relapse happens
Learning to Hope Again
Addictive behaviors are at an all-time high, driven in large part by COVID-related restrictions from the past year. A recent study (McKinsey COVID-19 Consumer Survey, 3/29/2020) found that:
- 1 in 4 people reported binge drinking at least once in the past week.
- 1 out of 5 people reported taking prescription drugs for non-medical reasons.
- 1 out of 7 people reported using illicit drugs.
More than ever, we are a people in crisis. Stress and anxiety related to lock downs and openings and the related impacts on employment, parenting, schooling and day-to-day life are at all-time peaks. People who are prone to choose substances to ease their anxiety are even more susceptible to do so than they were pre-COVID.
As this instability spills over, those who were on the path to recovery are also challenged. Ending reliance on alcohol or chemicals has always been a long, complex process. Today it is even more so. Addiction seeps into every part of a person's life, affecting family relationships, work, friendships and the whole of their activities. The path to recovery is as rugged as it ever was.
Consider these facts:
- 40-60% of people in recovery relapse at least once (JAMA, 284; 1684-1695, 2000).
- The rate of relapse occurrences is increasing post-COVID (Cenikor Foundation, 2020).
- The number of recovery attempts increases when psychological stress is higher (Recovery Research Institute, 2019).
- Complete recovery most often takes 5 attempts, according to a recent study (Recovery Research Institute, 2019).
Learn More
Relapse occurs because healing from addiction is about more than not using -- it is about choosing new ways of responding to pressures and stress, and making new choices.
Discover how Managing Your World -- our unique applied learning courses -- can integrate with a relapse prevention plan and help boost you along your recovery journey.