Relapse Prevention Skills for Drug Addicts

People recovering from drug addiction have taken a courageous path that requires commitment and perseverance. In some cases, the temptation to return to previous destructive behaviors can be overwhelming and the addict may relapse. Preventative skills need to be learned and practiced to continue a clean and sober life. The good news is that opportunity to grow in these skills is available to anyone with the desire to do so.

Meetings and fellowship

• Attending meetings with fellow addicts is one of the best ways to prevent relapse. Programs such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Smart Recovery (SMART) are designed to bring people who share the problem of addiction together to share their stories, receive encouragement and build fellowship with other people in recovery.

  The benefit of sharing stories with one another can reduce the feelings of isolation that many addicts in the later stages of their disease experience. Feelings of loneliness and despair can drive some people back to their addiction, but building new relationships with people in recovery is a reminder that they are not alone. It may take some time for the addict to feel comfortable showing up and being present among other people; but becoming humble and vulnerable to others is a personal growth skill that can pay off by easing the burden of recovering alone.

Sponsorship

• Getting a sponsor requires an addict to learn to build trust with another person and strengthen their skills of accountability. A sponsor is someone who will help guide the recovering addict through the beginning stages of getting clean.

  A sponsor will assist in suggesting meetings to attend, encourage attending gatherings of other clean and sober people outside of the meetings, and meet one-on-one to discuss rising issues or concerns in recovery. Sponsors are not counselors, but peers who have been able to stay clean and are willing to help others do the same.

Service work

• Becoming available for service work can prevent relapse by further making the addict accountable and accessible to other members of the fellowship. As people move further into the center of their group, the more likely they are to have the support of other addicts if the threat of relapse occurs.

  Service work can entail setting or cleaning up before or after meetings, or make coffee and provide other refreshments. As a person's clean time increases they may become secretaries or treasurers of meetings. Service work can also include being available for other addicts who may be struggling. Being willing to take a late night phone call, or driving to pick up an addict who has relapsed is a vital part of service work. Growing these types of interpersonal skills is beneficial and necessary for staying drug-free.

Coping Skills

• The threat to relapse may always be present for drug addicts. People who have relapsed have reported feeling depressed, elated, complacent, bored or some combination of emotions or feelings before using again. Learning how to cope with the highs and lows of daily life without relying on their drug of choice is the continual work of the recovering addict. These skills may be overwhelming in the beginning and can be helped by working with other addicts, attending individual or family counseling sessions to help acquire new skills and techniques for living drug-free.