Twelve-step can certainly contribute to extreme and negative reactions to drug or alcohol use. This does not mean that 12-step is an ineffective or counterproductive source of recovery support, but that clinicians should be aware that 12-step participation may make a client’s AVE more pronounced. Guiding a person in developing even more coping skills for future high-risk encounters. We at JourneyPure support our patients and recovering family members with a mixture of cutting-edge therapies and tried-and-true treatment approaches.

It should also teach a person how to stop the progression from a lapse into relapse. Everyone in recovery is aware that relapse can happen no matter how long he or she has been sober. Working to prevent relapse and developing a plan when relapse occurs is the best defense, but not everyone in recovery focuses on it.

How Do You Prevent The Abstinence Violation Effect?

As the use continues, it is unlikely that any work is being done to reestablish old skills or develop new ones, which robs the user from the opportunity to overcome situations that can continually trigger substance abuse. This mindset is not only unhealthy, it is also deadly, as it can cause an individual to quickly spiral into hardcore substance abuse which could result in death. Being in recovery from drugs or alcohol addiction teaches people many things, including some of life’s most important lessons.

Marlatt differentiates between slipping into abstinence for the first time and totally abandoning the goal. Seeking help in time can prevent you from slipping into uncontrolled active addiction. However, because of AVE, it’s very difficult to stop a relapse at this point. Unfortunately, a single lapse can cause you to fall into a full relapse because of something called the abstinence violation effect . It is not necessarily a failure of self-control nor a permanent failure to abstain from using a substance of abuse. Those in addiction treatment or contemplating treatment can benefit from this aspect of relapse prevention.

Eating Disorders and Stress*

An analysis of the results showed that, contrary to the abstinence violation effect, an initial slip in the control of restrained drinkers did not lead to overindulgence. Restrained drinkers who had an alcohol preload were less likely to select alcohol in preference to soda. Compared to unrestrained drinkers, however, restrained drinkers were more likely to select alcohol in the no-preload condition. The preload increased the self-control exhibited by the restrained drinkers.

That one instance can lead the individual to experience AVE, which could then trigger a longer relapse. It is, therefore, paramount to know the different stages of relapse and how to circumvent it. Vertava Health offers 100% confidential substance abuse assessment and treatment placement tailored to your individual needs. Contrasting this, the aforementioned negative mindsets can lead to a cycle of blame and shame. Instead of looking at the slip as an opportunity to grow and learn, a person lets it color the way they think about themselves. An individual who believes they’ve failed and violated their sobriety goals may begin to think that they’re not good enough to be considered a true abstainer.

Cognitive Processes

However, it can sometimes lead to the thought that you have earned a drink or a night of using drugs. It sounds counterintuitive, and it is, but it is a common thought that many people have to recognize to avoid relapse. Celebrating victories is a good thing, but it’s important to find constructive ways to appreciate your sobriety. Ongoing use of the substance can be caused by feelings of personal failure. This strongly held belief increases the likelihood of relapse more than once.

Looking back does have its benefits in that it helps us identify weaknesses in our program. The problem is that abstinence violation effect magnifies these weaknesses and prevents us from seeking solutions. Our first instinct should be to figure out a relapse prevention plan that addresses the faults we have identified. This is an important measure, but it doesn’t do much for relapse prevention if we don’t forge a plan to deal with these disturbances when they arise.