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They will feel confident about living their new life free of substances. This step is important for anyone who has suffered through substance abuse and addiction. A person is considered in long-term recovery or remission when they have stopped or moderated their substance use and improved their quality of life for at least five years. The early stages of crisis stabilization are past, the damage drug use has inflicted is undergoing repair, and a “normal” life is being built. The critical issues of early recovery—staying clean, finding safe housing and employment, confronting legal consequences, and making new, sober friends—often feel more manageable by the time we enter long-term recovery.
All authors have made substantial contributions to all phases of the paper. JB, MV, CM, TSS, AE, JM, and SN contributed to concept development and interviews, performed analyses, and wrote the first draft. All authors were involved in study design, provided scientific oversight throughout the project, detailed comments on the paper across several drafts, and edited the paper. Table 2 Baseline and follow-up demographic, clinical, treatment-related, psychological, and social variables. Drug abstinence was operationalized as DUDIT-C score equal to 0 and AUDIT-C scores ≤2. Relapse was defined as above cutoff scores for either alcohol or drug use during the past 2 years.
meanings of long-term and recovery
When counseling ends, the next phase involves setting goals for long-term recovery. Staying sober long-term can bring balance and stability to your life. You are also likely to experience improved relationships with friends and family, better physical health, increased self-confidence, more career opportunities, and more.
- In English Literature from the University of Massachusetts, he works to help Find Addiction Rehabs as both a writer and marketer.
- Dynamics of surrender and differentiation constitute the most abstract thematic level describing positive change in the result section.
- Additionally, addiction almost always has underlying causes, such as chronic stress, a history of trauma or a co-occurring mental illness.
While serving in this position, Dr. Cusner brought accelerated growth to these facilities, while increasing employee retention and workflow optimization. When you’re in the early stages of recovery, it can be hard sober house to imagine any time past now. That’s a healthy way to be; it’s why people in early recovery are often told to take it one day at a time. It’s important to be present and truly experience each stage of recovery.
What Does It Take for Most People to Achieve Long-Term Recovery from Substance Abuse?
Instead, focus on a few things that you can change at a time – not only will you feel better, you’ll be on the right path in your journey of long-term recovery. Like negative influences, triggers are people, events or situations that lead to substance use. Removing these conditions from home life can change the trajectory of recovery for the better. If removing the elements that trigger substance use is not possible, removing yourself from the environment is the best option. During addiction detox programs, you are medically supervised as you step down from your addiction. You will meet one-on-one with a therapist as well as in group sessions.
