What Percentage Of Addicts Stay Clean For The Long Term?

Medically, addiction is known to be a “chronic and relapsing disease” according to the nationwide research and the UK’s National Health Service.

What this definition means is that one or more relapses are a highly expectant occurrence due to the nature of the disease. So, what we want to know, what percentage of addicts stay clean for the long term?

According to a study published in 2000, relapse rates for addiction in the first year after stopping are between 40 and 60%; this is similar to other comparable long term health conditions such as asthma, hypertension and type 2 diabetes. The only difference being is that us as addicts are the ones in control of our outcomes and whether we do what we need to do in order to succeed or do the bare minimum and risk becoming yet another statistic.

In this article you will find ways of managing the risks surrounding lapses/relapses to become a long term success, and avoid becoming nothing more than another proven statistic!

Your Brain Is A Powerful Ally And Enemy, Want To See!?

When you still use or drink, your brain will do anything and everything to ensure that you have that next hit, pipe, bong, pint, glass or any other. It knows exactly what to say to you, what to make you think or feel in order that you follow through with its desired intentions.

This little experiment will show you first hand what your brain will do, make you think or feel in order to get what it wants.

The Role Rituals, Habits And OCD Play In Addiction And Recovery

One of the hardest parts of battling an addiction of any form (in this case, drugs and alcohol) is the cessation of rituals, habits and compulsions to do something in a set order or the same way every single time.

Certain things trigger the urge to use or drink, even things such as getting up in the morning, getting into the car, coming home from work, seeing certain people, doing certain activities and many, many others. As people living with an addiction, we build our lives around our illness. It is the centerpiece of our existence when our world becomes totally insular.

Find out what habits, rituals and compulsions are, what Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and how it can worsen those habits and rituals, along with treatment and coping strategies to manage and change those deep seated habits and rituals that have been built over months, years or even decades of chronic substance use and dependency.

On Second Thoughts – Thought Of The Day

We all have had those times when thoughts of using or drinking come to mind, sometimes with real ferocity. For example, those days after lockdown has started to take one step back toward normality, you might find yourself wondering down a high street, past a pub and you suddenly glance at the cold sweat running down the outside of a freshly poured pint of beer or suddenly get a waft of that distinctive cannabis smell from someone else nearby.

Why Do We Have A Strong Urge To Find Out What Might Have Been — Even When This Leads To Feelings Of Regret?

Given the aversive experience of regret, traditional models of decision-making predict that people should to try to avoid it. But of course, the picture is more complex — we all have experienced the desire to know “what might have been”, even if it leads to regret. Now a study in Psychological Science, led by Lily FitzGibbon at the University of Reading, finds that the lure of finding out what might have been is surprisingly enticing.

As an extra bonus, you’ll find our 10 top tips for dealing With the regret surrounding past deeds while in addiction and/or recovery and what you can do next.

Can You Cure Yourself of A Drug Addiction, Simply By Wanting It? Actor Charlie Sheen Seems To Think So!

Actor Charlie Sheen, known for his heavy cocaine and alcohol use, has been stating in interviews that he freed himself of his drug habit “simply by closing my eyes and make it so” according to him.

Is this public display damaging the hard work that those in the recovery field work so hard to build upon, and the addicts who come to succeed in their recovery thanks to various coping strategies, organisations and fellowship groups?

Find out all you need to know inside this article!…

Who Would You Include In Your Emergency Contact/Next Of Kin Card?

For those of you who still use or drink, or could be at potential risk of overdose or harm, it’s important to have a plan in place, should the worst happen.

Keeping a card with you that provides those who find you and emergency service workers with all of the emergency information they may need and who to contact if something happens to you. ​

Find out what you need to know inside this article!…

Creating And Implementing Relapse Prevention Plans – Our Comprehensive Guide

A relapse prevention plan (RPP) features a concrete course of action, outline coping mechanisms and ideas for managing cravings and triggers in times of stress when you may end up relapsing.
The plan can be amended and added to as time goes on and needs change. The more detailed the plan is, the more likely it is to be helpful during a variety of negative situations and events, should they arise.

Find out all you need to know and more, including downloadable templates, top tips, expert advice and printable checklists!…

How My Friends And Social Life Changed In Recovery

When I was first presented with this idea, I naturally balked. These were my friends and this was my life. Wasn’t it enough that I was going to stop drinking and using? It’s these questions that we must contend with in our social life. Keep reading to find out more!…

Are You Dry Drunk? Could You Have Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome?

If you’ve quit drinking alcohol but are still struggling with the negative and destructive attitudes, thoughts and feelings as you did during active addiction, you may be dealing with what’s called “dry drunk syndrome” (DDS) also known as Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS).