What to Do After Drug Relapse

The National Institute on Drug Abuse asserts that there’s a double standard when dealing with a drug relapse versus a relapse after receiving treatment for a chronic disease like asthma. When comparing the figures for a variety of chronic conditions, researchers found that drug relapse rates are slightly lower than those for asthma or hypertension. When you consider persistent illness of any type requires ongoing care, treatment, or other added assistance following a setback, the drug addiction’s stigma is troubling.

Since those suffering from a drug addiction vary in age, gender, overall physical health, and other differentiating factors, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what causes a setback. The combination of social stigma and a misunderstood recovery process is one cause for drug relapse. It’s important to recognize other warning signs:

• Abstinence is not the same as being in recovery. Whether you used heroin, cocaine, or another drug, simply quitting is not the same as actively recovering. If your mind has an unhealthy preoccupation with the substance rather than focusing on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you may already be slipping.
• Picking yourself up by the bootstraps is not recovery. You can’t talk yourself out of a setback. It occurred because your recovery program didn’t sufficiently prepare you to deal with a situation, stressor or temptation. You could have also gotten comfortable with your recovery and haven’t shared your struggles honestly and openly.
• It’s never too late to come back from a slip-up. A lack of motivation, earnestness, and sincerity doesn’t factor into continued recovery after a setback. Whether it’s your first relapse or your tenth, you can get back on the road to recovery.

Now isn’t the time to give up. Serenity Lodge in Lake Arrowhead, California has effective treatment methods and therapies for men to help them get back on track and stay there. Serenity Lodge is able to facilitate clients receiving multiple levels of care. Most clients opt for comprehensive residential treatment on our beautiful 22-acre property to set their foundation for long term sobriety.

As you go through the process, remember that future relapse prevention depends on learning about all of your possible triggers. Learning new coping mechanisms and thinking through your responses now, in a safe and supportive environment, will boost the strength of your convictions during the decision-making process.

Whatever you do, don’t give up and just sit back. Call Serenity Lodge today at (855) 932-4045 and get back on your recovery path.