12 Step programs have been the standard of care in both outpatient and residential addiction treatment for the better part of the last century.
But if these programs work so well, then why do we see so many people struggling to stay sober after rehab? Why do we see dismal relapse rates?
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In the last twenty years, the idea of addiction and the brain disease model - in other words, the concept that addiction is a disease - has soared in popularity.
It is supported by many respected individuals and organizations. For example, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) currently defines addiction as “a chronic and relapsing brain disease.”
Similarly, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) calls addiction “a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry.”
But does that mean that the millions of Americans who struggle with addiction cannot recover fully?
Do these definitions encompass the true nature of addiction, or is there more to the story?
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How do anger and addiction go together? We get this question all the time at The Clearing. They are related, and when you add stress and anxiety you get a toxic cocktail that causes many to numb out with substances and other diversions. Read more to understand how these all fit together and what you can do about it to stop the cycle.
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What is the relapse prevention? Is it possible? Some studies put the relapse rate for substance abuse at 40-60% Some studies are much higher.
What's the right way to think about relapse prevention?
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