Drinking Alcohol IS A Relapse

There has long been a debate on whether those who are fresh out of drug rehab should drink or not. We leave drug treatment feeling excited and hopeful to restart our lives in the world and exist like a “normal” person which, in our culture, tends to include social drinking with our peers. We’ll tell ourselves things like “It’s only a couple of drinks with the guys”, “I used to drink and it was no problem”, or “at least it’s not heroin”…we become reasonable and can easily fool ourselves into thinking that it’s just not that big of a deal because alcohol is legal after all, right?

Heed warning, folks. We’ve seen it time and again that it’s simply a bad, risky idea to start drinking again after treatment. This is the experience that one former addict had when they decided to take up drinking again after getting clean:

“I got clean and had completely rebuilt my life from the ground up. I’d worked through all of my problems and can honestly say that I was enjoying life again. After some time, I noticed that the thought of being able to have a glass of wine or a beer started crossing my mind more and more until one day I suddenly decided and felt confident in the fact that I could start drinking again with my friends without any problems. It started off fine… a glass of wine out at dinner or a couple of beers at a concert. Fast forward a couple of months and I was drinking daily while coming up with every justification possible as to why this was okay. Then one night I went out with a girlfriend and she offered me some cocaine. At first, I said no but after 2 or 3 drinks I went ahead and did some… my inhibitions were low and I was having a good time, so why not? I wish so badly that I could take it back, as that night kicked my slow downward spiral into high gear. Doing just that little amount of cocaine reminded me of how it felt to get high. Within 2 months I was back on pills, and within a year I was a full blown heroin addict. It was just that easy. I’m now in the process of rebuilding my life, yet again. I was lucky enough to have a second opportunity to do so. If the urge to drink ever pops up again for me, I now know the tools on how to handle it and put those insane thoughts to rest so that I never put myself or my life at risk for this to happen again.” – K.B.

You may ask yourself what those tools are, or how to avoid drinking when everyone else around you is busy getting their buzz on.

How to stay sober after drug rehab

• Find your true passion in life and PURSUE it. Find what it is that you LOVE to do and do it!
• Stay busy, be productive! There isn’t much explanation needed for this one… keep yourself busy and interested in productive activities such as cleaning, cooking, art projects, etc. The first few months back home are especially crucial, so keep yourself occupied and busy. Productivity allows individuals to have better self-esteem and a feeling of purpose so that temptations to return to addictive behaviors stay at bay.
• Find a solid support system. Surround yourself with sober people, as well as people who have your best interests at heart and want to help you be successful.
• Create new, healthy habits to replace the old ones. Find a new, positive habit you enjoy doing and stick with it. Eat healthier, exercise every morning before work, etc. Why would you ever want to drink if you’re feeling amazing from the inside out? Replacing old habits with positive, new habits is important. There’s still plenty of fun to be had without alcohol being remotely involved!

How to keep your mind off alcohol

• Exercise
• Restore/paint old furniture
• Play sports…join an adult softball league in town!
• Read
• Photography
• Visit an arts and crafts shop
• Take a pottery or painting class
• Go back to school or start an online course
• Learn a new language
• Plant a garden
• Give back and lend a hand to others in need—volunteer at an animal or homeless shelter
• Travel!
• Join a local club (there are TONS out there for adults!)

If you’re placed in a situation where encountering some type of drinking is inevitable (like a family holiday party or wedding), there are some steps you can take to make the situation as easy as possible.

How to avoid temptation in social settings:

• Surround yourself with people you trust and go with a sober friend.
• Keep a non-alcoholic beverage in your hand to keep your senses occupied.
• Keep your time at the party to a minimum—arrive late or leave early.
• Leave immediately if you start to feel uncomfortable or tempted.

Moral of the story? When a former drug addict consumes even just one drink, they are immediately opening the door to the possibility of craving the drug that they were once addicted to and have just received drug treatment for. Alcohol lowers a person’s inhibitions and causes them to make bad judgment calls. Memories are stirred up and the ability to make rational decisions and view things objectively becomes blurred by the drink. If drinking again is something that you are considering, the first question to ask yourself is, “is the risk of relapsing worth the reward of getting buzzed?” If your answer is (hopefully!) “no”… well, you have your answer.

If you or a loved one is struggling with any kind of addiction, call 888-718-8510 to speak to a counselor today