How to Write a Relapse Prevention Plan

Note the term relapse management rather than relapse prevention—when relapse occurs then ‘prevention’ indicates failure whereas ‘management’ promotes the idea of coping. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration publishes that being aware and taking note of early warning signs of stress can be extremely helpful in working to prevent relapse. In addition, having a strong “action plan” in writing can be a great resource. The action plan should offer guidance and be a tool for accomplishing and holding fast to your goals in recovery. A solid relapse prevention plan starts will a detailed list of known triggers. Here’s the thing about substance use disorders, they humble you.

• While relapse is a normal part of addiction, it is preventable with the right planning structure in place as someone is nearing their release from jail or prison.
• From therapy to group activities, our goal is to give you all the tools to overcome alcohol or drug use and make it through the recovery stages.
• If you’d like to learn more about mindfulness-based cognitive therapy or relapse prevention techniques, you can always reach out to a recovery expert for guided instruction.
• This reaction is termed the Abstinence Violation Effect .

After you meet your Care Team, you’ll start to receive treatment based on a Care Plan that’s designed to help you relapse prevention plan achieve and sustain your recovery. Activities and lifestyle changes that you plan to implement in recovery.

Set Goals for a Healthy Lifestyle

Also, self-care helps boost your self-esteem adding to your personal growth. There are also some other tips on how to deal with urges, both emotional and mental.

When first getting started on developing your plan, many treatment centers will have a relapse prevention plan template to help you get started. This will provide you with examples of common triggers, behaviors, and methods of coping. It should help guide you in writing a plan that is individual to your needs.

Establish an Action Plan

We even offer services such as case management, medication management, nutrition groups, and emotion regulation groups. Quantum Behavioral Health Services is a comprehensive treatment provider for people with substance use disorders. We provide partial care, intensive outpatient, and outpatient support in a welcoming, secure environment. One of the most popular programs at Quantum treatment centers is our intensive outpatient program . Write down all your substance use disorders recovery tools. Treatment programs will teach different tools to use for when you go back out into the real world.

They may be caused by certain events, places, people, or circumstances. For instance, you may frequent certain places where you always drink beer with your buddies, and these people and/or places may need to be avoided, at least for a while.

Studies Into Drug and Alcohol Addiction Relapse Rates

If you find yourself having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, try changing your habits and schedule or research ways to get to sleep faster. Being active during the day and eating a better diet may also help with your sleep. Consider what changes you are willing to make, and what motivates you to make these changes. These are all great examples for motivational objectives you may want to strive for. Practice what you would do during each situation so you are prepared and have some techniques already in place when they arise.

Thus, people in this stage of relapse need to attend rehab again. During this stage of relapse, people will actively think about using substances again.

Causes of Relapse in Late Stage Recovery

You also learn strategies to cope in those high-risk instances. An example of a trigger could be a person that you might know that you always used with – avoid this person if you are not confident in yourself to stay on your recovery path.

Medically Reviewed By Eric Patterson, LPCA licensed behavioral health or medical professional on The Recovery Village Editorial Team has analyzed and confirmed every statistic, study and medical claim on this page. Know each participant’s individual triggers for substance use relapse upon release.