Avoiding Alcohol Relapse

The statistics available on alcohol relapse suggest that around 90% of alcoholics, following treatment, will have at least one occasion of relapse during the year after treatment, relapse meaning that they have at least one alcoholic drink. (Polich, Armor & Baiker, 1981.)

Alcohol relapse, whether it is one compulsive drink, against one’s better judgment, or a week-long alcohol “bender” - is an issue faced by alcoholics who, under traditional alcohol treatment programs, are “in recovery”.

Although many studies and much research has been conducted into the reasons for alcohol relapse, the results of inquiry have been “inconclusive”. Although many “key” factors for possible alcohol relapse have been identified – researchers have found no simple answer to the problem of why a person will remain sober for a long period and then suddenly relapse.

The real problem with abstinence and supportive therapy as a basis for alcohol addiction recovery is that it does not provide a complete and effective treatment that deals with the complexity of issues for any individual that leads to compulsive alcohol drinking, for whatever reason.

A 2004 study - Relapse Prevention for Alcohol and Drug Problems from the University of Washington, provide an accurate overview of the many issues involved, and factors that combine when a person has an alcoholic relapse - it also confirms that traditional alcohol programs are ineffective as a means to predict and or prevent alcohol relapse.

see article:

In the article it is stated that medication to counter act alcohol abuse is considered a “standby” – although clearly not in any way the “answer” , not a solution to the issue of relapse in alcohol recovery.

Meditation is also referred to as being a useful means of reducing the stress and tension that are known to be contributory factors in relapse. Again, meditation is helpful in the moment, but is not itself a complete solution for alcohol relapse.

The article provides diagrams both simple and complex as illustrations of the problem of alcohol addiction and relapse. By delving into the complexity, the research probably misses the point – alcohol relapse when it occurs is not a new and novel problem for the alcoholic - it is simply a re-emergence of the alcoholism that the treatment programs have failed to suppress.

Alcoholism cannot be resolved by attempts to cope with and suppress it. The entire problem with traditional alcohol treatment plans today is that they rely upon methods designed to teach a person to “cope” with his addiction, with no resolution of the underlying issues that lead to alcohol drinking.

Anyone who has not addressed the root causes of his problem drinking will always be subject to temptation and relapse.

Proposed treatments for relapse are simply not necessary when the underlying condition of alcoholism has been completely resolved.

This leads back to the essential  issue today in the treatment of alcoholism – current methods used by the system to treat alcoholism don’t address, or bring about a resolution of  its causes.

The whole issue of alcoholism is simplified in Figure 1 of the article. This illustrates how the alcoholic will respond to a “high risk” situation in ways that show he is either “coping” or “not coping” with the urge to use alcohol, instead of dealing with his issues in a more satisfactory way.

When people use a comprehensive program for alcohol addiction recovery – the whole model becomes redundant -

For the person who has completed a comprehensive alcohol recovery program there are no more “high risk” situations.

For the successful graduate of a comprehensive alcohol recovery program – the issue of alcohol in the environment has become a “non event” - alcohol is simply one of many factors in the environment that the former alcoholic has no particular interest in, or desire to use.

If an alcoholic is looking for “serenity” – this outcome is probably what that means.

The essential difference between traditional coping methods, and comprehensive recovey programs is in the way that each attempts to deal with the confusion, conflict and internal “stress” that is in a person’s mind, that impels towards alcohol drinking as a means of “clearance”.

Surely it is quite clear, if an objective viewpoint is taken, that there can be no relief from alcoholism until the fundamental “failure to cope” with many issues of life has been completely resolved.

Alcohol use is a symptom of  distress that needs to be cured. Stopping the “problem” of alcohol drinking is helpful as a starter – but it goes nowhere towards resolving the underlying problems.

The answer to alcoholism and to alcohol relapse is one and the same – a person needs to clear their mind of its problems and conflicts in order to get completely clear of using alcohol  as a solution to their issues.

Comprehensive alcohol recovery programs treat the whole person, using a social model of addiction recovery – based on scientific method – and holistic principles.

see article:

Comprehensive alcohol recovery programs are successful – help people to achieve complete and permanent addiction recovery.

People who want to recover completely from addiction need to use comprehensive addiction recovery programs - to clear the blockages in their mind – that are the triggers for alcohol drinking.