The next steps – Alcohol Relapse Prevention 

The next steps – alcohol relapse prevention 

The first weeks and months of recovery can be daunting, especially after leaving the structure and support of a 28-day residential program. While there’s no ‘quick fix’ for alcoholism or addiction, our experience shows that recovery is possible for those willing to apply the tools learned at The Sydney Retreat once they return home.

What is a relapse? 

For those who can’t drink or take drugs safely, abstinence is often recommended. A relapse happens when a person drinks or uses drugs again after maintaining a period of abstinence. 

How do you avoid an alcohol relapse?

A recently released Cochrane Review into Twelve Step Facilitated recovery (TSF) found “high certainty evidence” that TSF programs that were designed to increase participation in 12 Step programs can lead to higher rates of continuous abstinence over months and years compared to other treatments. Here are some of the ways we help guests at The Sydney Retreat avoid an alcohol or drug relapse. 

• Connect them with a supportive community – We encourage and support guests to make connections with people in 12 Step recovery programs. This includes the volunteers who help facilitate our program along with those they meet at the 12 Step meetings we take them to. We also help them find contacts in their local area and encourage them to reach out. 

• Encourage participation in the program – 12 Step facilitation is a big part of our program here at The Sydney Retreat. We support guests in their motivation to get through the program so they have a solid foundation when they leave us. Having a good understanding of the problem, the solution and the program of action to continue with recovery once they return home. 

• Arm them with resources – Before guests leave us, they go through an exit interview process where they are provided with additional resources tailored to their needs. This might include literature, websites and support networks that they can connect with as soon as they return home. 

• Regular check ins – Once they leave the program, we follow up with all of our guests on days one, seven and thirty to see if there is any additional support they need and provide them with a bit of coaching to continue with their recovery plan. 

How to stay clean and sober when you leave rehab

Many people find it easier to stay sober while in a residential facility where there is around the clock support and plenty of structure. We know that when guests return home, they need a solid plan in place to maintain their sobriety. 

As part of our 28-day program, we run workshops where guests are encouraged to think about what they’ll do differently when they return home and how they will incorporate the tools and techniques they learn during our program into their daily lives. 

We know not everyone’s home situation is the same, so our workshops focus on empowering our guests to explore the following questions and work towards a recovery plan …

• What will the structure of your day look like when you leave? 
• How will you juggle work, family, kids and other commitments with recovery?
• How will you incorporate 12 Step meetings into your weekly routine? 
• What tools have you learnt at The Sydney Retreat and how can you use these at home? 
• Who is your support crew? Who will you reach out to if you are struggling?  
• What will you do if things don’t go to plan? 

5 things to do to avoid an alcohol relapse

• Have a solid plan when you leave rehab and talk through your plan with your mentor
• Stay connected with the people you have met in rehab – support each other
• Attend regular 12 Step meetings 
• Run your thinking by other people – having a mentor to bounce ideas off can make learning to live clean and sober much easier
• Don’t try and do recovery alone – there is plenty of support available 

What should you do if you relapse? 

Relapses do happen and sometimes they can seem to come out of the blue. The first thing to do is try not to slip into a negative head space. While abstinence might be the goal, perfection isn’t. Just because you have relapsed doesn’t mean that recovery is not possible.