It isn’t always easy to detox from drugs and alcohol, which is why so many people turn to detox programs and drug addiction treatment facilities for help. Addiction recovery programs can help manage the cravings and withdrawal symptoms that can help when you try to reduce or eliminate the intake of drugs or alcohol. Contact our helpful team at 866.516.8356 to speak with us at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston about how we can help.
Recognizing the Signs of Relapse
The signs of a drug relapse will vary based on each person’s individual experience, but they often start with changes in attitude. Some symptoms may include:
- Talking about drugs or alcohol often
- Hanging out with the people with whom they used drugs or alcohol
- Deciding that participating in the recovery program is no longer interesting
- Becoming too confident that they can drink or use drugs without relapsing into an addiction
It’s also normal to see someone deny that they have a drug or alcohol problem when they begin to relapse. They may say it’s okay to have one drink or use a drug because they can stop. They may try to convince themselves or others that they are fine, even when they struggle with cravings, mood swings, or other signs of withdrawal.
From this point, they may make changes in their daily routines, like allowing negative influences back into their life. They may abandon any structure they had, like attending recovery meetings, and making unhealthy decisions. After this, there could be a total loss of control resulting in complete relapse.
How Common Is It to Relapse?
Alcohol relapse statistics show that most people who stop drinking alcohol will relapse within the next few years. That terminology, “relapse,” means different things to different people. For one person, having just one drink constitutes a relapse. For another, a relapse only occurs if their drinking gets out of control again.
In people who use drugs, relapses are also common. Around half of people who go through treatment for addiction do relapse within their first year of recovery, though people can relapse at any time. Fortunately, the longer a person goes without a relapse, the less likely they will relapse in the future.
What Treatment Options Help Prevent Relapse?
There are many kinds of treatment options that can help prevent relapse, starting with medical detox. Medical detox, which is a detox that is assisted by medical treatment, gives people a good start on recovery by minimizing withdrawal symptoms.
For example, someone who is withdrawing from opiates may take a medication that mimics the action of an opiate in the body without giving them a high. This treatment helps prevent cravings and relapses more safely than if they try to stop without help or if they try to stop by cutting down on a dosage of a more dangerous medication.
How to Stop a Relapse
The critical thing to remember is that a relapse is stoppable. If you or those in recovery recognize the signs that there is the potential for a relapse, you can get in touch with a sober coach or the treatment facility attended to ask about options to help prevent a relapse.
Contact Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston
At Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston, we’re here to help you get through the cravings and other symptoms that signify that you or someone you love is in withdrawal. Our goal is to make this process as easy for you as possible so that you can move on to a treatment program that helps you maintain your sobriety. Call us today at 866.516.8356 to learn more about how we can help.
