Pyramid Healthcare Publishes White Paper on Addiction Relapse Prevention and Triggers

For those who have completed an addiction treatment program, graduation marks the beginning of a life-long journey of sobriety and improved health, which doesn't always come easily since former addicts will continue to battle their urge to use often. One of the most effective ways to stay clean is to avoid the triggers that erode a person's emotional resilience. Pyramid Healthcare, a Pennsylvania-based drug addiction recovery center, has developed and published a white paper to help former drug users identify common relapse triggers as well as strategies for avoiding them.

It is estimated that the relapse rate for those recovering from drug addiction is 40-60%. After a year of abstinence, less than 40% of people are estimated to relapse. However, if abstinent for at least 5 years, there is an excellent chance that he or she will stay drug-free for the rest of his/her life.

Some of the most common emotional states known to trigger a relapse include:

Overconfidence

Boredom

Anger

Complacency

To prevent these emotions from taking root and initiating relapse, it's important that people in an addiction treatment program create personal goals that are attainable, yet meaningful, discover and participate in healthy interests and hobbies, and establish healthy rewards prior to completing their treatment program. These strategies will help people create new ways to channel their energy and put challenges into a different perspective, enabling them to cope with problems and disappointments in a more positive and constructive way. Most importantly, in the event of relapse, a person in recovery should not see the relapse as a failure and completely abandon their recovery goals as a result. While relapse is not inevitable, giving up the pursuit of a drug-free life can prove even more damaging than the relapse itself.

To learn more about relapse triggers and ways to avoid or address them, read the full white paper: http://www.pyramidhealthcarepa.com/content/white-paper-relapse-prevention-addiction-recovery


Pyramid Healthcare offers a full continuum of care for adults and adolescents addicted to drugs and/or alcohol in rehabilitation facilities located throughout Pennsylvania. Addiction treatment programs include detoxification, residential inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, halfway housing, transitional housing, and methadone/Suboxone maintenance therapy. To learn more about talking to a loved one about addiction or how committing to a rehabilitation program can help someone overcome an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol, contact a Pyramid Healthcare representative at http://pyramidhealthcarepa.com/ or call 1-888-694-9996.