The fear of relapse

A lot of relatives fear that their loved one might relapse into addiction. It's easy to put up a lot of high expectations when someone's been sober/free of drugs for some weeks/months.

However, science shows that the odds of remaining abstinent rise if the person has been abstinent for 1 to 3 years. After 3 years, the recovery rate remains high. Therefore addiction requires an ongoing and active disease management strategy.

Source: NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

A relapse is often a part of the process of becoming sober and drug free. How can you as a relative protect yourself if an eventual relapse occurs? Think about what you have the power to change, but significantly, what you actually can't change. Don't forget that everything that has to do with your loved ones' addiction is not your responsibility! It's the liability and choices of the addict.

Read more on NIDAs website: 

http://www.drugabuse.gov/

Take care!