The Agony Of A Relapse

Recovery is possible, and ongoing support can remain useful over time. Even after weeks of detox and rehab and hours upon hours of therapy, a return to use can occur and deserves prompt support. It does not erase the skills and progress built over time.

This is what makes relapse prevention therapy such a vital part of the recovery process. We’ve all gone through bad days. Maybe you get fired, or a romantic relationship fizzles out, or something else devastating happens, and you get home and just want to tune it all out and forget about everything.

At these times, a person in recovery may feel a strong urge to use their substance of choice again, rationalizing to themselves that they’ll use it “just this once” to take their minds off things for a while.

A plan made with your treatment team can help you respond when those thoughts appear.

Stepping Out Of The Spiral

Relapsing is very dangerous. Many recovering addicts who relapse often don’t account for the fact that they built up a tolerance when they were regularly using, and immediately going back to their usual dose after a long hiatus leads to a lot of unintentional overdose deaths.

Relapsing is dangerous in a less immediate way as well, in that it makes you feel guilty for breaking a long string of drug-free days and letting down everyone who supported you through your initial recovery. This leads to the addict using more of their substance of choice to help cope with that guilt, which in turn leads to them feeling even more guilty, et cetera.

There are several routes back to support, and a clinician can help assess the next step.

Ask for Help and Review Care

The most important thing about a relapse is not to keep it a secret from those close to you. Choose a person who can respond safely and help you connect with care. You do not need to tell everyone or face the situation alone.

Tell a trusted support person or clinician what has happened and ask for help. It can be difficult to break this news to people who have already helped get you through substance abuse treatment before, but you can choose a safe person or professional to begin the conversation.

If you have any questions about how to deal with a relapse or anything else related to addiction recovery, feel free to contact us.

What should you tell the treatment team after a return to use?

Share what you know about the substance, when it was used, other substances or medicines involved, and any symptoms. Be honest about uncertainty. This information helps a clinician assess what support is needed; an online article cannot determine that for you.

If someone is unresponsive, has trouble breathing, or may be overdosing, call emergency services immediately. Do not wait for an admissions callback. For concerns that are not an emergency, contact your clinician promptly and ask how to get an assessment.

How can a loved one respond?

• Start with safety and a calm question: “What help do you need right now?”
• Offer practical help with contacting the care team or arranging an appropriate appointment.
• Describe what you observed without calling the person a failure.
• Keep your own boundaries clear and seek support for yourself when needed.
• Ask the team how family can help, with the client’s consent.

What might need to change in the plan?

Discuss recent stress, access to substances, missed appointments, cravings, mental health, living arrangements, and support between visits. Ask whether the current level of care still fits and when progress will be reviewed. Returning to care is a practical step, not a loss of everything you learned.

Use the 90-day aftercare guide to organize follow-up. NIAAA discusses responding to a return to drinking as a reason to review treatment.

Choose Your Next Step

• Seek urgent help for overdose or severe symptoms.
• Contact a trusted clinician or support person to review the plan.