RECOPVERY AND RELAPSE PREVENTION PLAN


Relapse refers to the process of returning to the use of alcohol or drugs after a period of abstinence. Relapse is a
possibility for you regardless of how much time you have been sober. Part of your recovery plan should include learning
about the relapse process and devising a plan to Help prevent you from relapsing should warning signs occur.
You can be in a relapse before you actually use alcohol or drugs. It is possible to build up to a relapse
Over a period of hours, days, weeks or even months.

Many alcoholics and drug dependent persons have reviewed their relapse experiences and
Identified clues which preceded the relapse, and which indicated they were headed back to using
Alcohol or drugs.

Relapse clues, or warning signs, may relate to changes in your behavior, attitudes, feelings,
Thoughts or a combination of these. This does not necessarily mean that changes you experience are an indication
examine whether or not these do in fact indicate that you may be headed for a relapse. The following are examples of
examine whether or not these do in fact indicate that you may be headed for a relapse. The following are examples of
"relapse clues" preceding relapses of other alcoholics and drug
dependent persons:

Behavior Changes:  increased episodes of arguing with others, for no apparent reasons; "forgetting" to take antabuse;
decreasing or stopping AA/NA meetings; stopping in a bar to socialize
and drink soda; increased stress symptoms such as smoking more cigarettes or eating more food than usual.

Attitude Changes:  not caring about sobriety; not caring what happened becoming too negative about life and how
things were going.

Changes In Feelings Or Moods:  increased moodiness or depression; strong feelings of anger at
oneself or another; increased feelings of boredom; or sudden feelings of euphoria.

Changes In Thoughts:  thinking alcohol or drugs were "deserved" due to being sober six" months; thinking it wouldn't be
harmful to substitute one drug for another (for example, giving up cocaine, but continuing to smoke marijuana;
abstaining from alcohol but continuing to use uppers); thinking the alcohol or drug problem was "cured" because no
substances were used for a period of weeks or months.

These are just a few examples which may or may not relate to you. The important point to remember is that changes in
your behaviors, attitudes, feelings, thoughts, or a combination of these could indicate that your relapse process is set in
motion.  

If you have experienced a period of recovery in the past prior to a relapse, answer the following questions:  
1.    What specific clues or warning signs-preceded your relapse?       

(A) ______________________________________________________________________________________

(B) ______________________________________________________________________________________

(C)_______________________________________________________________________________________           
(D) _______________________________________________________________________________________        

(E) _______________________________________________________________________________________        

2. How much time elapsed between the emergence of your relapse' clues and the
actual use of alcohol or drugs? _________________________________________________________________        
3.    If these were to occur with you again, what specific steps could you take to try to prevent a relapse?

(A) ________________________________________________________________________________________

(B) _________________________________________________________________________________________

(O) _______________________________________________________________________________________        

(D) ________________________________________________________________________________________        

(E) ________________________________________________________________________________________        
     
  Case Example:        

John is a 45 year old alcoholic with a history of heavy drinking and related problems for the past fifteen years. He has
been in three detoxification wards, two rehabilitation programs, and has participated in outpatient counseling and AA
meetings on and off for the last nine years. In reviewing his relapse history, he states he usually builds up to drink over
a period of about five weeks. His relapse clues include:     

1) decreased interest in taking care of his nutritional needs evident in skipping breakfast and not eating regular dinners;
  

2) increased thoughts of drinking evident in thoughts such as "no one will know if I have a few beers," or "what does it
really matter if I drink again;"    

3) stopping in the bar where he used to drink in order to "see old buddies."

The following relapse prevention plan was devised by John:

1) When he notices that his nutritional habits are changing he will ask himself why this is happening now and whether or
not something is bothering him which needs his immediate attention;

2) He will initiate a discussion with his outpatient counselor or AA sponsor to review his current feelings and what is
happening in his life.

3) John will also write on a sheet of paper why stopping in bars to see old buddies is not in his best interest.

4) When he has the impulse to stop in a bar he will instead contact a sober friend and make plans to do something
which is not threatening to his sobriety, (he has a list of five people he may call on and specific activities he can engage
in) or he will review his AA meeting list and choose a meeting to attend that day.

5) John will review his "benefits of sobriety" journal he has been keeping* in order to reinforce the importance and
payoffs of his sobriety.

              
Helping you live more sober and constructively in your recovery program.
Bill W AND FRIENDS.COM, P.A.
The ULTIMATE Source for Holistic Recovery of Health and Transformation for Mind, Body and Spirit
Social Pressures  next page   II        Social Pressure to use Alcohol and Drugs.