What is Relapse?
Relapse
is the return to heavy alcohol or drug use after a period of abstinence
or moderate use. Relapse can also refer to a return to other risky
behaviors after a period of maintaining healthy behaviors such as
smoking, overeating or losing control over angry feelings.
What is a Lapse? A
lapse is an isolated re-occurrence of the problem behavior. If a problem
drinker takes a drink after abstaining for several months, this is by
definition a lapse, but it becomes a full relapse only when the original
pattern of substance abuse or risky behavior returns. If a smoker has a
cigarette after several weeks of not smoking, but does not return to
his or her daily pack-a-day habit, a lapse has occurred.
What is Relapse Prevention?
Relapse Prevention Therapy (RPT) is a research-based self-control program designed to help maintain positive changes in behavior. This on line program draws heavily from the work of the developer of RPT, Dr. Alan Marlatt of the University of Washington in Seattle. His focus is on habit change rather than on the ideas of will power or inherited disease processes. These techniques focus on how to anticipate and cope with the problem of returning to old habits after a period of success.
Relapse Prevention Therapy (RPT) is a research-based self-control program designed to help maintain positive changes in behavior. This on line program draws heavily from the work of the developer of RPT, Dr. Alan Marlatt of the University of Washington in Seattle. His focus is on habit change rather than on the ideas of will power or inherited disease processes. These techniques focus on how to anticipate and cope with the problem of returning to old habits after a period of success.
Why Do You Need It?
Studies by Dr. Marlatt show that there are three (3) high-risk situations associated with almost 75% of relapses. They are:
Studies by Dr. Marlatt show that there are three (3) high-risk situations associated with almost 75% of relapses. They are:
- Strong emotional states, both positive and negative feelings
- Interpersonal conflict
- Social pressure or social influence to use
Cravings Cravings
are also associated with risk for relapse. Cravings are strong physical
desires to use again, usually seen in persons who have experienced past
alcohol, tobacco or other drug dependence.
Effective Coping Responses Reduce Risk
If an individual has an effective coping response to deal with a high-risk situation, the probability of relapse decreases significantly. When a person copes effectively with a high-risk situation, he or she is likely to experience an increase in confidence about coping successfully. An increase in confidence is an excellent predictor of future success.
If an individual has an effective coping response to deal with a high-risk situation, the probability of relapse decreases significantly. When a person copes effectively with a high-risk situation, he or she is likely to experience an increase in confidence about coping successfully. An increase in confidence is an excellent predictor of future success.
Risk for Relapse
However, what happens if a person has not learned or cannot use a coping response when confronted with a high-risk situation?
However, what happens if a person has not learned or cannot use a coping response when confronted with a high-risk situation?
Failure
to master a high-risk situation is likely to create a sense of
powerlessness. This is followed by a person's tendency to recall only
the "good" effects of alcohol or drugs as a way to cope with the high
risk situation. At this point, a lapse is likely.
ALL classes developed and monitored by Tom Wilson, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who is also a Certified Alcohol and Substance Prevention Specialist. Tom is the author of "Taming Anger and Aggression", an anger management program which has been taught to hundreds of people at the counseling center over the last twelve years. He specializes in adapting evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs for delivery through the web and other electronic media.
