Relapse Prevention Plans: Writing, Using, and Free PDF Template

Over time, addiction specialists and healthcare providers have designed more effective approaches for addiction recovery. When creating a relapse prevention plan, planning where you can find a support system any day what is alcoholism of the week is essential. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) agrees. They state that clients with excellent relapse prevention plans have the best chances at long-term recovery. Your relapse prevention plan should be comprehensive and contain detailed information to help maintain sobriety. When you create a relapse prevention plan, you reinforce your commitment to sobriety in writing.

Creating a Relapse Prevention Plan: What to Include to Stay on Track

Our writers and reviewers are experienced professionals in medicine, addiction treatment, and healthcare. AddictionResource fact-checks all the information before publishing and uses only credible and trusted sources when citing any medical data. The Verified badge on our articles is a trusted sign of the most comprehensive scientifically-based medical content. Schedule regular times (i.e., monthly) to review and make any needed adjustments based on your progress or new triggers that may arise. This written plan becomes a reference tool for staying on track and can be especially helpful during challenging times.

• While creating a relapse prevention plan might feel far away at this moment, getting support and guidance from a treatment professional means that it’s not as far away as you think.
• Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or a loved one, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
• It’s recommended to keep a list of at least five contacts who can be reached during moments of vulnerability.
• Think of it as a proactive blueprint or a personalized guidebook that you can turn to any time you need to refocus your efforts.

Why Mental Health Screening is Important for Substance Abuse Recovery

The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. A robust support network is paramount for individuals in recovery from addiction. Establishing connections with family, friends, and peers can provide emotional backing and accountability. Regular attendance at support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is beneficial.

Reach out to a professional

That’s why it’s so important to place yourself in a supportive environment filled with mentors and friends ready to assist at any moment. Taking these important steps to create a realistic addiction relapse prevention plan will send you on the right path toward a successful and healthy future. A relapse prevention plan is a detailed discharge document that clients create in collaboration with their sponsors and therapists. It outlines strategies and resources to help individuals transition from inpatient rehab to sober living after treatment. The plan is a living document that can be altered and added to as clients adjust to the post-rehab stage of their recovery. Leaving treatment and returning home can be challenging, and relapse becomes a more significant concern.

• Regular follow-ups are essential; they facilitate ongoing support and adjustments to the relapse prevention plan.
• The difference between these two variables are that tonic processes represent how susceptible one is to relapse while phasic responses serve as factors that either cause or prevent relapse.
• Here’s where we dive into spotting alternative habits, doing a little introspection, and making sure your calendar is your best friend.
• Acknowledging that future relapses can happen allows you to approach them proactively.
• Theserelapse prevention modelsoffer a unique take on the process.

What Should I Include in My Relapse Prevention Plan?

Make sure you detail coping strategies that you find genuinely comfortable and realistic to perform. Triggers are experiences, events, or even other people that can lead you astray from sobriety back into substance abuse. Triggers look different for everyone, but developing an awareness of your own and tracking them can help you avoid it. What were the factors that contributed to your initial drug and alcohol use relapse prevention plan before you landed in treatment? In recognizing your usage patterns, it can help pinpoint the elements that drove you into the arms of addiction in the first place.

You could write down the days and times of meetings or planned calls to help you remember. This will help you be accountable for sticking to your plan and knowing how to manage different situations. For example, places that might trigger cravings could include being in a bar with friends, going to a friend’s house where drugs are being taken, or being at home alone.