who stop their medical treatment plan are likely to worsen.
(McLellan et al., 2000)
McLellan et al. (2000) stated that relapse rates for people treated for substance use disorders are compared with high blood pressure and asthma. Relapse is common and similar across these illnesses. Relapse serves as a sign for resumed, modified, or new treatment. Therefore, substance use disorders should be treated like any other chronic illness (McLellan et al., 2000).
When a person is recovering from an addiction relapse, it indicates that they need to speak with their doctor to resume treatment, modify it, or try another treatment. Like it was said before, each addict has a formula for their recovery. As a team (addict, doctor, counselor, and treatment team), figure out the unique formula for the individual addict.
The scary part for the addict is, can they come back from a relapse? Many addicts, when they relapse, think they can handle the level at which they previously were, and sometimes that’s just not the case. As addicts, we need to understand that yes, we all might have another relapse, but coming back from a relapse might not always be possible. Death is also a possibility.
If you have relapsed, it doesn’t mean that your treatment failed; please reach out and be one of the lucky ones to make it back. Don’t give up on yourself, and together we can figure out what works for you! Pick up that phone and call Changing Tides Treatment.
Your life is meaningful, and you are worth the chance. Do yourself a favor-call Changing Tides Treatment today.
Written by: N. Gibson, MPA, and J. Brickell, Client Advocate
Reference:
Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction Treatment and Recovery. (2020, July). NIH. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery
McLellan, A.T., Lewis, D.C., O’Brien, C.P., and Kleber, H.D. (2000). Drug dependence, a chronic medical illness: implications for treatment, insurance, and outcomes evaluation. JAMA, 284(13), 1689-1695.
