Ttreatment programs / Avoid-High-Risk-Situations
Avoiding High-Risk Situations
Anticipating and Preparing for Situations that May Pose a Risk for Relapse
What Is a High-Risk Situation?
The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines high-risk situations as “those that threaten your recovery or trigger a strong craving to use substances.” These may be internal or external.
Internal High-Risk Situations
Negative feelings such as sadness, boredom, anxiety, guilt, fear, or loneliness
Positive feelings such as joy, excitement, or happiness
The belief that you can handle getting high or drunk every so often
Isolating yourself physically or emotionally from family, friends, and other loved ones
Dwelling on thoughts about getting high or drunk
External High-Risk Situations
Feeling physical pain
Being in the presence of other people who are using drugs or alcohol
Getting a paycheck
Being in a place where you used to drink or get high
Attending a celebratory event
A high-risk situation is anything that is likely to lead to drug use, whether it involves a person’s internal emotional state or their external surroundings. Identifying high-risk situations can help individuals in recovery prepare for unplanned occurrences and may also provide insight into why they resort to drug and alcohol use in the first place.
Seemingly Irrelevant Decisions and Relapse
A person in recovery may make a decision or a series of decisions that increase their vulnerability to substance abuse. These unwise decisions are often the result of distorted thinking, denial, or rationalizations. In order to avoid and resist high-risk situations, individuals in recovery should be able to recognize decisions that may seem irrelevant to their sobriety but that carry a high risk of relapse.
Examples of seemingly irrelevant decisions include:
Keeping alcohol or drugs in the house
Maintaining relationships with people who are active drug or alcohol abusers
Attending social events or gatherings where alcohol or drugs are likely to be present
Using alcohol or drugs on “special occasions”
Keeping drug or alcohol abuse a secret from family members
Decisions such as these increase a person’s risk for relapse because they may make a substance more accessible, make relapsing much easier, or reduce the accountability they receive from others.
We Accept Many Insurances.
Schedule a call with us
Nova Recovery Center is dedicated to helping you or your loved one get help. Please call or fill out this form for a confidential consultation. One of our understanding, dedicated advisors will contact you about your options. Begin healing today.
