Relapse Prevention: A Problem of Wineskins —Not Motivation or Grace The addict’s journey from the wreckage of relapse can be fraught with anxiety for an uncertain future and fear that past failures will be repeated.  Struggling Christians report that the grip appears to be more powerful than their connection to the source of redemptive freedom. The […]

Identifying the Stages of Relapse Why Learning to Identify Relapse is Critical to Recovery  When our social media consultant suggested that I write a blog on relapse prevention with the tagline “identify the stages of relapse” I was thrilled. The fact that consumers are searching the Internet with the phrase “identifying the stages of relapse” […]

A Peek Into the Reality of Addiction Intervention — A personal story of addiction and the need for intervention We decided that we would take a detour from time to time from our usual blog model and share some of the confidential responses we have received from our readers with you.  We will frame the […]

The Process of Relapse Recovery Relapse is a process, not an event, and NOT a crime The Boston Globe ran a story in September[1] of last year which reported on a case involving a woman who violated her probation by using drugs citing that leniency was shown when the judge sent the woman to a treatment […]

How to Create an Intervention Plan A good intervention plan helps both an addict and their loved ones The Hazelden/Betty Ford website[1], describes an intervention as: “a deliberate process designed to help another person—a family member, loved one, friend or colleague—recognize and change self-destructive thoughts, feelings or behaviors “…. It further asserts that the intent is […]

Understanding Active Addiction Understanding active addiction is essential to the recovery process. Most people who are looking for a better understanding of the term active addiction are not generally in pursuit of academic wisdom or merely curious.  If you want to understand active addiction it is usually in relationship to someone whom you fear to […]

  “My name is John and I’m an alcoholic” A simple introduction, while commonplace in addiction recovery meetings, was not so easy for this presenter to acknowledge 46 years ago when he reluctantly began his journey to sobriety. The reluctance was in part due to the shame that society associated with such a moral defeat. […]

How to Avoid Relapse Relapse can be identified, intervened on, and prevented A plan for avoiding relapse must begin with a definition of abstinence.  Abstinence is a self-enforced restraint from indulging in bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Because the regimen is intended to be a conscious act, freely chosen to enhance […]

How Can Family Help Intervene in Addiction? The family or loved ones of an addict can help by participating in an intervention and get help for themselves. The addict can free-fall to a bottom of severe consequences if he or she is left alone to develop the awareness a person usually requires to identify the need […]

What is Relapse? If you have accepted the notion that relapse is a typical and understandable process from an addiction, then you have been cheated The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines relapse as “… a return to drug use … [by a person] … who’s trying to stop using drugs… [but who] … […]