Friends Who Use in Recovery
So many of the clients I have worked with, in recovery, have struggled with the issue of old friends that still use. It is a subject that comes up regularly in treatment. Whether we are treating a client who has been through treatment or is just starting, the warning is the same.
Keeping old using friends around greatly increases the risk of relapse and returning to drug or alcohol abuse. At Cold Creek we warn that people in recovery must eliminate ‘people, places, and things’ associated with their use, in order to help prevent relapse.
However, addicts often come through treatment thinking, “Well, I can do most of what they say, but I don’t have to get rid of my using friends. They’ll be cool. They’ll support my recovery.”
One of the clients I recently worked with had relapsed following a prior residential treatment. He was very open about what led to his relapse. He had gone through treatment, committing to a life of sobriety, but had left only one window open- he kept his using friends.
Unable to maintain his recovery when faced with so many triggers, he soon relapsed and got back to the point of severity that he had to seek treatment again. Taking it more seriously the second time around, he would often warn the other clients not to make the same mistake he had made.
Statistically, those who maintain associations with using friends are far more likely to relapse than those who give up such friendships and seek out new friends who can support them in their recovery. When considering the factors that lead to relapse, keeping using friends around is one of the most serious concerns.
Join us today to learn more about finding and living a life of sobriety, call 1-877-593-6777.
