Family Involvement in Relapse Prevention

Family involvement can be quite helpful in the relapse prevention effort. One potentially useful strategy is for families to make efforts to reduce relationship stressors. These efforts will likely require couples or family therapy, which ideally will improve communication within the family system and potentially reduce friction. In addition, family members may learn to reduce any negatively expressed emotions toward the client. Family and couples therapy would be highly recommended if those stressors represent a high-risk situation for the client in question and if the family members or partner are supportive of the client s efforts toward recovery. 

Families also can be helpful to monitor adherence for those clients who may have to take medicines to treat a comorbid disorder. If family members note that a client is not taking the medicines as prescribed, they can alert the counselor, therapist, or treating physician to the problem. Family members also may observe 

Your relapse prevention plan will help remind you of what to do to successfully cope with high-risk situations when you are confronted with them. If you are facing a tough situation in which you are tempted to use drugs, your plan will remind you to seek help. Contact your counselor or therapist before you use drugs, if possible. Even if you do have a lapse, remember that it is not the end of the world, but rather a chance to improve your recovery plan. Remember to call your counselor or therapist as soon as you can after a lapse. Lapses are not unusual and your counselor or therapist can help you return to recovery. 

Family members may also want to continue on their own healing paths, which can include continued support-group involvement or even individual therapy. Using support groups or seeking therapeutic help over the long term offers the opportunity for positive change that will likely help both the family member and the client. Family members also may find a need to focus on their own quality-of-life problem areas after treatment has ended for their loved one, and therapy can provide them with this opportunity. 

A Word to Family Members About Lapses and Relapses 

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