| A very common reason drug and alcohol relapses | | | | can be easily avoided, and those that cannot. If a |
| happen so frequently is that there is no relapse | | | | situation is known to be risky and can be avoided, do |
| prevention plan in place. | | | | so. |
| Here are 3 major areas to be thinking about when | | | | On the other hand there are situations that cannot |
| constructing a relapse prevention plan, food for | | | | be avoided. Just about every supermarket has a |
| thought, if you will. These are broad concepts. It may | | | | beer and wine aisle, there may be events where |
| be wise to develop a muck more detailed plan. Let's | | | | alcohol is served and your attendance is required. In |
| get started: | | | | these cases, forethought and planning is needed. |
| 1. Maintain awareness of addiction. | | | | 3. Have plans in place before the temptation. |
| Complacency sets the stage for more relapses than | | | | Awareness is an extremely powerful relapse |
| any other factor. With a lowered level of awareness | | | | prevention tool It is suggested to identify situations |
| the door is open for a return of denial. Examples are | | | | that can be avoided ahead of time, make a list. For |
| "I'm doing great now, no problem", "It wasn't as bad | | | | example: it is not a good idea to hang out in a bar |
| as everyone made out", "I've been good for so long, | | | | drinking soda, or to continue to hang out with people |
| I deserve just one". If denial creeps in, the door is | | | | you used to use with. Identify these dangerous |
| open to rationalizing a return to use, as well as, | | | | situations and plan to minimize exposure to them. |
| engaging in risky behaviors. Risky behaviors increase | | | | The same planning concept applies to possibly |
| the chance of relapse. | | | | dangerous situations that may be unforeseen or |
| 2. Identify your high-risk factors and triggers. | | | | unavoidable. For example: you have to shop for |
| A trigger or high risk factor can be anything that was | | | | groceries, but can avoid going down the alcohol aisle. |
| associated with drug or alcohol use and brings back | | | | You can go to a wedding, perhaps go with a |
| those memories. It can be a person, place or thing, | | | | non-drinker, request ginger ale for the toast, etc. |
| as well as things like rituals, smells or sounds. Some | | | | And we have just exposed the tip of the iceberg |
| examples might be the smell of stale beer, seeing | | | | when it comes to relapse prevention. There is much |
| your dealer, or getting very emotional. | | | | more detailed and information available on creating a |
| Basically there are 2 types of risk factors, those that | | | | relapse prevention plan. |