Tips to Avoid Heroin and Opioid Addiction Relapse

Andreau Galeas
3 min readNov 16, 2016

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One of the biggest challenges in attaining sobriety is relapse. It is difficult to quit heroin and other prescription drugs, but more difficult than quitting is preventing a relapse once a person takes the path of sobriety. Quitting is easier than thwarting a relapse. However, with some helpful tips, one can maintain and prolong sobriety, staying miles away from heroin and opioids.

Here are a few helpful tips which go a long way in preventing a relapse of heroin and opioid addiction:

1. Doing away with everything related to drugs: The first step to prevent a relapse is to wipe out every memory of the drug. Clinging on to anything that reminds of the drug use is akin to flirting with danger and making a relapse inevitable. Every minute stuff related to the drug use like the aluminum foil strips, the empty baggies, balloons, straws, water bottle, roaches or lighters should be thrown out of the house.

2. Deleting contact numbers of people associated with drugs: It is paramount to cut off from the people who might be even slightly responsible for your addiction. Delete the contact numbers of drug dealers and others who are associated with drug dealing. The best option for one is to change the number so that unwanted people are not able to contact him/her. It is also imperative to delete the contact numbers of former aides who still dabble in drug use. Staying in touch with them could be an open invitation to a relapse.

3. Being part of support group or creating one’s own: Being part of a peer group after sobriety is part of many detox programs. This aftercare program of enrolling in a support group helps in preventing relapse in former addicts. The company of people with similar stories can help bring in a profound experience and motivate people to stay away from addiction. The success of other people rubs off on others who have also recently gone off drugs. Spending time with positive people brings out the best in others and encourages them to stay sober.

4. Cultivating a hobby: Cultivating healthy and positive habits also helps people stay off drugs. Watching a nice movie, listening to soothing and soulful music or enjoying an engrossing show would mitigate some of the cravings people may experience after quitting drugs. Inculcating good healthy habits should also help. Exercising, meditating and getting into other holistic practices like yoga and stress busting techniques would also help defuse strong urge to use previously abused drugs.

5. Addressing depression and stress: Initiating steps to alleviate stress and depression is also a positive way to avoid a possible relapse. During the initial days, depression and stress would become palpable in someone who has recently stopped using drugs. These symptoms of depression and stress are a major trigger for a relapse. Managing them successfully would prevent somebody from going back to drugs and staying sober for a long time.

Seeking recovery from addiction

To prevent a relapse from coming in the way of quitting drugs, one should opt for rehabilitation centers where detoxification is done under medical supervision. All the hard work done to give up drugs can go in vain if a person is not able to fight back relapse. It is like trading one prescription drug with another. A timely treatment can help overcome addiction.

If you have someone abusing a prescription opioid, contact the Prescription Drug Abuse Helpline to avail help for prescription drug abuse for a lasting recovery. Contact at our 24/7 helpline number 866–450–1557 for quick and authentic information on the best prescription drug rehab in your vicinity.

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Andreau Galeas

Prescription drug abuse is one of the leading forms of drug addiction in the United States. Getting the right help as soon as possible is of the upmost importan