What is the purpose of relapse prevention strategies?

The purpose of relapse prevention strategies is fundamentally about equipping clients with the tools they need to foresee and navigate situations that could trigger a relapse into substance use. This involves teaching clients to identify high-risk situations, understand their personal triggers, and develop coping mechanisms and strategies to effectively manage cravings or temptations they may encounter in their daily lives. It emphasizes proactive planning and skill-building to afford clients better control over their actions and decisions regarding substance use.

Relapse prevention is not solely focused on encouraging complete abstinence, although that might be a goal; rather, it prioritizes the ability to respond to future challenges in a healthy manner. While medications may be part of a treatment approach to manage withdrawal, they are not the focus of relapse prevention strategies. Furthermore, enhancing the speed of recovery is not a primary aim; the focus is more on sustained recovery and preventing relapse over the long term.