The Deadly Implications Of Relapse

While there are plenty of individuals that can make a successful recovery after leaving addiction rehab, for others there is always the possibility of relapse looming over them. Relapse can be a small slip up before being completely rehabilitated, or unfortunately for some it can have more dangerous consequences.

For people like Cory Monteith of Glee, a mistake in the few months after leaving rehab can lead to a fatal drug overdose. His deadly relapse is just one of many in the U.S. – 100 people die every day from drug overdoses. There are a few ways to prevent this type of accident from happening if addicts take precautions, get ongoing treatment and understand what the dangers are instead of being overconfident in their ability to stay sober.

Time After Rehab

The period of time after moving back home from a drug rehab center is the most vulnerable time for anyone recovering from addiction. This is often the case because they are back in an environment where they used to have a substance abuse problem.

They will be faced with temptation and cravings almost everywhere and have to be extra vigilant to change their old lifestyle. Another reason that addicts can be particularly vulnerable to relapse and possibly drug overdose is the fact that they have dramatically decreased their tolerance while in a rehab program.

Years Of Drug Abuse

People that have been using drugs for years build up a tolerance and their body can begin to withstand a larger amount of a drug over time. Abstaining from their addictive drug for a few months means their body will no longer be able to handle the same amount they once used before receiving rehab addiction treatment. If an addict relapses by using the amount of drugs they had in the past then the risk of overdose is extremely high. 

There are ways of handling relapse and the possibility of it happening that can prevent it from being a death sentence.  An addict should avoid having the attitude that they have already beat their addiction because it will keep them from being open to the kind of help that could save their life. 

Certain Medications

There are certain medications such as Vivitrol that can be used to reduce cravings, make relapse less likely and most importantly almost eliminate the possibility of overdose. Aside from medication, there are other types of continued care that can help prevent relapse and provide support for recovering addicts.

This can be in the form of an outpatient program, therapy sessions, support groups or a sober living facility. Any of these options can greatly reduce the risk of relapsing and especially of a possible overdose.

Tragic Cases 

As we can learn from the tragic stories of celebrities like Cory Monteith, completing rehab does not always mean you are free from an addiction. Substance abuse can be a very complex disorder that requires lifelong support from friends, family and professionals.

Being aware of the dangers of relapse is important even for people who are very successful in their rehab programs and want to leave addiction behind.   


Jane Greeley is committed to helping people recover from drug addiction, currently she works as a Quality Improvement Manager for Addiction Treatment Advisors.