I have been working in the field of addiction for many years, since 1984 to be exact and in some of the best treatment centers in the country. My experience is that when a patient discharges from treatment there are still so many stumbling blocks to their recovery that exist in the real world. There are also so many issues to address in treatment that the topic of relapse prevention can easilly fall by the wayside.

As an interventionist I wanted to focus on not just getting someone in to treatment but continue to be there to work with family and friends during the treatment process and after discharge. When I accept an intervention case I immediately try to explain that it is not just about getting someone into treatment that counts but how you get someone to treatment, so that they are accessable to the treatment process. If you are thinking let's just get them to treatment and everything will be alright, you are mistaken. When family thinks in this way your patients risk for relapse has already started. I try to teach that the illness of addiction is not just about the patient but that it effects your entire family and friends. If recovery begins in the family while a patient is in treatment then the patient is walking into a recovery environment after treatment that will improve their chances for long term sobriety and recovery many times over.

Relapse is an insidious process. Usually the recovering person is the last one to know it's happening and never see it coming until it is too late and willpower alone can't stop it. Here are some simple suggestions to help reduce the risk of relapse post discharge from treatment or in any recovery plan.

1. Be very cautious about the use of medications, prescription and over the counter as they can increase the risk of relapse greatly. Tell your support group about any medications that you need or want to take.

2. Be very cautious about the use of sleep medications, prescription or over the counter, as they are highly addictive to recovering people.

3. Become a part of a 12 step program of your choice, find a group that your comfortable in and give yourself a chance to fit in.

4. Chronic pain management. Use board Certified addiction medicine physicians to treat you, as they have special knowledge and training in Addiction Medicine. Allow a trusted family member or a member of your support group to dispense the medication to you as advised by your physician rather than allowing yourself to be in control of it.

5. If your a person who needs to use antidepressant medication make sure you are seeing a physician that is board certified in Addiction Medicine. Allow and insist that your Psychiatrist has regular communication with your therapist to monitor your progress. I don't think it is alright to just take an antidepressant and not do therapy, otherwise it supports our old thinking that all we need to do is take a pill to change the way we feel and everything will be alright. This may be the difference between processing feelings and just medicating them.

Ask the medical team in your treatment center to refer you to a addiction medicine doctor who understands the recovery process.

Recovery is an amazing adventure and one that will bring you many gifts, turns and twists, stay close to those you trust and give as much back as you can. I have been very fortunate to work in the field of recovery and helping others has strengthened my recovery over and over.

Be well and live life.

Roger Canevari.