What are the Chances of Staying Clean and Sober
After Addiction Treatment?
For those who have never been through drug or alcohol rehab, it is easy to think that the end of rehab is the end of the line, and that life will be smooth sailing from then on out. Even after all these years, there is still a widespread belief, albeit incorrect, that leaving rehab means living a drug and alcohol free life.
In some cases that is true, but it is not uncommon for recovering addicts and alcoholics to suffer setbacks, including relapses where they go back to their substance using ways. These relapses can feel devastating, especially for the individual in recovery, but they do not have to end in failure, and in the end they could actually be important learning opportunities.
Whether you are the one in recovery or you are helping a friend or loved one stay substance free, it is important to understand how relapse fits into the larger picture. The more you know about how the process works, and the setbacks that can happen along the way, the easier it will be to provide support to someone you love, or to yourself.
Rates of Relapse
Whether you are struggling with your own recovery or working with an addicted friend or loved one, the more you know about relapse, the more prepared you will be. Here are some telling statistics about recovery, relapse and staying clean.
- The early days of recovery are among the most dangerous, and the majority of relapses will take place within the first one to two years
- Those who fail to seek professional help with their addiction are much less likely to report that they are sober in three years
- Between 40% and 60% of those leaving rehab will relapse within the first two years, but the longer recovering addicts stay sober the lower the odds of relapse
- Relapse is common, but so is long term recovery. If you do suffer a relapse, do not give up – double down on your efforts to stay alcohol and drug free
Does a Relapse Mean that Treatment Has Failed?
For those on the outside, it is easy to view relapse as a total failure, or as proof that a particular rehab center is not doing its job. That is a common misconception, but it is also totally untrue.
In a perfect world, every attempt at recovery would be successful on the first try, and every drug addict and alcoholic would go on to live a substance free life. But in the real world things are a bit more nuanced, and every relapse is not a failure but an opportunity to learn and grow.
If you have suffered from a relapse, it is important to put your recovery in perspective. Instead of seeing yourself as a failure, look back on your life and think about how far you have come. And when you are done doing that, pick up the phone and give the experts at Pacific Manor Recovery a call. We understand that relapse is sometimes a part of recovery, and we can put you back on the road to a better life.
What To Do If You Experience a Relapse
It is easy to fall into despair when you suffer a relapse, and to feel like all your hard work in detox, rehab and recovery has been a total waste of time. Those feelings of failure are all too common, but it is important not to fall into that trap.
In reality, suffering a relapse does not mean that your rehab program has failed you, or that your recovery is now over. Instead, that relapse can be viewed as a bump in the road, and more importantly as a valuable learning experience.
From the worlds of science and medicine to recovery from drug addiction and alcoholism, success is always built in failure. Every time you fail you learn something new, and it is that accumulation of failure and learning that will ultimately lead to you a drug and alcohol free life. If you have suffered a relapse, stop beating yourself up, pick yourself up, forgive yourself and pick up the phone. At Pacific Manor Recovery, we know that relapse is not the end of your recovery – it is just one more step on the road to the life you have always dreamed of. (888) 300-4370.
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