How to prevent relapse when recovering from opioid addiction

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Opioids are a class of drugs extracted from the opium plant and work in the brain to produce various effects, mostly relieving pain. Opioids are found in certain prescription medications designed to alleviate pain and illegal drugs such as heroin. With prolonged use of opioids, pain-relieving effects may lessen, and pain can worsen as the body develops dependence. When dependence on opioids interferes with your daily life, this is called addiction. Addiction is mainly caused by taking more than the prescribed amount or using illegal opioids.

opioid addiction

 

Can opioid addiction be cured?

Like other chronic diseases, treating opioid addiction isn’t easy, but you can free yourself with time. Seeking help from a rehabilitation facility such as Detox Austin and many others can help counteract addiction’s disruptive effects on your brain and behavior and help you regain control of your life.

The nature of addiction means that relapse or a return to using drugs is possible for some people. However, newer treatment strategies have been designed to prevent relapse. Overall, you can’t avoid a relapse if you forsake your treatment. Although deterioration is part of recovery, it can be dangerous and mentally torturing. So how do you prevent relapses when recovering from opioid addiction? Let’s learn below:

  • Engage in long-term addiction treatment:

Recovery from substance abuse is not a quick fix. It’s a long journey, and you must dedicate yourself to the process until you fully recover. If possible, enroll in a full-time addiction treatment program.

  • Identify triggers and know how to eradicate them:

A good addiction treatment plan will teach you how to recognize triggers and deal with them once they occur. If you can identify the cause of your drug appetite, then you can also avoid it. These are cravings that make you think about using drugs again.

  • Build a healthier lifestyle:

Addiction treatment is a long-term process that seeks to undo the negative effects of drugs on your body. Observing a healthy lifestyle during this time is recommended, including eating a balanced diet, exercising, and meditating.

  • Use medications when appropriate:

Drugs such as methadone and buprenorphine have been developed to help manage cravings and urges of relapse.

  • Join a support group

Joining a support group provides accountability and education as you meet peers who understand your mental situation and are willing to help. It decreases feelings of loneliness, which is a common trigger of relapse.

  • Have an emergency contact list:

Having a close person to talk to, either a family member or a friend, is a beneficial relapse prevention skill to get you past addiction cravings.

  • Communication between doctor and patient

Quality communication with your doctor enables more flexible treatment, as the doctor can notice changes in patients’ needs as they recover.

  • Think it through:

Think of the consequences of using vs. not using opioids. This can help in your decision-making and reduce the risk of relapse.

  • Deep breathing:

Breathing is connected to essential functions throughout your body and affects your brain chemistry. Deep breathing impacts your emotions and helps you regulate your mood, which is necessary for mental health, decreasing the chances of relapse.

Don’t give up on addiction recovery. Don’t give up on addiction recovery. Opioid addiction affects many aspects of your personal life, but there are many centers out there that can address your mental issue. Stopping opioid relapse is one part of a long recovery process. Take charge of your life, move forward, aim at recovery, and never look back.

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