Does Relapse Mean Treatment Failure?

March 24, 2009 by Kathie Keeler
Filed under Parents of Substance Abusers

Relapses are Painful

"Relapse should not be viewed as a failure; it is part of a learning process that eventually leads to recovery," says Susan Merle Gordon, Ph.D. Even though relapses are painful for the addict and hurtful to the addict’s loved ones, a relapse can often help the addict discover where his efforts have been incomplete. Unfortunately, many people are under the mistaken impression that a relapse with drugs means that the program failed. Let’s examine why this belief is mistaken.

Addiction is a Disease

Although addiction starts with a choice to use drugs or alcohol, it can progress to disease proportions in many people. Addiction is a pervasive, progressive, chronic disease. Pervasive means that it affects every area of the person’s life. Progressive means that it gets worse and worse over time. Chronic diseases are diseases of long duration and generally slow progression. Examples of chronic diseases and conditions are heart disease, obesity, osteoporosis, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias, and cancer.

Three Dog Nightmare

Chuck Negron, vocalist and founding member of the band, Three Dog Night, is a good example of how the disease of addiction can progress. Although he’s an extreme case, his struggle with addiction is illuminating. Remaining in the grip of addiction for nearly 20 years, Negron wasted away to 126 pounds and went through 36 rehab programs. In his book Three Dog Nightmare, he details his ordeal with this painful disease. He sold his gold records to subsidize his $2000 a day heroin habit. He talks about overdoses, car crashes, gun play, suicide attempts, and contracting hepatitis C. Did he hit bottom? Many, many times. And yet the disease of addiction ruled his life for decades. He has been clean and sober since his 37th rehab. That doesn’t mean that the 36 prior rehabilitation programs were a waste of time and money. He clearly states that he learned important things from each one of the recovery programs that he went through. And he slowly made important life changes that helped him on his journey to sobriety. And as he matured, he began to look at his selfish, self-destructive path with more clarity. Each one of those 37 rehabs played a part in his recovery and helped him to look at himself.

How Many People Relapse?

Terence Gorski, internationally-famous lecturer and author on relapse and addiction states: “Relapse is not necessarily a sign of treatment failure. Between one half and two-thirds of all patients treated will relapse, but at least one half of all relapsers will find long-term recovery. The belief that relapse means that treatment failed ignores the fact that, for many patients, recovery involves a series of relapse episodes. Each relapse, if properly dealt with in treatment, can become the learning experience which makes the patient less likely to relapse in the future."
A woman that I’ve seen off and on in psychotherapy for the past 10 years has made great progress in addressing her chronic disease. Her path in addressing obesity has been typical of so many recovering addicts. She gained and lost well over 1000 pounds. She would diet, then binge. She felt sabotaged by every social event, birthday party, special holiday and Sunday dinner. She “cheated” on her diet (a relapse in recovery terms) many times and gave up on herself many times. As we slowly worked on her self esteem and identity, she made baby steps in changing her habits. Today she is at her ideal weight and has been at that weight for three years. Has she completely conquered obesity? Heavens, no. She’ll need to be vigilant about her habits the rest of her life. But she is absolutely not sabotaging her health the way that she was ten years ago. “Cheating” today involves eating a 1 inch square of birthday cake (rather than the whole cake ten years ago).

This Disease is Complex

The disease of addiction is extremely complex. Overcoming it involves learning new skills, new habits, allowing the brain (and organs) time to recover, making new friends, and learning how to make self-enhancing choices. This takes time—often years. Parents who take teenage drug abuse seriously and get help for their teens are helping this process to begin. Any stepping stone along the path to recovery is helpful.

Recovery is a Process

And this process takes time. Recovery is not an event. That's why you don't hear people in AA say, "I'm a recovered alcoholic. They say, "I'm an alcoholic." They don't know what tomorrow will bring. None of us want them to relapse, but it's not uncommon if it does happen.

The ultimate purpose of treatment is to keep the patient alive until the addiction is finally controlled. Addiction too often results in suicide or accidental death by overdose, experimentation, or contaminated products.

Copyright © 2009 Kathie Keeler, All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced, stored, or transferred by any print or electronic means without the express written consent of the copyright owner.

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