RELAPSE HAPPENS Posted by:Rocco--Friday, January 14, 2011

Relapse Happens

Relapse is a reality. Recovery is a Family Activity. We all wish that life would go the way we want it to. We have been through a lot with our teen addicts. They likewise have put a lot into their recovery.

When a relapse happens it doesn’t mean that their recovery program was a waste of time, that they are a failure or that we, as parents, did something wrong.

Relapses often occur within the first 3 months after treatment. Most often, teens need to go through treatment more than once and follow a long recovery process to remain substance-free.

Relapse handled correctly can be a learning experience. It can be an integral part of your teen’s recovery.

You can support your teens in their recovery by:

1. Keeping communications open with your teen. Talk openly with them about how they are feeling. If you detect that they are close to relapsing get them help immediately. Some signs of relapse can be complaining that their meetings and therapy are no help or if they begin skipping them. Be alert if your teen is bored, depressed or even if they are over confident that they can handle it themselves.

2. Be there for them if they relapse. Encourage them to get back to a recovery activity instead of nagging them, guilting them or lecturing them. But at the same time AVOID ENABLING them. Do not make excuses for them, cover up for them or ignore them. Do not return to CODEPENDENCY.

3. Offer them encouragement when they follow their recovery plan, go to their meetings and therapy. Don’t just take them to their meetings and therapy sessions. Join them when you can. These are good times to understand how your teen is doing and to let them know how you are feel.

4. Help them to stay organized and set their priorities, so that they are not too busy or stressed out between their school, work and recovery activities.

5. Encourage them to connect with teens that don’t use drugs or alcohol. Urge them to develop hobbies and activities and to find work that appeals to them. They can replace the time spent using drugs or alcohol with time spent for the new activity.

6. DO NOT keep any alcohol or tobacco in your home. Keep your medications (prescription and over-the-counter) locked away. When you no longer need drugs or they expire dispose of them properly. Be a role model for your teen.

7. Consequences, consequences, consequences. Talk with your teen about personal consequences. Explain that some behaviors, such as drug and alcohol abuse, can lead to consequences that will last a lifetime. Discuss how the use of drugs and alcohol while trying to graduate from high school, attend college, find a job can affect his or her future.

Note that teens live for the moment, so discussing long-term health consequences of drug use generally does not help prevent a teen from using substances.

Talk with your teen about legal consequences. Talk about the increased risk of losing their driver’s license and other privileges, car crashes, violence, and arrests related to substance use.

8. Expected behaviors. Talk with your teen about what to do in social situations involving alcohol or drugs. Be very clear about what action you expect them to take in these situations. Discuss your expectations regarding teen parties and activities where drugs and alcohol may be available. Use a parent-teen contract to write down expected behaviors and consequences if the plan is not followed.

9. TEST YOUR TEEN. There are a variety of inexpensive and accurate tests for drugs (amphetamine, methamphetamine, opiate, marijuana, and cocaine) and alcohol available in pharmacies and on-line. If you come to a PSST Meeting we can provide information on both urine screens and oral swabs.

Nolo contendere - Remember that your teen's refusal to submit to a test is the same as testing positive.

10. TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF. Your teen’s addiction and relapse is not your fault or a reflection on you. Attend regular Nar-Anon or Al-Anon meetings, join a parental support group (LIKE PSST), see a therapist and remember to TAKE TIME TO DO THINGS THAT YOU ENJOY.

Relapse happens – Recovery activities (12-step meetings and therapy) helps to get them back on track. Like someone having a stroke, the sooner they seek help the better.

Take action before they make a full return to their old substance-abusing lifestyle.

Understand that “Recovery” and “Not Using” are not the same thing. “Not Using” is only the first step in recovery. Recovery is attending meetings, avoiding people, place and things and making a comitment to change their lifestyle.

It is not your teen’s relapse that determines success or failure it is how you and your teen handle it.

Come to the next PSST meeting to discuss relapse and other teen substance abuse issues.