| A fundamental skill to be learned when practicing drug | | | | going to bars, the places where drugs were |
| and alcohol addiction relapse prevention is learning | | | | purchased, and parties. A question to be asked when |
| how to handle drug and alcohol relapse triggers. | | | | considering a situation of this nature is "Am I |
| One of the important sober living skills people in | | | | exposing myself to needless risk, yes or no?" In early |
| recovery from drug and alcohol problems need to | | | | recovery especially, it is very smart to be overly |
| learn is how to identify and process relapse triggers. | | | | cautious and conservative. The consequences of |
| But what is a relapse trigger? Simply stated: | | | | underestimating the power of addiction are severe. |
| A relapse trigger is any person, place, thing, or | | | | Regarding the second set of situations, things you |
| situation which reminds a person of their drug and | | | | cannot avoid; planning and forethought is the key. |
| alcohol use. | | | | Some examples of things you cannot avoid are: |
| Obviously that definition covers a wide spectrum of | | | | relatives or family situations, exposure to liquor |
| events and situations. The person in recovery has | | | | advertising, the fact that people in the real world |
| the job of identifying these triggers and working out | | | | drink and do drugs and you can't. |
| a coping strategy. This at first, appears to be a | | | | In the latter case, the solution is limiting your |
| confusing and daunting task. But it can be greatly | | | | exposure, setting boundaries, rules, and limitations. |
| simplified if we think of relapse triggers as being in | | | | When push comes to shove, it also helps to have |
| one of two categories: | | | | convenient escape plan to exit the situation and get |
| 1. The person, place, and things you can avoid. | | | | away from whatever it is that is triggering thoughts |
| 2. The person, place, and things you cannot avoid. | | | | of using alcohol or drugs. |
| In the first group, we might be talking about avoiding | | | | |