Is a Drug or Alcohol Addiction a Chronic Relapsing Illness?
If you have ever wondered why some people struggle to overcome drug or alcohol addiction despite their best efforts, you’ll be surprised to learn that addiction isn’t just a matter of willpower—drug addiction is a chronic relapsing illness that can affect anyone. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines drug and alcohol addiction as a chronic brain disease that causes people to compulsively seek and use their drug of choice, even when it has harmful consequences.
The brain changes caused by addiction can be long-lasting, which is why it’s considered a relapsing disease and why so many people fight this ongoing battle. But make no mistake; even though it may be common for a person to relapse, that doesn’t mean that treatment doesn’t work, and it doesn’t mean that everyone will relapse. As with other chronic health conditions, treatment should be ongoing and adjusted based on the individual’s ever-changing needs. By recognizing the long-term nature of addiction, you can better prepare yourself to stay sober after rehab.
What Is Considered Chronic Drug Use?
To properly understand how and why relapse happens, it’s important to know what is considered chronic drug use. It is typically defined as the prolonged and persistent use of drugs or alcohol over an extended period. It’s not just about the frequency of use but also its impact on your life.
You might be engaged in chronic drug use if you:
- Use substances regularly, often daily or multiple times a week
- Experience difficulty controlling or stopping your use
- Continue using despite negative consequences in your personal, professional, or social life
- Develop tolerance, requiring more of the substance to achieve the desired effect
- Experience withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop or reduce use
Chronic illnesses are long-lasting health conditions that persist over time and often require ongoing management. A chronic disease can also be recurring, meaning it never completely disappears.
Chronic illnesses typically:
- Last for more than three months
- Cannot be prevented or cured by medication or vaccines
- Do not resolve spontaneously
- May be controlled but not cured
Similarities between addiction and other chronic illnesses
When you compare addiction to other chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and asthma, you’ll notice several striking similarities:
- Recurring nature: Like diabetes or hypertension, addiction often involves periods of remission and relapse.
- Genetic and environmental factors: Both addiction and other chronic illnesses are influenced by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental triggers or stress.
- Lifestyle impact: Chronic conditions, including addiction, often require significant lifestyle changes for effective management.
- Need for ongoing care: Just as you would need regular check-ups for diabetes, addiction recovery often requires continuous support and treatment.
- Potential for complications: Without proper management, both addiction and other chronic illnesses can lead to severe health complications.
What Does Relapsing Mean in Addiction?
Relapsing refers to the return to substance use after a period of abstinence. It’s a common occurrence in the recovery journey and doesn’t signify failure. When you experience a relapse, it means you’ve temporarily resumed the use of drugs or alcohol after making efforts to quit.
Frequency of relapse in addiction
Addiction can happen to anyone, and relapsing is unfortunately common in addiction recovery. Studies suggest that:
- 40-60% of individuals in recovery experience at least one relapse
- The first year of recovery is often the most challenging, with higher relapse rates
- Relapse rates tend to decrease the longer you maintain sobriety
It’s crucial to remember that these statistics don’t define your personal journey. Your recovery is unique, and you can overcome challenges with the right support and strategies. Rather than seeing it as a failure, view relapsing as an opportunity for growth and positive change.
There are a variety of factors that can trigger a relapse, including:
- Stress, trauma, or complex life events: Stress plays a significant role in addiction relapse. When you’re under stress, your brain’s reward system becomes more sensitive to substances, increasing the likelihood of relapse. Chronic stress can:
- Intensify cravings
- Impair decision-making abilities
- Weaken your resilience to triggers
- Lead to self-medication with substances
Learning stress management techniques is crucial for maintaining long-term recovery and reducing your risk of relapse.
- Emotional distress: Whether it’s anxiety, depression, sadness, or even joy, emotions play an integral role in relapses. Often, drugs and alcohol are used as coping mechanisms for numbing pain, but in reality, they cause more harm.
- Lack of support systems: It really does take a village when it comes to addiction. Nobody can fight it alone; relying on your family, friends, peers, and doctors or attending support groups regularly is key.
- Social pressure: Interacting with old friends, places, and activities that involve drug or alcohol use can be a trigger. You may be tempted to have a drink or partake in substances when in social situations. Removing yourself from temptations will help get you back on the road to recovery.
What Is a Relapse in Alcohol?
An alcohol relapse occurs when you return to drinking after a period of sobriety. This can range from having a single glass of wine to falling back into heavy alcohol consumption. You might struggle with cravings or old habits, leading to a momentary lapse in judgment. Again, relapses happen, but they are preventable.
Whether it is a triggering event, depression, or just feeling overwhelmed, stress can lead to negative thought patterns and behaviors that may have been present before and during active addiction. The only way to prevent a relapse from happening is to know and recognize negative thought patterns are key, or you may quickly find yourself in the middle of one without even realizing it.
How to Break Behavioral Addiction?
Behavioral addiction, like substance addiction, can be challenging to overcome but is doable with the right approach. Break free from compulsive patterns by following a few effective strategies to help overcome behavioral addictions that may cause a drug or alcohol relapse.
- Identify triggers and patterns: Understanding your triggers is essential for preventing relapse. Keeping a journal may help you identify your trigger.
- Develop healthy coping mechanisms: Once you’ve identified your triggers, it’s crucial to develop alternative coping strategies, such as practicing mindfulness or meditation, engaging in physical exercise, or pursuing creative hobbies.
- Seek professional help: Breaking a behavioral addiction often requires professional guidance. A therapist can help you understand the root causes of your addiction, develop personalized strategies to overcome compulsive behaviors and address any underlying mental health issues.
- Know your surroundings: Your surroundings play a significant role in breaking behavioral addiction. Take steps to remove temptations from your immediate environment and inform trusted friends and family about your goals.
- Create a supportive environment: Join support groups or online communities for accountability: Support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), offer peer support and a sense of community. Participating in these groups allows you to share experiences, learn from others, and build a network of sober individuals who understand your struggles.
There are a lot of misconceptions and stigmas surrounding addiction, but science proves that the brain undergoes significant changes during and after addiction. Drugs can alter important areas of the brain that are necessary for life-sustaining functions. These alterations contribute to the chronic nature of addiction:
- Reward circuit changes: Drugs hijack your brain’s reward system, leading to intense cravings and compulsive use.
- Stress response alterations: Your brain’s stress systems become hypersensitive, making you more vulnerable to relapse during stressful periods.
- Executive function impairment: Areas of your brain responsible for decision-making and impulse control may be compromised, making it harder to resist urges.
Brain scan studies from people with substance use disorders reveal changes in areas of the brain that are critical to decision-making, judgment, cognitive learning and memory, and behavior. Scientists believe that these brain changes may help explain the compulsive and destructive behaviors of addiction.
Drug Addiction Is a Chronic Relapsing Illness but Addiction Treatment Can Help
Drug addiction is a chronic relapsing illness that requires a long-term approach with ongoing support and treatment to help you manage your addiction effectively. Once you recognize that recovery is a lifelong process, you can address your changing needs over time. Overcoming addiction is a challenging journey that you shouldn’t do alone.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, don’t wait to seek professional help. With the proper support, professional addiction treatment programs, and ongoing care, you can manage addiction as a chronic illness and work towards a healthier, more fulfilling life. At WhiteSands Treatment, we offer comprehensive treatment plans tailored to each individual. Our programs address the underlying causes of addiction and teach patients how to stay sober through effective coping strategies, relapse prevention, and aftercare services. To learn more about our addiction treatment programs and how to stay sober, call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment needed for long-term recovery.
External Sources
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Understanding Drug Use and Addiction DrugFacts
- CDC: Understanding Addiction to Support Recovery
- American Society of Addiction Medicine: Definition of Addiction
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
