Presented by: Bob Newton, MS, LAADAC, CADAC II Consultant, Betty Ford Center, SWA Sixth Annual Providers Conference April 19 & 20, 2012 Lynnwood Convention Center Key Points About Relapse Prevention

Copyright © L. Days, 1996

Facts About Relapse  You cannot relapse if you are not in recovery.  You usually relapse first on something other than your drug of choice.  The higher your IQ the higher your addict IQ.  Relapse doesn’t mean you failed—it means your recovery needs a tune-up.  The saying “relapse is part of recovery” doesn’t mean you get to use.  Relapse is a process not an event. There is no such thing as a “slip”.

Defining Recovery  Recovery is a verb not a noun.  Recovery is a process not an event.  Most people who try to get clean fail.  Recovery is difficult.  Recovery is bio-psycho-social and spiritual.  Recovery is “taking good care of yourself”.

Recovery is… “…the will to extend oneself for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.” - M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled

Developmental Model of Addiction  Experimentation:Social use. I can take it or leave it. I have no problems.  Situational misuse:Drugs and alcohol make me a better man in certain situations.  Problem use:I use to cope with everyday life issues, and I am having problems.  Dependence:I continue to use despite knowing the negative consequences, loss of control, blackouts, tolerance and withdrawal, lots of problems.

Developmental Model of Recovery  Transitional:I have a problem, but I can control it.  Stabilization: I can’t control drugs/alcohol, and I need to learn how to not use.  Early Recovery:Change playmates, playgrounds, and playthings.  Middle Recovery:Balance.  Late Recovery:Deal with unresolved childhood issues.  Maintenance:Continue to nurture bio-psycho-social and spiritual growth.

Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual-Cultural Biological  Get proper amount of rest  Eat a healthy diet  Regular doctor visits  Follow doctor’s instructions  Regular dentist visits  Follow dentist’s instructions  Identify and manage stress  Avoid nicotine  Avoid excessive caffeine  Avoid drugs and alcohol

Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual-Cultural Psychological  See a therapist  Follow therapist’s advice  Identify and manage feelings  Identify and manage stress  Identify core issues  Intellectual challenge  Avoid negativity  Develop a sense of purpose and meaning  Recognize cognitive distortions  Nurture self-esteem

Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual-Cultural Social  Positive friends  Healthy relationships  Working with sponsor  Having fun in recovery  Sober support system  Able to love and trust others  Able to be lovable and trustworthy  Healthy family relationships  Giving something back to society  Relationship with self

Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual-Cultural Spiritual  Prayer  Meditation  Reading spiritual literature  Fellowship with spiritual people  Attending spiritual services  Morals and values  Honesty in all your affairs  Practice humility  Communing with nature  Donating time and money

Relapse Prevention Therapy  Assessment (self and client)  Early intervention plan  Warning sign identification  Warning sign management  Revised recovery plan

Early Intervention Planning  What will it look like when you start to bail out of the treatment process?  What can I do to reel you back in?  Who should I call?  Do you have any high risk situations coming up in the next six weeks?  Write letters from your sober self to…

The Relapse Process Relapse is a process not an event. relapse warning signs

Sentence Completion Exercise I know my recovery is in trouble when I

Critical Warning Signs  Pick the three most dangerous warning signs from your list.  Are you doing any of these right now in your life? If you identify something as a warning sign, treat it accordingly. If you know a dog bites, treat him like he bites!

The Revised Recovery Plan  If your Recovery Plan isn’t addressing your issues, it is just “busy work”.  Make a list of 10 concrete, specific, and measurable activities that you do every week that constitute your Recovery Plan. - I work out at least an hour a day, four days a week. - I go to a minimum of four AA meetings per week. - I don’t eat after 8:00 p.m. - I see my therapist every Thursday morning.

Top Three Warning Signs for Late Stage Recovery  Legitimate reason to take narcotics  Untreated or undiagnosed psychiatric condition  Unresolved childhood trauma

The Biggest Relapse Warning Sign of All…  Addicts overestimate their recovery and underestimate the power of their addiction.

Recovery Enhancement Program  Monitoring