Why Some Recovering Drug Addicts and Alcoholics Fail to Avoid Relapse

Recovering drug addicts and alcoholics know that relapse is a real possibility, because we see so many people in the program who fail to stay sober on a regular basis. Given the low success rates in overcoming addiction, it is not unreasonable to have a certain amount of fear regarding the idea of relapse. Noticing a Shift to a Behavioral Approach in Recovery One thing I’ve noticed in recovery is that there has been a real shift to a behavioral strategy in the twelve step fellowships. This is the main reason that so many addicts and alcoholics tend to relapse. The program of Alcoholics Anonymous is designed to bring about a spiritual experience–”a shift in personality sufficient enough to relieve the problem of drink.” But in attending AA meetings, I have noticed that the emphasis is rarely on this spiritual experience, but instead has shifted to this shopping list of actions that the newcomer must take in order to stay clean. For example, you’ll hear that we need to stay away from “people, places, and things” that caused us to drink or drug. This is a behavioral strategy, not a spiritual solution. The Spiritual Experience This complication comes from describing ...