Why Does Drug Rehab Fail Sometimes and Can Relapses in Drug Rehab be Beneficial?
The following article discusses the support that addicts need while in drug treatment centers. Also, that relapse is part of recovery and that drug rehabs should not kick an individual out because of a relapse. Sometimes relapse is a vital part of one’s journey into recovery. Rather than kick the person out the relapse can be used as a learning experience & might just be what the person needed to begin to take sobriety seriously.
Treatment programs shouldn’t refuse to continue treating someone who relapses, Williamson told those attending.
That wouldn’t happen if someone had a third heart attack, he said, calling addiction “just another illness, another disease.”
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September 24th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Here’s a website you may find useful. http://www.addicted.com is a site for friends, families, and those who suffer from various addictions.
September 25th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
While I agree that we need to prepare ourselves and those with whom we work for the realities of relapse, I feel very strongly that too often people expect to relapse as a part of their recovery. Relapse is not mandatory for successful recovery. It is not an excuse for those who are planning on using/drinking in the future and then getting back in the boat. I do ,however, agree that given the right attitude and environment, a relapse can be an extemely educational process, not just for the iduvidual who relapses, but for those who are there to witness the process. For this reason, I feel that kicking someone out of treatment is not always the right answer in response to a relapse.
October 5th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
I am fortunate to work in a program where the minimum stay for young adults is one year. Having them long term allows them somewhat of a safety net while they go on that “emotional roller coaster ride” , and occasional relapse in their early stages of recovery. They have opportunity to deal with their pain in a safe environment, something that took many of us years, without this advantage. All the while they’re building and experiencing a sense of community, as well as discovering their spirituality. Wonderful experiences that help them build a firm foundation for ongoing recovery.
October 5th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
I certainly agree that we don’t shoot our wounded. However, there comes a point in a recovery centered community when those in charge must consider the impact of a repeat relapser on the community. It’s tough but sometimes the alcoholic/addict is just not done yet. They need to hurt a little more. I found the website http://draonline.org/relapse.html to have some very good information on relapse prevention.
October 31st, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Hi people. The original post is a good one. I’m new to a residential treatment programme for youth and am the programme coordinator. I’ve felt that we have been to harsh in some cases by sending youth home after relapse but then I agree with the above that we must make a stand when it comes to the effect on letting particular inviduals get away with it time and time again.
Nate
November 3rd, 2007 at 12:17 am
I haev been in several drug rehab programs and what I have found is that there are great people and strong programs but until I was ready to do the work it didn’t matter. I have now been sober for almost 4 years and it is a direct result of me participating in what was offered. I graduated a residential drug rehab and I have since been sober. It has been tough but I treasure my sobriety and hope others find what I feel. My suggestion is to let go of what you think you about drug rehab and follow direction. Zgood luck to all that seek recovery!
November 3rd, 2007 at 12:21 am
I have been trying to get sober for 5 years now (since I was 19 years old) and I have been to 4 drug treatment centers. Does anyone know of a long term residential drug treatment center that can really work? I have heard that the twelve steps work but I cannot bring myself to do it. I need help and my experience with drug rehab has been really bad. Any advice?
December 10th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Without second, third and so on chances, many of us wouldn’t be around. It’s a learning experience for everyone, not just the person who relapsed.
December 10th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Although I never relapsed while in treatment, I did relapse many times while trying to get sober back at home in CT. Had people in recovery not worked with me and tried to help me I would never have been able to get sober. We are not perfect, and everyone deserves a second chance to recover from this disease.
December 10th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
What is a relapse? A relapse can be defined as a lapse in thoughts or actually physically taking a drink pr a drug. The relapse starts long before the drink or drug is taken though. Having been in treatment before, I have seen a lot of people relapse. I have not actually physically relapsed in rehab. I did however after I left rehab. Having witnessed other people and their relapses in rehab, I have found that being in rehab and relapsing offers a safety that the outside world does not, a way in which to process the relapse and identify the triggers that may have caused it. It also provides a support network from the other residents that can share their experience with the individual who had relapsed. The outside world can be unforgiving in this regard because it does not provide the safe setting nor is there collective group of people that are always there. There is however Alcoholic’s Anonymous. Lest one is willing to go there to get help there is little hope of his return. Again, rehab provides structure and a forum in which people are not required to make mistakes, such as relapse, but are able to work through that process and hopefully come out the other side a different person.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Coming back from a relapse was the hardest thing I ever had to do. If you can prevent it, you’ll be better off.
December 12th, 2007 at 11:49 am
I relapsed in a treatment center from injecting a cocktail of cocaine and heroin. I was ten minutes from death according to the EMT’s and lack of oxygen to the brain led to a 5 day coma. My physical recovery has greatly surpassed clinical estimates. I can walk. I can talk. And the experience granted me humility. Looking back, it was hubris and distractions with sex that prevented God from expelling the obsession.
After the coma I noticed a growing peace of mind, the presence of a power greater than myself that has led me since into a most rewarding education in reality. I thank God for this experience.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
At about 8 months into my stay in rehab I relapsed off of another resident’s medications, and I was not kicked out, instead rather than punish me for my relapse the staff comforted me and tried to help me to look at how I got to the place that i was in and how to prevent future slip-ups. For that I am extremely grateful, because looking back at the place I was in when my relapse occurred, if I had been kicked out, I’m not sure that I would be alive today.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:01 am
Working at Gate House Academy has allowed me to adopt the beleif that someone who relapses while in treatment is much easier to work with. I relapsed many times after first getting into recovery. So when someone is in treatment and relapses, it makes it easy to point out to that person the unmanageability and powerlessness the relapse proves existent.
December 13th, 2007 at 9:54 am
There is a saying that I am sure many have heard, “Build your life around your recovery, not your recovery around your life.” Gatehouse requires that all residents complete a transition plan before they commence. Planning what your life schedule will look like over the next few months or year is critical. The lack of direction will lead to boredom or getting lost in a codependent relationship that will lead to relapse. This is putting life first as you regress back to the old impulsive behavior of the past. Putting your recovery first will lead to producing a plan for work, school, times when you will attend AA meetings, etc. This will assist in keeping your impulsiveness in check as you follow your plan in spite of how you may be thinking or feelings. You can not fight this disease alone, so you must plan people, places and things into your life that support you in your recovery.
Dan D Sours, MC, LPC
December 13th, 2007 at 11:52 am
I can think of scores of clients who finally got recovery after a humiliating relapse while in treatment. No normal person abuses substances while trying to convince their counselors and family who are attempting intervention that they dont have a problem with drugs.
So for many people its not the fall that breaks the sick ego, its the hard landing.
December 14th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Relapse is a tough one. The closest I ever came to relapse was when I had about 30 or 40 days sober and my roomates were huffing glade. Looking back I don’t know how I was able turn it down. I’ve come to the conclusion that it must have been a Higher Power thing.
I don’t believe that relapse is a part of recovery. For some it is, but not always.
I heard once that relapse didn’t to be a part of recovery and I was very relieved.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Relapse in Rehab is like drilling holes in the life boat in order to bail it out. Others will sink with you.
December 21st, 2007 at 9:47 am
While at Gate house I relapsed more than one time. This was a very hard time for me because I thought that if I couldn’t even stay sober in rehab how was I ever going to stay sober out in the world. If I would have been kicked out of treatment after my relapses I would have probably been dead or still using to this day. My relapses for me happended at times when I thought everything was going good. I thought I had the recovery thing down but obviously that wasn’t the case. Therefore, after the relapse I was able to see that I had a bigger problem than I had origanly imagined. My last relapse about four month’s ago was the real turning point in my recovery. It was a big humility check and also a huge eye opener. However, instead of being punished I was helped and this is exactly what I needed.
January 4th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Relapse is part of recovery. Some relapse with substances, others with behaviors that are not conducive to recovery. A valuable experience, relapse reminds us that we are powerless, and it is an opportunity to practice getting up and continuing to live life one day at a time.
January 8th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I think my favorite saying here is we don’t shoot our wounded. It is so overwhelming to think or imagine a life without the drugs that have been your best friend for so long or that drink that is always there to listen to you. Relapse does not always happen to everybody, but I believe the ones that do relapse do deserve the chances to keep going.
January 8th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Throughout my own recovery and by the grace of go I have not relapsed. I learned that relapse is not a requirement to be in recovery. I was told in early recovery it’s not about the relapse its about the recovery.
January 18th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I don’t believe that relapse has to be a part of recovery, however if treatment centers kicked residents out for relapsing I’m not sure where I’d be today. It took a signifigant time in treatment to realize that I really wanted this and was willing to go to any lengths for it, as well that I HAD to be completely honest with my peers and sponser. Many people do not come into rehab/recovery with this knowledge (because as addicts and alcoholics we are used to doing quite the opposite). I’m grateful that my relapses have been learning experiences and that I’ve been given another chance to get this following them. I liked what Tammi had to say about “shooting our wounded”. This is not an all or nothing deal if you don’t get it the first time, and I know for me it took a relapse to realize how powerless I am over my disease and how unmanagable my life can become both in and out of sobriety.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
[...] are numerous reasons why people relapse. Some of the major obstacles to addiction recovery [...]