Overcoming Relapse: Strategies for Long-Term Addiction Treatment Success
You’re about to hear something no one wants to admit:
Relapse is common.
In fact, 85% of people will experience a relapse during the first year of treatment. 85%.
That’s a big number, but here’s what they don’t tell you about relapseâŚ
It doesn’t mean you failed. In fact, it’s a completely normal part of the recovery process.
Think about it: Nobody views a diabetic as having “failed” their disease by getting too many highs or lows. Long-term sobriety is like any other treatment. It’s a lifelong condition that you manage with the right care.
It’s also 100% possible.
That’s why the best addiction treatment programs with Wasatch Crest Treatment Center are shifting their focus. They use a complete, evidence-based approach to long-term care that provides each individual with the skills and support they need to stay sober.
Here’s what you’ll learn
- Why relapse is so common in the first year of recovery
- The top triggers that cause relapse
- Strategies that actually help you stay sober for the long-term
- How to build a personalized relapse prevention plan
The Science of Relapse: Why it Happens
The reason relapse is common comes down to some basic science.
Addiction changes your brain. It rewires the reward center, decision making, and impulse control regions. When you stop using substances, it takes time for your brain to heal.
In the early days of recovery, your cravings may be intense. Your brain still craves the substance you used. Years down the line, certain situations, environments, and feelings can still cause your brain to light up.
Your brain isn’t the same anymore. Think of it like a muscle that’s been through trauma.
It’s going to take time to recover.
And as you can imagine, it takes time for recovery techniques to kick in.
This is why early recovery and relapse go hand-in-hand. Most relapse happens when you’re just getting started on your sobriety journey.
The stats might surprise you
Hold on. Let me show you something that might surprise youâŚ
See, 40-60% of people in early recovery experience relapse, but here’s the interesting part.
The longer someone goes without using substances, the lower the risk of relapse. After 5 years of continuous sobriety, the risk plummets to just 15%.
Did you get that?
5 YEARS OF SOBRIETYâŚ15% RELAPSE RATE.
The more you stick with it, the easier it gets.
That’s how it works with any addiction. The longest you go without a “use”, the longer it will be until the next one.
Most Common Relapse Triggers
Here are some of the most common relapse triggers that send people back to active use:
- Stress and emotional pain â Life doesn’t magically get easier just because you quit substances
- People and places â Hanging out with old friends that still use substances or visiting places associated with past use
- Boredom and loneliness â Spending too much unstructured time alone with no plans
- Overconfidence â Feeling like you’re “better” or “fixed” and don’t need support
- Untreated mental health issues â Depression, anxiety, trauma
The bottom line: Relapse is often preceded by an identifiable trigger.
The key is knowing your own personal relapse triggers before they sneak up on you.
Creating Your Relapse Prevention Plan
So what’s the best way to keep sober?
It’s not just about willpower. You need to have a clear plan.
Here’s how to build a relapse prevention plan that will stick:
Create a Daily Routine
Recovery and a structured daily schedule go hand-in-hand. With routine, you have less opportunity to make rash decisions.
Set regular times for waking up, eating meals, working or doing activities, exercising, support meetings, and self-care. This gives you stability.
Your brain needs that consistent routine to make sense of recovery, especially early on.
Build Strong Coping Skills
You need the skills to handle life’s stress and cravings in a healthy way.
No exceptions.
Skills you need to practice: Deep breathing and meditation, exercise (even just a 20 minute walk), calling someone in your support circle, journaling, HALT (don’t let yourself get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired)
Practice these regularly BEFORE you need them.
Build a Support Network
Listen. I know this is the part most people get wrongâŚ
You can’t do recovery alone.
Thinking you can white-knuckle through sobriety without a support network is setting yourself up for relapse. You need multiple sources of support and it needs to be in place BEFORE you need it.
Your network should include: A sponsor or mentor, therapy or counseling, support groups like 12-step or SMART Recovery, trusted friends and family, healthcare providers familiar with your treatment.
The more layers of support the better.
Importance of Ongoing Treatment
This is the single most important thing I want to tell you about relapseâŚ
It doesn’t end after you leave rehab.
Picture it this way: Addiction treatment is a beginning, not an end point. Without aftercare, it’s not treatment at all. The care you receive after your initial recovery makes the difference between short-term abstinence and lifelong recovery.
Ongoing care should include regular therapy sessions, support groups, sober living if necessary, medication-assisted treatment for certain addictions, and regular check-ins with doctors.
The High-Risk Situation Playbook
Okay, let’s talk about what to do when you know you’re in a high-risk situation.
The kind where relapse is high on the menu.
I’m talking about parties where everyone is drinking, running into old friends that still use, or even just a period in your life where you’re super stressed.
Don’t worry. You can have a plan.
Before the situation:
- Have an exit strategy planned ahead of time
- Tell someone where you’re going, who you’re with, and when you’ll be back
- Have a practice what you’ll say if someone offers you substances
During the situation:
- Use your coping skills immediately
- Keep your phone nearby in case you need to call support
- Don’t be afraid to leave early
After the situation:
- Debrief with your therapist or support network
- Celebrate that you made it through
- Tweak your plan for next time
It’s not about avoiding tough situations forever. It’s about building the skills to get through them.
What to Do if Relapse Happens
Okay, you know the truth I don’t want to say but we both know is realâŚ
If relapse happens, it’s not game over. It’s not a failure.
It’s feedback.
The most important thing you can do is get right back on track. Catch a relapse early and reverse course immediately before it spirals.
Call your sponsor, therapist, anyone in your support network. Be completely honest with yourself and them about what happened. If needed, get back into treatment. Adjust your relapse prevention plan.
You want to make it so a slip doesn’t turn into full-blown relapse.
Turns out, about 75% of people with an addiction recover over the course of their lives. Many of them had relapse as part of that process.
Recovery Over Time: The Long-Term Outlook
Here’s the other part of the storyâŚ
The truth is long-term recovery is not just possible, it’s actually very likely IF you have the right care.
The longer you can stay sober, the more solid your recovery becomes.
After a few years, people in long-term sobriety report having better physical and mental health, repaired relationships, improved financial situations, a greater sense of purpose, and relief from the constant preoccupation with substances.
It’s what’s on the other side of the pain of early recovery.
Putting it all Together
Long-term recovery is much more than not using substances.
If you want to break through relapse, it’s about a total relapse prevention plan, strong support system, healthy coping mechanisms, long-term aftercare and lots of patience.
The stats around relapse and treatment success may be scary at first. But they’re also reassuring because they show us recovery is possible. It just takes time and engagement in evidence-based care.
Every person you see with years of sobriety started where you are today. They had the same fears, cravings, and doubts you have now. The only difference is they stuck with it.
You get to write your own recovery story, and that’s why finding the right treatment and support is so important.
One day at a time. Build those skills. Lean on your support when you need it.
Recovery is not just about the absence of drugs or alcohol. It’s about building a life you don’t want to escape from.
