Relapses in alcoholism are a common part of the recovery process for a person addicted to alcohol. They are part of treatment, and one relapse—nor two, nor three—means that the treatment was a mistake or a failure. In fact, a relapse can help identify weak points which, if addressed, will help the person face their addiction head-on in the future.
Relapsing in alcoholism is common. It has a relapse rate that is significantly higher than other addictions. CCAdicciones offers treatment to overcome alcohol addiction and sets out a plan to prevent relapses.
Reasons for relapses in alcoholism
The relapse rate in alcoholism, as we mentioned, is very high. Compared to other addictions, it is one of the substances that causes the most relapses—especially during the first year after being in treatment and undergoing medical detox. But why do so many relapses occur? What happens for the relapse rate in alcoholism cases to be so high? We explain the main reasons for relapses in alcoholism.
First of all, it is important to note that it is a very easily accessible substance because it is a legal and normalized drug. It is in every supermarket, bar, and even in people’s homes. It does not surprise us that people have alcohol at home, whether it is bottles of wine for special occasions, cava to toast at a celebration, or beers to have at some point over the weekend. So alcohol is within anyone’s reach, including former addicts.
As it is a drink accepted by most of society because a high percentage of people consume alcoholic beverages, the addict may feel social pressure from people close to them, such as friends, who encourage them to drink again. <<One beer won’t hurt>> or <<Just wet your lips for the toast—cheersing with water brings bad luck>>. These circumstances may arise due to two different situations.
On the one hand, it may be because they are the same friends they used to drink with, and they want to drink together again because they are regular alcohol consumers. On the other hand, it may be due to ignorance about the disease of alcoholism. Alcoholism is not perceived as a chronic illness—which is what it really is—but as a vice. As a result, people may mistakenly believe that an addict can control their drinking at will. Drinking just once—a glass of wine, a beer, a mixed drink, any alcoholic beverage—is enough for an addict to relapse into alcohol use.
The alcohol withdrawal syndrome is one of the most severe there is. Mental and physical dependence is very strong. Tremors, sweating, vomiting, dizziness, irritability, etc. may be experienced—up to the extreme point of delirium tremens, the most dangerous acute condition. The person feels they need to drink alcohol to calm these symptoms.
Abusing alcohol can be a way to forget about problems. It is the “solution” to avoid having to face certain situations directly and to escape from what they do not want to remember. If the person suffers from a mental disorder, such as anxiety or depression, alcohol may be used to alleviate their symptoms.
How to avoid a relapse into alcohol?
There are some recommendations to follow to try to avoid alcohol relapses as much as possible. Some guidelines would be:
- Get rid of all alcohol in the home. Throw away absolutely all the alcohol in the house so you are not tempted to drink in moments of weakness or low mood. It is a way to ensure that even if the person has a need and strong cravings to drink, they will not be able to do so immediately because there is no alcohol.
- Avoid risky situations outside the home. There are risky situations that increase the chances of drinking alcohol, such as going to places where you used to drink or being with the people you used to get drunk with. It is necessary to cut it off at the root and break toxic ties that trigger memories of alcohol use.
- Learn tools to deal with all kinds of problems. Emotional management will help prevent relapsing into alcohol when facing a problem. Therapy will help the person gradually acquire techniques to deal with life’s difficulties without turning to alcohol as an escape route.
- Continue treatment with expert professionals after detox. Alcohol addiction does not disappear or get resolved immediately after detox treatment. Ongoing support from specialists is required to reintegrate properly and to have their support in case of any unforeseen event.
Alcoholism relapses
In the event of a relapse into alcoholism, or a feeling that a relapse may occur because various warning signs have been detected, the most advisable course of action is to go to a specialized addiction center. Wanting to stop drinking once you have identified that there is a problem is a first step toward leaving the toxic habit of alcohol consumption behind for good, but it is very important to do it correctly. For this reason, you should contact a medical team that will provide guarantees.
CCAdicciones is a specialized center in the detox treatment of alcoholism and other addictions, with and without substances, located in Roda de Berà (Tarragona), although it has different partner centers spread throughout Spain. The recovery rate demonstrates the effectiveness of its treatments, with a recovery rate of 86%. Alcoholism detox treatment consists of 4 phases:
- Detox
- Breaking the habit
- Rehabilitation
- Reintegration
If you need professional help to treat an addiction, do not hesitate—CCAdicciones is what you need. You can contact us with no obligation whatsoever. We are available 24 hours a day at 617 200 882 to answer your questions and offer solutions. If it is more convenient for you, you can also contact us via our form. With addictions, there is always a way out.
