Relapse is an all too common occurrence for many addicts recovering from addiction. There is no way to predict who will experience relapse, but several signs and symptoms may indicate that you or a loved one could be in the early stages of a drug relapse.

What is a Drug Relapse?

A drug relapse is generally thought of as a single occurrence but, in actuality, is a process. Unlike a car accident or broken bone, relapse is not a moment in time. Several studies indicate that relapse is a process that occurs in several stages. Relapsing is more than reverting to former habits of drug or alcohol use.

When a loved one relapses, they will do so in stages. Often, each stage has signs or indications that are visible to family and friends. Understanding the stages of drug relapse, including emotional, mental, and physical relapse, can help you encourage a loved one to seek the help they need to stop the relapse process as early as possible. Staring rehab early in the detox process may help reduce the chances of experiencing a total relapse.

What are the Signs of Drug Relapse?

If you have a loved one in recovery from drug addiction, there are several relapse signs you can look for. Some of these signs will be outwardly visible, but others may be difficult to notice or see. It is not uncommon for someone experiencing relapse to hide or keep secret any indications that relapse is occurring-especially from family and loved ones. Although, like addiction, the signs of relapse may differ from person to person, some common things you can look for include:

• Stealing money or asking to borrow money
• Notable changes to physical appearance (including hygiene, clothing, and personal care)
• Denial or defensiveness when asked about substance use
• Engaging in compulsive behaviors
• Understanding the harm of or glorifying the memory of their “old habits”
• Acting impulsively
• Spending time with former peers and social circles
• Sudden (sometimes aggressive) mood changes
• Skipping therapy sessions or peer support meetings
• New or worsening medical and mental health symptoms
• Presence of drug paraphernalia or other substances

Why Do People Relapse?

Relapse is (unfortunately) a common struggle for those in recovery from addiction. In fact, addiction has similar relapse rates to many chronic medical health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Despite completing an addiction treatment program and achieving sobriety, many people will continue to struggle with the physical and functional challenges caused by addiction—as many as 60% of those who complete an addiction treatment program experience at least one relapse.

Because ongoing drug or alcohol use will lead to neurological and functional changes in the brain, a newly recovered may continue to experience challenges when faced with triggers or make safe decisions that do not involve substance use when faced with daily stressors or trauma.

In addition to changes in the brain, other issues and challenges can lead to relapse as well. Common examples include emotional struggles, mental health issues, inadequate coping skills, and lack of motivation to stay sober. Because these physical and psychological struggles persist after treatment ends, relapse remains a genuine concern. Long-term care and aftercare programs are vital to maintaining lasting sobriety. Fortunately, highly skilled and professional treatment programs focus on relapse prevention skills and programs.

How to Prevent Relapses

The best way for you or a loved one to avoid relapse is to ensure you work closely with members of your treatment team to develop and practice relapse prevention and coping skills. Our treatment professionals at Liberty House will work with you to develop a comprehensive treatment program focused on helping you heal physically, emotionally, and spiritually. A treatment program tailored to your specific needs will help you develop the tools you need to manage the relapse triggers that will inevitably impact you after treatment.

There are many potential risk factors for relapse. The most common causes of relapse include daily interactions and obligations that are unavoidable as part of your day-to-day life. For this reason, a well-planned relapse prevention plan can help you identify and understand the circumstances (people, places, or events) that may be triggering. Relapse prevention education will also teach you healthy and effective ways to manage those triggers without using drugs or alcohol. Overcoming drug or alcohol addiction is a journey. Let the team at Liberty House help you get started on your path to freedom from drug or alcohol addiction. If you have completed treatment and are worried about relapse or have experienced a relapse. Contact us today to learn more about getting back into treatment and getting back on the right track.

Benefits of Inpatient Rehab

The 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health suggests nearly 40 million Americans had a substance use disorder in that year. This number represents an increase of almost double the data provided for the 2019 survey. Addiction is a disease that touches the lives of people from all demographics without concern for age, ethnicity, gender, income, or otherwise. Addiction is diagnosed based on levels of severity, and choosing the most effective addiction treatment program requires considering the level of care and support you need to achieve lasting sobriety. If you (or a loved one) struggle with a severe drug or alcohol addiction or have previously completed treatment and experienced relapse, inpatient rehab at Liberty House in Michigan may be the best level of care to meet your treatment goals. By learning of the benefits of residential treatment, you can find the best rehab for you.

What Is Inpatient Rehab?

Inpatient rehab programs like Liberty House Recovery are intensive programs that require the participant to “live” at our Michigan rehab facility throughout your treatment program. Inpatient programs, also called residential rehab programs or residential programs, are highly suggested for someone struggling with a severe addiction, relapsing addiction, or with co-occurring mental or physical health concerns. Relapsing addiction occurs when you have completed an addiction treatment program in the past and returned to harmful drug or alcohol use patterns.

When you choose a residential rehab program, you will “check-in” and remain on-site throughout your 20, 60, or 90 days of treatment. The duration of your program is unique to your needs and goals. The “right” length of treatment depends on how long it may take to adequately address the roots behind addictive behaviors. Our patients have access to essential psychological, physical, and spiritual care at an inpatient rehab.

Many inpatient addiction treatment programs have higher rates of success than other levels of care (such as outpatient) because the “residential” treatment environment reduces interaction with potential relapse triggers during the course of treatment.

Top 3 Benefits of Inpatient Rehab

Inpatient rehab offers several benefits. This is not to say that outpatient or intensive outpatient programs are unsuccessful; however, there are instances where inpatient rehab provides more significant opportunities for success.

Medically assisted detox and withdrawal

Depending on the specific nature of your addiction, detox and withdrawal can be challenging. Certain substances produce powerful, sometimes dangerous withdrawal symptoms that are best managed with the help of medically assisted detox services. At an inpatient rehab, you will have consistent access to medical and mental health supports to help make the detox process more manageable. Additionally, inpatient rehab removes access to triggers and substances in general, which leads to improved detox success rates.

Structure and support

Inpatient rehab programs are designed to be heavily structured. This allows for minimal free time to fixate on cravings and other challenges that can lead to difficulties during treatment and recovery. Keeping busy and reducing “idle time” helps dramatically reduce relapse rates during and after treatment. Also, constant access to treatment professionals helps your treatment better assess the effectiveness of your current treatment plan. This allows them to determine if your current plan is working well or if your treatment team should adjust your individually designed program to meet your needs better as your treatment needs evolve.

Uniquely designed, personalized treatment

The struggles one faces when addicted to drugs or alcohol are unique to that person. Each substance has differing impacts on your physical and mental health. These differences are related to the substance itself and to the person. The challenges associated with getting sober are equally as personal. Therefore, inpatient rehab centers need to work directly with each patient to develop individualized treatment plans based on their specific care needs. Individualized treatment plans are proven to provide greater opportunities for positive treatment outcomes as they address your particular needs.

Begin Healing with Inpatient Rehab at Liberty House Recovery

Our caring and compassionate treatment staff at our Michigan inpatient treatment center are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week to ensure you have access to the care and support you need, no matter when you need us. Healing from addiction is not a one-step process, and often, there are challenges faced along the way. We are here to help you as you take your first steps towards lasting health, wellness, and freedom from the challenges of drug and alcohol addiction. Contact our admissions team today to learn more about getting help at our residential rehab.

Completing an addiction treatment program is the first step towards overcoming drug or alcohol addiction and achieving lasting sobriety. But treatment is not the end of your recovery journey. Recovery is a long-term commitment to sobriety that lasts far beyond formal detox and rehab. Despite the hard work and determination that is part of a commitment to staying sober, cravings and triggers are inevitable. These unavoidable parts of life increase your chances for relapse. This is what makes participating in an aftercare program a vital part of your recovery journey.

What is Aftercare in Addiction Treatment?  

Aftercare is the term used to describe the ongoing care that occurs after you complete a primary addiction treatment program. The best addiction treatment programs begin planning aftercare at the very beginning of the treatment process to ensure a seamless transition from rehab to a “follow-up” care plan. It is important to mention that completing addiction treatment does not mean care and support from your care providers at rehab abruptly ends. The purpose of aftercare is to ensure you have the help and support you need for as long as you may need it.

Aftercare programs like addiction treatment are unique to the person. Therefore, the elements that comprise your aftercare plan will likely look different from someone else. Most recovery plans include some combination of:

• Ongoing individual or group counseling
• 12-step and similar peer support groups
• Regularly scheduled follow-up appointments with your primary care provider
• Prescription medications (if needed)
• Telehealth options
• Sober living and sober community opportunities

Why is Aftercare Important?

The early days and weeks after leaving a structured rehab can be some of the most difficult for someone who is newly sober. In addition to helping prevent relapse, aftercare programs are important for several reasons. Aftercare often serves as a step-down or transitional step between rehab’s intensive and supported environment and returning home. Aftercare programs are designed around your ongoing care needs. Through support and ongoing therapy, you can continue working towards gaining control of your life after rehab and adjusting to a “new normal” without drugs or alcohol.

In addition to relapse prevention education, many aftercare programs provide coaching and goal setting opportunities, case management options, education, and financial planning services, legal support, housing assistance, and perhaps most importantly, social opportunities. At an aftercare program, you will interact with other sober peers who share the same goals. Many of these peer relationships continue well beyond aftercare as they often form the base of new social groups and support structures.

 

What to Do When Aftercare Ends

The duration of an aftercare program varies from person to person. For some, aftercare may last a few weeks or months. Others may participate in ongoing aftercare activities for a year or more. While many programs suggest staying actively engaged in aftercare activities for at least a year, there is no plan that meets everyone’s needs. That said, aftercare programs are designed to end when you feel comfortable transitioning out of a strong support environment. But aftercare doesn’t necessarily “end.”

Although a time will come when you may not attend regularly scheduled meetings daily or weekly, certain characteristics of an aftercare program may remain throughout your lifetime. As previously noted, one crucial benefit to aftercare is peer support. By engaging in peer support groups and attending regular group counseling sessions, you will develop relationships with peers who share the same goals. These peers will also be part of alumni events, sober activities, and other functions specific to members of the sober community. It is not uncommon for these relationships to remain a permanent and positive part of your life.

 

How to Find Aftercare Programs Near Me

If your primary addiction treatment plan is ending, or you would like to learn more about how Liberty House incorporates aftercare planning and care into our comprehensive treatment programs, contact us to learn more. We understand that treatment is only the beginning of your sobriety journey. There are many benefits to incorporating a comprehensive aftercare plan into your addiction recovery treatment planning. Let us help you start on your journey to recovery. Contact us today to learn more about addiction treatment and aftercare programs near you.

Many people wonder what the next steps in their sobriety journey might be after completing an addiction treatment program. Maintaining lasting sobriety (in most cases) requires an ongoing commitment to health and wellness. It is not uncommon for the early days of sobriety to feel difficult as there are many changes that occur. Your physical and emotional health change, as does your circle of friends, hobbies, and social interactions. These changes can feel overwhelming and challenging to manage without help and support for some. Sober living homes can help make the transition between a residential treatment environment and returning home go smoothly.

What Does Sober Living Mean?

Sober living homes go by several names. They are frequently referred to as sober houses, sober communities, transitional living homes, or halfway houses. Regardless of the title applied to a particular arrangement, the goal of sober living is the same across the board. Sober living homes are safe, supported environments designed to help you navigate the early days of sobriety. A sober living home provides the essential structure and routine that many people need as they transition or “step down” from a highly supported treatment program to a less intensive aftercare environment.

What are the Benefits of Sober Living?

After completing rehab, you may encounter several challenges as you return home. Because everyone’s situation is unique, the challenges you face will inevitably differ from someone else’s. However, successfully maintaining your sobriety depends on having a stable source of support during this transitional period. As you progress towards completing your treatment program, it is important to communicate how sober living fits into your aftercare plan with your treatment team.

One of the most notable benefits of sober living homes is the support you receive while there. Each member of the sober living home is encouraged to support their housemates. Peer support from others who share similar challenges and goals is highly beneficial in countering the isolation and loneliness that are often experienced by someone new to sobriety. Participating in peer support groups and other forms of ongoing therapy at a sober living home can help you maintain lasting sobriety after rehab.

Sober living homes also provide a structure similar to that of the treatment environment. Before going to drug or alcohol rehab, many struggling addicts have little support, routine, or structure. They find routine in spending time with others who share similar habits such as drinking or using. Upon entering rehab, their goals and mindset change. Routines now center on understanding and overcoming addiction while focusing on self-care and healing. Sober living homes help you keep your new, healthy routine in place through ongoing therapy and peer support in a safe and substance-free environment.

Studies on the benefits of sober living homes also show that those who chose a sober living community after rehab experienced more significant levels of success in several areas than those who did not. For example, people who stayed in a sober living home experienced lower arrest rates, reduced relapse rates, improved mental health, higher therapy retention rates, and greater involvement in 12-step and other peer support groups.

Why is Sober Living Important in Addiction Treatment?

Sober living homes as part of a comprehensive aftercare plan offer many benefits. However, most importantly, sober living homes can help you remain focused on your recovery goals. The programs and group structure at a sober living home help you develop lasting relationships with like-minded peers who share the same goals. The peer relationships developed at a sober living home serve a vital role in ongoing support throughout the months and years that follow rehab. For many who complete an addiction treatment program, staying at a sober living home is a vital part of maintaining lasting recovery.

How to Find the Best Sober Living For Me

Finding the best sober living home for you is an important step towards lasting recovery. If you would like to learn more about sober living in your area, talk to your treatment team at Liberty House Recovery Center about aftercare planning and sober living opportunities. They can help you understand the important benefits of aftercare planning and how sober living reinforces all of the work and success you achieved during treatment.

Sober living homes help provide a transitional option for someone who has recently completed addiction treatment yet still wants or needs additional support as they continue on their recovery journey. Also called halfway houses, transitional housing, or sober houses, these environments provide a vital sense of community during the (often challenging) days following treatment.

Many who are new to the changing emotions that accompany recovery will struggle in the days after treatment. During this adjustment period, a sober living home or sober living environment offers a safe and supportive step between an inpatient treatment program and returning home. At a sober living home, you have the opportunity to reinforce the relapse prevention skills learned during rehab. For many, spending time in a sober living house may be the difference between maintaining sobriety and experiencing a relapse.

What is a Sober Living Home?

Sober living homes are facilities often used as part of an aftercare program. The early days of sobriety are difficult. Relapse triggers and reminders of using or drinking feel like they are everywhere. The sober community at a sober living home can help you successfully transition from a heavily structured treatment setting to living at home. Sober living homes may be connected to or affiliated with a specific treatment center, rehab, or standalone organization.

What Role Does Sober Living Play in Recovery?

Recovery does not end when you complete treatment at Liberty House. For many who are in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction, recovery will be a life-long process. Sober living homes provide a supported, safe, and comfortable environment during the vital and sometimes challenging transitional stages between active treatment and returning home. Sober living homes are often used as a step-down or transitional phase for someone new to recovery who might not be comfortable without a certain level of support and guidance.

It is important to remember that inpatient and many outpatient treatment programs are heavily structured, and therefore, addicts seeking sobriety have continual care and support when needed. After leaving the active treatment environment, however, things are different. For some, leaving behind this element of structure and support can be scary. Time spent in a sober living home helps maintain recovery by providing a safe place to continue working towards lasting sobriety and practicing essential relapse prevention tools learned during treatment.

Another benefit to sober living homes is that they are different from treatment. While the treatment environment provides structure and support, sober living programs allow newly recovered addicts the opportunity to slowly ease back into everyday life situations in an environment where they feel safe. Without the structure of an active treatment environment, they can slowly face and there to manage triggering situations. This allows the opportunity to continue practicing healthy relapse prevention habits and continue making progress towards healing.

Also, sober living houses provide the opportunity to forge and maintain lasting friendships with a group of supportive peers. Many of the individuals residing at a sober living home are the same people who progressed through treatment with you. This means you have likely had the opportunity to develop relationships and friendships based on shared struggles, setbacks, successes, and victories. Additionally, this group of peers will be the same individuals you can turn to for years to come when faced with challenges to your sobriety. After completing treatment, spending time at a sober living house helps newly recovered addicts develop an ongoing support system that ensures they avoid painful isolation that often occurs immediately following treatment.

How to Find a Sober Living House Near Me

If you are currently enrolled in an addiction treatment program, ask your treatment providers at Liberty House about sober living houses and aftercare programs. As part of a comprehensive addiction treatment program, your treatment team at Liberty House will work with you, not only on your current treatment needs but on a robust aftercare program designed to ensure you have the tools and skills needed to maintain lasting sobriety for years to come. If you would like to learn more about how we incorporate sober living into our treatment programs, contact a member of our admissions team today.

Recovering from addiction is a complex and sometimes difficult road. The impacts of drug or alcohol use affect everyone in unique ways, and therefore, the journey each person takes to finding sobriety varies widely. 12 Step programs are familiar to most people. These tried and true peer support groups have helped millions of people worldwide find and maintain sobriety every year for decades. Today, the 12 steps are incorporated into many addiction treatment programs across the nation as part of drug or alcohol addiction treatment and aftercare programs.

What is a 12 Step Program?

A 12 step program is a plan designed around 12 specific steps to help struggling addicts overcome an addiction or compulsive behavior. Although the first 12 step program, Alcoholics Anonymous, was focused on helping alcoholics achieve lasting sobriety, the 12 steps have evolved. Today they are applied to many mental health concerns. The 12 steps focus on the idea that as a group, people who share the same struggle can help one another achieve and maintain abstinence from harmful behaviors or sobriety from a substance.

When were 12 Step Programs Invented?

Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA, was founded in 1935 in Akron, Ohio. At that time, Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith (Bill W. and Dr. Bob), both hopeless alcoholics, were on the verge of losing everything. Bill and Bob were struggling to find a way to quit drinking once and for all in a time where people viewed drinking as a moral failing, a sin, or worse. Peer support groups like AA were unheard of as society believed addiction should be kept quiet and resolved in private.

The first AA meeting took place in Akron in 1935, and four years later, the first edition of the AA Big Book was released. The Big Book contained the original version of the 12 steps, which have effectively remained the same since 1939. The importance of allowing anonymity for those seeking help was reinforced by providing only one’s first name when interacting as part of meetings or with the public.

Throughout the next 20 years, AA chapters appeared across the nation. A group that started with a few hundred members had grown to well over 10,000 members and 400 chapters by the mid-1940s. Since its founding, the guiding principles outlined in the original AA Big Book have been adapted to more than a dozen forms of addiction and compulsive behaviors. Today, more than two million AA members participate in more than 120,000 groups around the world. NA or Narcotics Anonymous is the second-largest addiction peer support group based on the 12 steps. Founded in 1953, NA holds more than 67,000 meetings each week in more than 140 countries.

What are the 12 Steps of Recovery?

The original 12 steps were designed to help addicts seeking sobriety progress one step at a time towards lasting sobriety. The 12 steps taken from the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) manual are:

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

How to Find a 12 Step Program Near Me

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction and would like to learn more about how the 12 Steps can help, contact us at Liberty House today. Our admissions team will work with you to teach you about our rehab and our programs. The 12 Steps of recovery have helped millions achieve lasting health, wellness, and freedom from the chains of addiction; let us help you start your journey.

Completing a drug treatment program is a significant accomplishment. You worked hard to address the underlying causes of your addiction, and you have the tools and support you need to succeed in your recovery. While successfully completing a drug rehab program is worthy of celebrating, it doesn’t mean that you are done in recovery. In reality, the real work in your recovery begins once you resume your everyday daily life. In order to stay sober, you need to develop and follow a solid relapse prevention program.

Relapse prevention programs are crucial in helping you keep your newfound sobriety. These programs give you confidence and build your self-esteem. Additionally, these programs allow you to understand the high-risk situations that make you vulnerable to relapse. Most importantly, you learn what relapse truly means and get a game plan in the event that you do unfortunately relapse. Are you new in recovery and want to know more about relapse prevention programs? Call Liberty House toll-free today.

What Exactly is Relapse?

Many people may define relapse as the actual moment when a person starts using substances again after a period of abstinence. In reality, relapse occurs way before someone picks up a drink or uses a drug. Relapse is a process in which some tell-tale signs and emotions can ultimately lead to active drug use. This process can be seen in three phases:

Emotional—marked by bottling up of emotions, increasing mood swings, and intolerance towards others. You may still be going to meetings, but you aren’t being an active participant.

Mental—marked by increased cravings and urges to use. You start hanging around old using friends, and you have fantasies about using drugs and alcohol once again. You start rationalizing scenarios where drug use would be “acceptable”

Physical—the actual act of using substances after a period of sobriety. Once you resume use, you have overwhelming feelings of guilt and shame.

Why Does Relapse Occur?

People can relapse for a variety of reasons. A common reason for relapse is prolonged periods of depression, anxiety, stress, or frustration. Another common cause of relapse is hanging around the people and places they used to frequent when they were actively using. Additionally, people can relapse if they start missing meetings, reducing the frequency of meetings, or stop going to self-help meetings altogether.

Additional reasons why people relapse include:

• General lack of motivation to work their recovery program
• Feeling “stuck” in their recovery
• Lack of healthy coping skills
• The emergence of or re-emergence of mental health issues

The Importance of Relapse Prevention Programs

In order to minimize the risk of relapse in your recovery, relapse prevention programs are a crucial tool in helping you achieve that goal. The importance of these programs cannot be understated. The following are the main reasons individual relapse prevention programs are vital to your ongoing recovery.

You Learn Coping Skills

The crux of relapse prevention programs is understanding the triggers that can lead you back to substance use. You need to be able to identify the people, places, things, thoughts, and feelings that make you feel vulnerable. Once these are identified, you can learn healthy coping skills to manage situations where you experience triggers.

You Learn Proper Self-Care

A huge part of minimizing relapse risk is to maintain proper self-care. This includes proper hygiene, a balanced diet, and regular exercise. This also includes attending regular self-help support meetings, working with your sponsor, and finding time during the day for meditation and reflection. Practicing self-care keeps you physically and psychologically healthy, and that reduces the risk for relapse.

You Learn to Be Honest

Relapse prevention programs focus on self-honesty and honesty towards others. While in the grips of addiction, you are engaged in manipulation and lies to continue using substances. As you recover, your focus on being honest to yourself and others. Honesty is a crucial part of the healing process and allows you to rebuild communication, relationships, and respect.

You Learn to Ask for Help

Perhaps the most important thing relapse prevention programs teach you is that support is essential in reducing the risk of relapse. Having a circle of family, friends, recovery peers, and other support people in your corner helps you stay motivated and confident. In the event that you unfortunately relapse, you can turn to your support system to share your disappointment, but to help raise you up, find weaknesses in your recovery program, and hold you accountable as you work to regain your recovery.

Do You Need to Fine Tune Your Relapse Prevention Program? Liberty House Can Help

Have you just completed drug treatment and need help finetuning your relapse prevention program? For the past three decades, Liberty House has set the standard for sober living. Our 12-step approach will help you apply the principles of a 12-step program in your daily life. In addition to 12-step support, Liberty House offers continuing therapy, family programs, and weekend retreats that give you the additional tools and support to step out confidently in recovery. Would you like to learn more? Call Liberty House right now and speak to one of our helpful staff members. Lasting recovery is just a phone call away.

When researching addiction treatment options or drug rehabs, you are likely to come across a range of treatment programs. Depending on the severity of your addiction, addiction treatment may last between 30 days and up to a year or more. The duration of treatment generally depends on your specific needs and goals. If you struggle with a severe addiction, or you have completed alcohol rehab previously and experienced relapse, a long-term rehab program may be the most beneficial option for helping you achieve lasting sobriety.

How Long Does Rehab Last?

The duration of a rehab program or “how long rehab lasts” will vary from person to person. Because of the unique nature of addiction, there is not a singular course of treatment that suits everyone. The ideal duration of treatment depends on a range of factors unique to you.

It is necessary to consider things such as the severity of your addiction, how long you have struggled with drug addiction, if you have any co-occurring medical or mental health conditions and if you have been to rehab before and experienced a relapse. In addition to others, each of these factors helps determine the length and type of drug rehab program that is best suited to help you achieve and maintain lasting sobriety. In general, if your addiction is mild, you do not struggle with any co-occurring conditions, and you have a strong sober support structure at home, a short-term treatment program may help you achieve your goals.

However, if your addiction is severe, if you have experienced relapse, or struggle with another co-occurring mental health or substance use disorder, a longer-term treatment program is (likely) a better choice. 90-day drug rehab programs provide the time many who struggle with the complex symptoms of a severe addiction the time they need to safely and successfully overcome addiction. Long-term programs typically provide comprehensive and well-designed detox and aftercare programs to ensure you have the support and guidance you need throughout the entire treatment process.

What are the Benefits of 90 Day Drug Rehab?

Although shorter treatment programs such as 30 or 60-day options can be highly effective under the right circumstances, research indicates optimal outcomes are achieved from a program lasting at least 90 days. When you struggle with addiction, it affects all aspects of your life, including your physical and psychological health and family and social relationships. Drug addiction often leads to various complications that require time to address adequately. 90-day rehab programs provide an environment free from relapse triggers where you can work on understanding addiction and how to change the negative behaviors that may lead to relapse. It takes time to alter negative habits and replace them with healthy and safer coping mechanisms. Often, this is difficult or impossible to accomplish in a short-term treatment program.

It is also important to note that alcoholism has a high relapse rate. Data from the National Institutes on Drug Abuse and Health indicate that as many as 60% of addicts in recovery will experience a relapse at least once in their lifetime after completing treatment. Relapse prevention education is an essential part of a 90-day addiction treatment program. Through both individual and group counseling sessions, you will have the opportunity to learn and practice healthy relapse prevention skills that you can use when faced with triggers after treatment. This is not always possible in shorter programs.

How Do I Know if 90 Day Addiction Treatment is Right For Me?

There are multiple factors to address when choosing a rehab program. Because drug and alcohol addiction affects each person in unique ways, the “best” program for you will depend on your specific needs as you begin your sobriety journey. There are thousands of addiction treatment programs in the United States, and selecting the one for you can seem like a complex and daunting task.If you or a loved one are ready to put struggles with substance abuse in the past, the team at Liberty House Recovery in Michigan can help. We understand that addiction is a disease that affects the whole person. Our individually designed treatment programs focus on holistic healing. We provide therapy and care focused on your physical, psychological, and spiritual health. To learn more about our programs and how we can help you, contact Liberty House Recovery today.

Addiction is a complex disorder, and finding the underlying causes of how people develop substance abuse issues is vital in creating treatment options. For decades, one of the main questions asked by researchers has been “is addiction genetic?”. The answer to that question is yes, but there are caveats. While there are some strong connections between genetics and addiction, genetics itself isn’t the sole reason why people develop an addiction problem. This article will explore the link between genetics and addiction and how genetics can be an underlying factor in the development of addiction.

How Much is Addiction Genetic?

There is no singular gene that causes any form of addiction. However, genetic risk factors may make some people susceptible to developing a substance use disorder. According to an article published in Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, genes and environmental stressors on gene expression represent 40 to 60 percent of a person’s risk to develop an addiction.

Often, undiagnosed or untreated mental illness is a significant factor in someone abusing drugs or alcohol. A study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence stated that genetic variations among dopamine receptors enhance the pleasurable effects of substances. Additionally, data shared by the National Institute on Mental Health (NIH) states that while men are more likely to use illicit substances and have a higher dependence rate, women may be in more danger of craving and relapse.

What Other Factors Lead to Addiction

As already stated, the answer to the question “is addiction genetic?” is yes; but it doesn’t paint the whole picture. No one person is born an addict, and there is no one specific gene that dooms someone to addiction. However, genetics can come to the surface when other factors are present.

As already stated, mental illness is a substantial underlying factor in people developing a substance use problem. It is estimated that 45 percent of those struggling with addiction also are dealing with an underlying mental disorder. For people with mental illnesses, they will turn to drugs and alcohol as a way to cope with their feelings. While there are many excellent mental health treatment programs available to those in need, people may fear the stigma associated with seeking professional help. As a result, they turn to substances.

Environmental factors can also play a significant part in developing a drug addiction. Some examples of these include those growing up in a household where family members actively use substances or have or had family members who struggled with addiction in the past. Children exposed to these situations in the home are more likely to develop a substance abuse issue. Another factor is peer pressure and the need to “fit in” or belong. What started out as casual experimentation and taking drugs because it’s the cool thing to do can mushroom into an addiction problem.

Another factor that can lead to an addiction is unresolved trauma. This can include surviving an accident, natural disaster, or a death of a loved one. This can also include witnessing an act of violence or being the victim of violence. Unresolved trauma can also be the result of sexual abuse, mental abuse, or physical abuse.

Getting Help for Your Addiction

There is no doubt of the connection between genetics and addiction, but it isn’t the sole reason why people struggle with substance use. Every addict is unique, and addiction can surface from several underlying sources. If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to drugs and alcohol, you need the support of a reputable and professional treatment facility. For years, Liberty House has established a reputation for providing individualized treatment plans, expert care, and compassion and providing the tools you need to get and stay sober.We incorporate a 12-step approach to help you address your addiction and become empowered to completely transform your life. No matter the severity of your addiction, you will get the support you need to take your first confident steps towards recovery. Call Liberty House toll-free right now and become the healthy and happy person you were meant to be.