5 Tips on Avoiding Drug Relapse

For many people, drug relapse is one part temptation, another part chemical addiction. There are multiple treatments and theories on how to break--and permanently end--addiction for patients that seek help, but a lot of issues can stand between even the most professional, medical, and sterile solution.

Whether you're having trouble after rehabilitation (rehab) or trying not to relapse on your own, here are 5 tips that can help you avoid relapse while sticking to your road to recovery.

1. Know Your Social Circles

If nothing else, social situations can be a big temptation to do...well, anything! This isn't new advice, but a lot of the discussions surrounding friends, family, other drug users, and even going to certain areas that bring a nostalgic feeling of drug use can cause a relapse.

In the stereotypical drug addiction situation, it's all about friends and family who lure you back into the old habit. It could be purely accidental, such as living around other drug users who aren't ready to quit, but unintentionally use drugs around you while you're trying to recover. It could be intentional, especially when you're dealing with a drug dealer or people who are far too into drug culture as a personality trait.

No matter the reason, your main goal is to know the risks. Don't just avoid everyone; within your friend circles, there could be people who have information on getting out, connections to rehabilitation centers, or resources that you could use without compromising your health or finances. While you may need to avoid entire groups of people to avoid party or social drug use situations, be sure to evaluate people on a daily basis based on their drug risk and recovery reward.

2. Ask For Help Before Getting Away

If you've been clean of your drug life for weeks, months, or years, you'll be able to make better decisions about how to stay clean. The previous tip was all about knowing who to avoid and making an informed decision, but be careful with how you leave your drug past.

If you need to leave quickly, where are you going? Who do you know at your destination? Do you have plans for food, lodging, and future employment? Instead of hopping into a car or getting onto a bus to the first far away location, be sure to look through local resources first.

Within your town, city, county, or even at the state level, there may be multiple social workers and drug rehab facilities that can help you plan a departure. If you're in a dangerous situation and need to leave as soon as possible, go, but at least have a plan for heading to a safe facility.

Heading to well-equipped and well-known centers such as Renaissance Ranch Ogden can be a positive step forward, but you don't have to leave your home area at the drop of a hat. Visiting a rehabilitation and support center during the day can give you enough time and resources to freshen up, think, and get advice from sober professionals.

3. Check Your Health

Even with medication or medical procedures, the same old problems that lead to drug addiction could cause a relapse. It could be social or financial troubles in your life or another medical condition that needs its own separate treatment.

Were you self-medicating another problem? Whether you were using drugs to help with a physical pain, emotional trauma, or a behavioral issue that requires expensive medication, now is the time to calculate what drug use has already cost you.

A drug rehabilitation facility can help you with not only finding a medical professional but figuring out how to pay for everything. The worst thing you can do is assume that it all costs too much; hearing the bad news in price form is always worse than missing a great opportunity because you assumed the worst.

Someone can find an answer. Maybe not today, but give professionals a chance to look around for you. The effort alone can be therapeutic.

4. Do The Math On Your Drug Habits

While you're in a recovery situation, you can add up the costs and compare them to medical costs. With the help of a drug rehabilitation professional, you can find ways to reduce those medical costs either in your state or by getting help with a move to an area that can help.

As you add up those costs, you can understand how some "cheaper" solutions in the form of drug abuse may not be more affordable in the long run. Whether it's illegal drugs or sticking to a prescription that causes long-term problems, knowing the greater potential savings can help you stay on track.

5. Evaluate Your Career Options

While dealing with drug addiction, traveling away from social circles and drug environments is often a good idea. It must be planned, as hectic situations and unknown environments can lead to relapse if not planned properly.

If you already have a job, can you continue your work while recovering from drug addiction? If so, talk to drug addiction professionals to discuss staying clean and staying legal while keeping a positive workplace reputation.

If not, the same drug addiction professionals can help you with legal means of making income for a better life. You don't have to find a job or start a new job immediately--it may not even be advised by some professionals--but giving a career counselor your skills, hobbies, and interests can help you get a set of options over time while you're recovering. Jobs are often about waiting for an offer, and starting even a passive search early can help you find a good position.

With these tips, you can stabilize your recovery and avoid relapse with a safer environment and a more productive life.

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Created on May 29th 2018 01:38. Viewed 347 times.

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