What are recovery and relapse?

Truth #1: “Recovery” means more than just not using drugs or alcohol, and “relapse” means more than just using drugs. This statement reflects the very nature of addiction and it must be understood and accepted before an addict can learn how to successfully recover from their addiction. More important, we as judges cannot effectively evaluate or govern over substance abuse cases if we do not accept and understand this truth about addiction because we are refusing to redefine our assumptions about addiction, and as a result we are refusing to treat substance abusers at the level of their disorder.

To an addict, recovery and relapse do not exist independent of each other. Neither is a black and white phenomenon that occurs instantaneously, and neither exists free of the other. Recovery and relapse ebb and flow in the daily life of an addict and are conversely interdependent. They are realities which exist as reverse mirror images of each other. Think of recovery as a continuum that exists on an upward angle.7 Think of relapse as the reverse mirror image of recovery, existing on a downward angle. As recovery increases in strength, relapse weakens. As relapse increases in strength, recovery weakens.

Since recovery and relapse have many stages or levels, limited only by the individual’s addiction, there is no one way to define them. In our juvenile Power Recovery Court8 we have a formula: Powerful Recovery = sobriety + control of addictive thinking + no secrets. Another good definition is this: Totally Successful Recovery means (1) the non-use of unprescribed drugs, (2) the non-abuse of prescribed medications and (3) the non-existence of addictive thinking.9 It is important to note in these definitions that the “non-use” of substances is only part of the equation. This is imperative to appreciate because an addict can be in relapse mode without ever having used a drug or alcohol. Indeed, this is typical of relapse, a strong recovery turning downward through a relapse in “addictive thinking.”

Truth #2: Recovery is not a singular point in time when the addict stops abusing drugs. When an addict starts a “recovery,” he begins a long, uphill walk of daily work addressing the triggers and struggles that lead him to abuse substances. This walk is called recovery, not recovered, because it is a journey whose work reflects the strength of the addict’s thinking and ultimately his sobriety. This journey is pursued on a road that has a beginning but has no end. Recovery is a lifelong venture composed of, as the 12 Step programs put it, “one day at a time.” A recovery will be strong if the addict can be taught (1) to focus on their thinking patterns,10 (2) to be committed to their counseling, 12 Step or other group work, and (3) to be honest with themselves about their sobriety. In addition, a strong spirituality is the cornerstone of a successful recovery.11 In recovery, spirituality is not necessarily a religious thing, though for some it may be.12 On the other hand, a recovery will falter where there is an inattentive pattern of addictive thinking and behavior exemplified by a lack of genuine recovery work. If an addict labors in a positive way in their recovery, their sobriety strengthens much like we gain muscle from exercise and knowledge from study. It doesn’t mean they defeat and snuff out the addiction. It means that while their triggers and struggles still exist, the addict’s ability to handle those increases. As a result, the addict becomes more successful at fending off the daily demons that haunt them and which lead to a return to drugs or alcohol.

Be sure to check out part two of this series in the next edition of In Chambers!