Did you know that addiction has a relapse rate as little as 40 and as much as 60 percent? It’s typically triggered by environmental factors, such as peer pressure, poor achievement status, abusive environment, and the community’s attitude to drug addiction. Although recovery is attainable, no one likes undergoing the trouble of drug addiction treatment twice in a lifetime.
What Is Relapse Prevention?
The medications used during drug addiction treatment are known to decrease cravings and subsequently reestablish brain functions as normal. Medications are already being used for combating addiction to tobacco, opioids, and alcohol. But the best treatment for drugs is said to include a combination of therapies prescribe according to an individual’s condition.
Skills Needed For Preventing Relapse
1. Self-Care
The most common symptom addicts are likely to experience post-withdrawal from the drug is fatigue and insomnia; these are also likely to trigger the relapse. Physical exercise, maintaining a balanced diet as per the eating schedule, and improving the quality of sleep through structured sleep can help you overcome the temptation to take drugs.
2. Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired (HALT)
A relapse can be triggered by any of the words mentioned in the HALT strategy. It’s recommended to know these triggers (whether they lie internally or externally) and identify them in time to reduce the risk of relapse altogether. It’s also recommended to join a support group for the same reason as it promotes a sense of accountability through recovery.
3. Mindful Meditation
Meditation can help you become more self-aware to better cope with emerging symptoms of a relapse. Research has proven that patients who practice some form of meditation can remain sober for longer, with greater levels of acceptance and awareness.
Maryland’s Medication Assisted Treatment & Technology, also known as MD M.A.T.T. is a Suboxone treatment center in White Marsh, Maryland. Our drug detox doctors understand the complexity of addiction but also believe that it is a treatable disease. Because no single treatment works for everyone, we pair treatment with therapies and counseling to understand what the patient needs.