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Individuals recovering from various forms of addiction frequently encounter relapses that have gained acceptance as an almost inevitable part of the recovery process. However, the normalization of relapses can reduce the urgency for providers, patients, and support individuals to prevent them from occurring. Countless individuals lose their employment, families, freedom, and even lives as a consequence of relapses. Three of the most common relapse prevention strategies have included therapy and skill development, medications, and monitoring. This activity describes relapse prevention interventions used in helping individuals recover from addiction. In particular, it highlights the role of cognitive-behavioral therapy, medications, monitoring, and social support. Objectives: Describe how cognitive behavioral therapy can help prevent relapses. Explain the role various medications can play in the prevention of relapses. Outline the importance of ongoing monitoring including the pros and cons of various forms of monitoring. Explain the role of various members of an interprofessional in helping to prevent relapses. Access free multiple choice questions on this topic.

Individuals recovering from various forms of addiction frequently encounter relapses that have gained acceptance as an almost inevitable part of the recovery process.[1] However, the normalization of relapses can reduce the urgency for providers, patients, and support individuals to prevent them from occurring. Countless individuals lose their employment, families, freedom, and even lives as a consequence of relapses.[2] Three of the most common relapse prevention strategies have included therapy and skill development, medications, and monitoring. Many individuals in both the healthcare system and the larger society focus on relapse in terms of the consumption of the alcohol or drug that has been problematic for the individual. However, consumption is the very last step in the relapse, and neglecting earlier events in a relapse prevents more effective intervention at earlier stages.

Relapse prevention is a central goal of almost every addiction treatment team. Unfortunately, no single intervention has demonstrated effectiveness for each individual. Also, the process of recovery from addiction can be highly variable and unpredictable. The key is to identify the patient early. The primary care clinicians first see the majority of these patients. Nurses with specialty training in addiction can help with patient counseling, assessing risk, monitoring treatment, and watching for signs of a relapse in advance. The pharmacist can check the dosing and interactions of any pharmaceutical interventions as outlined above, and report concerns to the rest of the team. As a result, an interprofessional team that is highly adaptable and responsive to the individual’s current needs will often be the most effective and prevent or mitigate relapses. [Level 5]

Nurses are well placed to serve a key role in teams seeking to help individuals in recovery avoid relapses. They often have critical knowledge of community resources and trends. Also, their ability to provide a wide range of interventions ranging from supportive therapy to medical interventions often proves to be a valuable asset to patients.

Nurses most often use the same monitoring as individuals in the rest of the healthcare team. They may administer or interpret the results of drug screens. They may also have contact with individuals who provide close support to the patient, such as family members, friends, or sponsors.