The cost of substance abuse, including tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs, adds up to over $740 billion dollars each year between crime, losses in productivity, and health care.
The National Center for Health Statistics tracks crucial information on commonly used drugs and has discovered that the rate of national drug overdoses has steadily increased from 1999-2017, peaking at an alarming 70,237 deaths in 2017. Numbers suggest an estimated 158,200 lives are claimed by drugs or alcohol, every year.
What Causes a Substance Abuse Relapse?
Addiction is considered a chronic brain disease that is comprised of behavioral, biological, social, emotional, and physical aspects and is characterized by the inability to control substance abuse. The chronic nature of addiction, unfortunately, means that relapse is often part of the disease.
Approximately 50 percent of all recovering addicts experience a moment of weakness that leads to a relapse. Wrestling with this disease can be incredibly difficult, and can be made more difficult if:
- Sobriety is not a top priority.
- A support system is not in place.
- The attempt to quit is for someone or something else.
- There is a lack of preparation for life post-treatment.
For those battling addiction or substance abuse the avoidance of recovery meetings, refusal to connect with their support system, or attempts to please a family member or friend by quitting, can all be signs that a relapse is soon to occur.
How to Prevent a Relapse from Occurring
During the recovery process, it can be very hard for those struggling with addiction or substance abuse to keep from relapsing. Stressful home lives, anxiety about work, or sudden life changes can all be triggers that cause someone to slip back into drug or alcohol use. Thankfully, there are a number of different prevention tips that can keep a relapse from happening. These include:
- Having an aftercare plan.
- Practicing mindfulness.
- Avoiding triggering people, places, or situations.
- Getting regular exercise.
- Finding a trusted friend, family member, or sponsor to confide in.
- Establishing a healthy routine.
- Getting good sleep.
Understand that withdrawals and triggers are part of the recovery process will help those struggling with addiction or substance abuse prepare for the temptations of relapse and prevent one from occurring.
Finding the Right Tennessee Drug and Alcohol Addiction Rehabilitation Facility for You
At Discovery Place we provide individuals with several different recovery program options with an end goal of sustained sobriety. Our Burns, Tennessee alternative rehabilitation and recovery facility is open 24/7 for those who are struggling with addiction or substance abuse.
At Discovery Place our main focus is recovery. Our seventeen-acre recovery retreat is a small, intimate, peaceful place that provides individuals in recovery with an atmosphere void of distractions or negativity.
Our Tennessee alternative treatment recovery programs are facilitated by our expert management team and run by our skilled recovery guides. Our recovery guides use their own personal histories of drug and alcohol addiction to speak on the miracle of recovery that we cultivate at Discovery Place.
If you or someone you love is battling drug or alcohol abuse or addiction, do not hesitate to get the help you deserve. Our recovery facility staff members are available at 1-800-725-0922 to help get you or a loved one get started on the road to recovery.
