A relapse prevention program is a structured approach to helping people better understand situations that may increase the likelihood of returning to alcohol or other drug use and to develop a plan for responding to those situations.

​

Relapse prevention is not simply about trying harder to avoid alcohol or drugs. It commonly involves developing greater awareness of personal patterns, recognising potential risks and considering practical ways of responding when challenges arise.

​

Programs vary in how they are delivered. Some form part of individual counselling or specialist alcohol and drug treatment, while others focus on education, self-reflection and planning.

​

What does relapse prevention involve?

Relapse prevention can involve looking at the circumstances that may make returning to alcohol or drug use more likely.

 

Areas commonly explored may include:

• personal triggers and high-risk situations

• cravings and urges

• thoughts and emotions connected with substance use

• social situations and environmental influences

• coping strategies

• early warning signs that someone may be moving away from their goals

• planning for difficult or unexpected situations

• responding constructively if a setback occurs

• identifying ongoing sources of support

 

The specific areas that are relevant will vary from person to person.

 

What are triggers?

A trigger is something that can increase thoughts, urges or cravings associated with alcohol or other drug use.

 

Triggers may be external, such as particular people, places or situations.  They may also be internal, such as certain thoughts, emotions or physical sensations.

​

Recognising a trigger does not necessarily mean that someone will return to substance use. The purpose of identifying triggers is to develop greater awareness of situations that may be more challenging and to consider how those situations could be managed.

​

What are high-risk situations?

High-risk situations are circumstances in which a person may find it more difficult to maintain the changes they are trying to make.

These situations will differ between individuals. They might involve social pressure, conflict, stress, access to alcohol or drugs, particular environments or periods when motivation has reduced.

​

Relapse prevention planning encourages people to identify situations that may be personally relevant rather than relying on a single list of risks that applies to everyone.

​

What role do cravings play?

Cravings and urges can be a normal part of changing established patterns of alcohol or drug use.

 

A relapse prevention program may provide education about cravings and introduce general strategies for responding to them. This might include delaying action, changing the immediate environment, using distraction, observing an urge without immediately acting on it, or seeking support.

​

Different strategies may be useful for different people, and an educational program does not replace individual assessment or treatment where more personalised support is required.

 

What is a relapse prevention plan?

A relapse prevention plan is a practical way of bringing together what a person has learned about their own patterns and potential risks.

​

A plan may include:

• situations the person wants to be particularly aware of

• early warning signs

• strategies they could use when cravings occur

• alternative responses to common triggers

• people or services they could contact for support

• steps they could take if they experience a setback

 

The aim is not to predict every possible situation. It is to think ahead about foreseeable challenges and identify possible responses before those situations occur.

 

Is a setback the same as giving up?

A setback does not necessarily mean that all previous progress has been lost.

​

Relapse prevention approaches often encourage people to examine what happened, identify what contributed to the situation and consider what could be done differently in the future.

​

How someone responds after a return to substance use may be important. For some people, a setback may also indicate that additional professional or specialist support is needed.

 

Can relapse prevention be learned online?

Some relapse prevention education can be completed online.

​

A self-paced online program may provide structured information and reflective activities relating to triggers, cravings, high-risk situations, coping strategies and planning for setbacks.

​

However, an online educational program does not provide the same level of support as individual psychological treatment, medical care or specialist alcohol and drug treatment.

 

People who require more intensive or personalised support should seek assistance from an appropriate health professional or specialist service.

 

Relapse prevention in The Wagon

The Wagon is a psychologist-developed online alcohol and other drug psychoeducation program.

​

Relapse prevention is addressed as part of a broader program exploring patterns of substance use, motivation for change, triggers, cravings, coping strategies and maintaining change.

​

Participants are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences and develop greater awareness of situations that may present challenges for them.

​

The Wagon is educational in nature. It does not provide individual psychological treatment, medical care, withdrawal management or personalised advice.

​

Written by Jay Beckley, Registered Psychologist