What Percentage of Addicts Stay Clean?
The journey through recovery does not end when a drug and alcohol addiction program is complete. Addiction is a lifelong disorder and just like other chronic diseases, relapse can occur at any recovery point. A relapse does not mean failure, it just means further work is needed and lifelong recovery is possible. Relapse rates can feel discouraging, but that should not stop you from not seeing yourself as part of the percentage of addicts who stay clean.
Addiction Recovery Statistics
Roughly 40 to 60% of people in drug or alcohol recovery will experience a relapse at some point in their life. According to the Discovery Institute, one in five people who complete an addiction treatment program will stay sober their first year. This means the percentage of addicts to relapse in that first year is about 80%.
How Many Addicts Stay Clean Long Term?
The first year of addiction recovery is considered the hardest time, because the recovering person is still adjusting to many changes in their life. The chance of relapse is at its highest. According to one 2006 study, a 16-year analysis showed relapse rates as low as 20%. This suggests that the longer the person stays sober, the lower the risk of relapse. Long-term sobriety depends on a proper aftercare program.
Call Daybreak Treatment Solutions today at (844) 695-0083 for help in overcoming your addiction.
What is a Relapse and Why Does it Happen?
Addiction treatment aims to teach and give people tools they will need to succeed in recovery. Relapse is complex and there are many reasons it can happen. Life and other variables can cause a person to use drugs or alcohol again and slipping back into old habits can happen. It is no easy feat to avoid substances, avoid relationships that contribute to drug and alcohol addiction, and to retrain the brain. Some common reasons for relapse include cooccurring disorders that go untreated such as trauma, anxiety, and depression. There are also many scam rehab centers out there which do not give their participants a good chance for long term recovery.
What Can Help a Person Stay Sober After Rehab?
A good drug and alcohol addiction treatment will equip you with the tools to continue your recovery after you leave the rehab centers. It is up to you to continue doing the work and reaching out for help when you need it. Here are some ways to help you stay sober:
- Use your support system. They can provide accountability and comfort when you’re struggling.
- Continue with individual therapy to address co occurring disorders.
- Avoid people and places that are triggers for a relapse.
- Follow your treatment plan and attend 12-step meetings, like Alcoholic Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous
- Make sure you have a relapse prevention plan. Identifying your triggers, how to avoid them, and figuring out what helps when you’re struggling can all be part of your plan.
- Attend a treatment center that can address your underlying causes of addiction, includes drug detox, and has an aftercare program that will support you after completing the program.
What to Do if a Relapse Occurs
If you or someone you love relapses, do not take it as failure. Mistakes happen and many people relapse. Sobriety is very difficult, but with hard work and the right tools, long term recovery is achievable. Resume your drug or alcohol treatment as soon as possible and find help to address the root cause of the relapse. If anything, you can look at it as a learning experience to discover more about your triggers and how to come out stronger on the other end.
Recovery Support and Addiction Treatment at DayBreak
At DayBreak Treatment Solutions, our addiction treatment programs aim to find the root cause and give our participants the best tools possible for long term recovery, whether that is our inpatient rehab or outpatient rehab. We will help you develop a relapse prevention plan and in the unfortunate event you do relapse, we will always be here, judgment free, to get you back on your treatment plan. To find help for drug and alcohol addiction, please give us a call today at (844) 695-0083 to get started on your road to recovery.