The Master Center for Addiction Medicine recognizes drug and alcohol dependence as a relapsing and remitting chronic disease with many factors. As such, we offer sustained recovery management in the community. We treat relapse as a process, not an event. Our approach to evidence-based medicine focuses on the stages of relapse, as relapse often starts weeks or even months before the event of physical relapse. 

We teach patients the early warning signs of relapse and specific relapse prevention techniques for each stage. In addition, we integrate a broad range of drug dependence rehabilitation, social support services, continual assessment processes, recovery coaching, and peer-based models that serve as pathways to change and sustain recovery.

Evidence-based Medicine for Sustained Recovery

A relapse can be described as returning to drug or alcohol use after an attempt at quitting or cutting down. It is sometimes referred to by the less technical term “falling off the wagon.” A relapse, which can range from a slip (a single episode) to a full-blown relapse, disrupts recovery and often leads back into addiction. 

The ultimate goal of relapse prevention is long-term abstinence. Relapse requires effective management, including applying coping strategies that support recovery progress, self-care for stressors, assessing risk factors and triggers, practicing new learning experiences relevant to recovery goals, changing addictive behaviors, and developing healthy supports for relapse prevention.

Our sustained recovery program helps individuals create a relapse warning system as a preventative care tool. This involves clinical tools to track relapse warning signs, self-awareness practices, and relapse prevention plans. We provide clinical models for how these tools can help individuals achieve sustained recovery through the use of evidence-based practices, including motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral strategies, stress management approaches, relapse science/understanding, and modern neurobiology.

Relapse Prevention in our Sustained Recovery Program

Our program is for patients who recognize they have an issue and are open to change and learning relapse prevention skills. It is also appropriate for those under court supervision or ordered by their physician and includes monitoring and support through relapse warning signs and relapse triggers (e.g., relapse planning). Our sustained recovery program leads to:

  • Increase in protective factors such as family support, childcare personal interests (i.e., hobbies, recreation), and mentoring
  • Increase in relapse warning signs and relapse triggers identification

The sustained recovery program is appropriate for: 

  • Individuals and families who recognize relapse as an important issue 
  • Patients on probation, parole, or court-ordered monitoring programs 
  • Anyone with relapse warning signs or relapse triggers needing addressing

Our team consists of psychiatrists, Certified Addiction Treatment Providers (CATPs), registered nurses, certified case managers, and peer support specialist counselors. The sustained recovery program team provides individual relapse risk assessment and goal-setting sessions. 

At the first point of contact, we are extremely effective in engaging relapse patients and providing relapse intervention skills (e.g., problem-solving and motivational interviewing). We conduct follow-up relapse risk assessment and relapse prevention goal-setting sessions regularly and adjust relapse prevention relapse skills training according to relapse warning signs and relapse triggers. We also offer family education and support groups for relapse patients, as we believe it is an important part of the relapse prevention process.

The Difference Master Center for Addiction Medicine Can Make

The Master Center believes in:

  • Understanding the individual’s addiction (what causes relapse)
  • Using evidence-based therapies such as Motivational Interviewing
  • Assertive engagement 
  • Relapse warning sign identification
  • Relapse trigger identification
  • Developing coping strategies 
  • Goal setting
  • Ongoing follow-up care

We offer relapse risk assessment, relapse prevention group therapy (individualized relapse prevention plans), relapse intervention (problem-solving, motivational interviewing, drugs of choice panel education), family education, and support groups.