8 Tips for Preventing Relapse to Alcohol or Drug Addiction

1. Attend a long-term rehab program – If at all possible, a longer-term (more than 30 days) drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility will often provide a solid foundation to work with that includes counseling and education about addiction and staying sober. 2. Have some type of support group – many people choose to attend meetings, but this doesn’t have to be the case. The support can come from family, co-workers, teammates, clergy, and of course staff at the inpatient drug rehab that was attended. Don’t be afraid to communicate problems and ask for support from people you trust, but try to focus more on solutions than the problems themselves. 3. Get involved with other drug-free groups and activities – this may include becoming active in your church, some sort of sport or hobby, volunteering with community organizations, or anything that helps to keep you busy and productive. 4. Stay away from old drug-using associates – people who get help for substance abuse all too often make the mistake of hanging out with their old friends who still abuse alcohol or drugs. Over time the general agreement of “it’s okay to do it as long as it’s not out of control” kicks in and causes a relapse. It is not a good idea to stay connected with people like that who can have a negative influence on your sobriety. 5. Do not hang out in bars and clubs – whether or not alcohol was your main drug of choice, bars and nightclubs often have a very high rate of substance abuse and can be extremely damaging to someone who is trying to rebuild a life without drugs and alcohol. In addition, people who drink alcohol lose their inhibitions and sense of good judgment and typically decide that it’s okay to use drugs “just this once,” causing their downfall again. 6. If at all possible, stay away from prescription drugs that have abuse potential – in today’s society we are constantly bombarded with advertisements promoting the latest “feel-good” drugs and the idea of taking a pill for every symptom. Drugs with either heavy abuse potential or possible heavy side effects may include painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, antidepressants or anti-psychotics. Prescription drug addiction has become a major problem in America, so consult your doctor and get a second opinion to see if prescriptions are really necessary for your circumstances or to see if there is a drug-free alte ative treatment for them. 7. Maintain good health – exercise, adequate sleep and proper nutrition are important to feeling good. Since drug and alcohol addiction is usually the result of trying to feel better about some unwanted condition, the more you can do to stay healthy the better your chances are for staying away from substance abuse. This doesn’t have to mean a grueling workout program, but it does mean to stay active in some way, take vitamins and other nutritional supplements and get enough sleep to be energized for each day and keep you free from toxins. You may be surprised at how far these simple things can take you. 8. Set and work toward achieving goals in life – one of the best ways to maintain happiness is to stay productive and achieve goals you have set for yourself. This could be little things at first, but also include mid-range and long-term goals so that you are always striving to improve your condition in life. The 8 tips for preventing drug relapse listed above are just some common sense examples of how you or someone you love can remain sober. In many cases the simple things, when applied, are what work the best, yet unfortunately many treatment professionals try to complicate the issue. Finding the right drug rehab center is a good start.