Relapse Prevention
There are many triggers to relapse for recovering alcoholics and addicts, but there are also preventive measures that can be successful.
My Last Relapse
Share your experience about your last relapse and how you plan to avoid another one.
Share your experience about your last relapse and how you plan to avoid another one.
Warning Signs of an Alcohol or Drug Relapse
An alcohol or drug relapse does not begin when you pick up your drug of choice, it is a process that begins long before actual use.
An alcohol or drug relapse does not begin when you pick up your drug of choice, it is a process that begins long before actual use.
What Are Your Biggest Relapse Triggers?
People new to recovery can be triggered to pick up a drink or start using drugs again by certain situations, events or even other people. What were the biggest relapse triggers that you have to fight. How do you deal with them?
People new to recovery can be triggered to pick up a drink or start using drugs again by certain situations, events or even other people. What were the biggest relapse triggers that you have to fight. How do you deal with them?
Recipes for Alcohol-Free Drinks and Punches
Submit your recipes for alcohol-free drinks and punches.
Submit your recipes for alcohol-free drinks and punches.
Dealing With Having an Relapse
If you tried to quit drinking or using drugs, but had a relapse and returned to drinking or using, you are not alone. Statistics indicate that up to 90 percent of people who try to quit have at least one relapse before achieving long-term sobriety.
If you tried to quit drinking or using drugs, but had a relapse and returned to drinking or using, you are not alone. Statistics indicate that up to 90 percent of people who try to quit have at least one relapse before achieving long-term sobriety.
Using Exercise to Aid Alcohol and Drug Recovery
Many professional alcohol and drug treatment and rehabilitation programs include exercise as part of an overall program to help patients maintain abstinence and develop a more healthy lifestyle.
Many professional alcohol and drug treatment and rehabilitation programs include exercise as part of an overall program to help patients maintain abstinence and develop a more healthy lifestyle.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Addiction
Cognitive Behavior Therapy is mostly used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, phobias, delusional disorder and other mental disorders, but it has also been shown to be valuable in treating alcoholism and drug addiction.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy is mostly used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, phobias, delusional disorder and other mental disorders, but it has also been shown to be valuable in treating alcoholism and drug addiction.
Relapse Triggers
The consensus seems to be that very early in sobriety, news articles, TV commercials and even Jimmy Buffet tunes can be a threat to cause a relapse.
The consensus seems to be that very early in sobriety, news articles, TV commercials and even Jimmy Buffet tunes can be a threat to cause a relapse.
Stress Should Be Avoided in Early Sobriety
Many alcohol treatment and rehabilitation programs include exercise and sports programs for patients who are in early abstitence, but now there is research that suggests that may not be a good idea, at least for the first couple of months.
Many alcohol treatment and rehabilitation programs include exercise and sports programs for patients who are in early abstitence, but now there is research that suggests that may not be a good idea, at least for the first couple of months.
Spouse's Attitude Can Affect Relapse
A new study confirms that Al-Anon's purpose of offering "understanding and encouragement" to those with drinking problems is best approach family members can take in dealing with the problem.
A new study confirms that Al-Anon's purpose of offering "understanding and encouragement" to those with drinking problems is best approach family members can take in dealing with the problem.
Nicotine Increases Alcohol Craving
People who smoke and try to quit drinking have a more difficult time not relapsing, because nicotine may actually cause a craving for alcohol.
People who smoke and try to quit drinking have a more difficult time not relapsing, because nicotine may actually cause a craving for alcohol.
Relapse and Craving
There is evidence that approximately 90 percent of alcoholics are likely to experience at least one relapse over the 4-year period following treatment.
There is evidence that approximately 90 percent of alcoholics are likely to experience at least one relapse over the 4-year period following treatment.
Personality Drives Cravings for Gamblers, Alcoholics
Research shows that gamblers and alcoholics have distinctive personality traits that affect their cravings. Gamblers seem to crave gambling as a anti-depression measure, while alcoholcs crave alcohol as more of an anti-anxiety effort.
Research shows that gamblers and alcoholics have distinctive personality traits that affect their cravings. Gamblers seem to crave gambling as a anti-depression measure, while alcoholcs crave alcohol as more of an anti-anxiety effort.
Alcohol Cravings Induced?
There is an alarming connection between alcoholism and the various prescription drugs that increase serotonin. The most popular of those drugs are: Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Luvox, Serzone, Effexor, Anafranil, and the new diet pills, Fen-Phen and Redux.
There is an alarming connection between alcoholism and the various prescription drugs that increase serotonin. The most popular of those drugs are: Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Luvox, Serzone, Effexor, Anafranil, and the new diet pills, Fen-Phen and Redux.
'Contingency Management' Improves Addiction Recovery
A treatment approach called contingency management improves patients' motivation to stay in treatment and increases their therapeutic progress, as well as improves the morale of clinic staff and administration.
A treatment approach called contingency management improves patients' motivation to stay in treatment and increases their therapeutic progress, as well as improves the morale of clinic staff and administration.
Before You Take That Drink
A list of diversions which can be implemented by recovering alcoholics within a short time of having a serious thought about drinking alcohol.
A list of diversions which can be implemented by recovering alcoholics within a short time of having a serious thought about drinking alcohol.
Genetics, Stress Push Alcoholics Off the Wagon
Researchers are getting a better idea as to why alcoholics can't resist the urge. Recent studies are shedding new light on the underlying behavioral and neurobiological causes.
Researchers are getting a better idea as to why alcoholics can't resist the urge. Recent studies are shedding new light on the underlying behavioral and neurobiological causes.
Addiction Relapse Similar to Other Chronic Diseases
Relapse following treatment for drug and alcohol addiction is common, predictable and preventable, according to a research report by the Caron Foundation.
Relapse following treatment for drug and alcohol addiction is common, predictable and preventable, according to a research report by the Caron Foundation.
Meetings Make Me Want to Drink!
Recovery from alcoholism the A.A. way ultimately depends on a willingness to take certain steps and accept certain spiritual principles into one's life: it does not depend on meetings.
Recovery from alcoholism the A.A. way ultimately depends on a willingness to take certain steps and accept certain spiritual principles into one's life: it does not depend on meetings.
Blocking Neurotransmitter May Help Alcoholics
New study of neurotransmitters is the first to show that a compound that blocks NPY activity may be useful for alcohol treatment. Scientists believe a blocker has the potential to both prevent relapse and decrease active drinking.
New study of neurotransmitters is the first to show that a compound that blocks NPY activity may be useful for alcohol treatment. Scientists believe a blocker has the potential to both prevent relapse and decrease active drinking.
Brain Region That Triggers Relapse Pinpointed
Relapse among recovering drug addicts can now be linked to specific nerve cells in a particular region of the brain, according to researchers. The discovery may help pave the way for new addiction therapies and intervention strategies.
Relapse among recovering drug addicts can now be linked to specific nerve cells in a particular region of the brain, according to researchers. The discovery may help pave the way for new addiction therapies and intervention strategies.
Obstacles to Recovery
The principal obstacles to recovery from any addiction are ignorance, shame, dishonesty, and personal exceptionalism.
The principal obstacles to recovery from any addiction are ignorance, shame, dishonesty, and personal exceptionalism.
Slips
Do alcoholics suffer from "Alcoholic Behavior" or are they simply victims of human nature? By the late William D. Silkworth, M.D.
Do alcoholics suffer from "Alcoholic Behavior" or are they simply victims of human nature? By the late William D. Silkworth, M.D.
Repeated Detox Can Impair Cognitive Function
A study of the cognitive function of chronic drinkers has found that the number of detoxifications that alcohol dependent patients experience contributes significantly to frontal-lobe impairments.
A study of the cognitive function of chronic drinkers has found that the number of detoxifications that alcohol dependent patients experience contributes significantly to frontal-lobe impairments.
Stress Management in Recovery
Stress management is not the same thing as stress relief. Stress management is a long-term solution to millions of short-term problems.
Stress management is not the same thing as stress relief. Stress management is a long-term solution to millions of short-term problems.
Study Questions Motivation Interviewing Effectiveness
A study designed to assess the usefulness of a single session of motivational interviewing in drug abuse treatment showed that the single session of the psychotherapy technique had no effect on drug use outcomes.
A study designed to assess the usefulness of a single session of motivational interviewing in drug abuse treatment showed that the single session of the psychotherapy technique had no effect on drug use outcomes.
Will to Stay Sober Can Be Weakened
The self-control that allows people in recovery to maintain abstinence requires a measurable expenditure of mental energy, reserves of which are not inexhaustible.
The self-control that allows people in recovery to maintain abstinence requires a measurable expenditure of mental energy, reserves of which are not inexhaustible.