Overview

You can improve your life and health by stopping your use of alcohol or drugs. Ending dependency on alcohol or drugs may help you feel and sleep better and get along better with your family, friends, and co-workers. There are medicines and programs that can help.

How can you care for yourself at home?

Here are some ways to help you stay sober and prevent relapse.

• If you have been given medicine to help keep you sober or reduce your cravings, be sure to take it exactly as prescribed.
• Talk to your doctor about programs that can help you stop using drugs or drinking alcohol.
• Do not keep alcohol or drugs in your home.
• Plan ahead. Think about what you'll say if other people ask you to drink or use drugs. Try not to spend time with people who drink or use drugs.
• Use the time and money spent on drinking or drugs to do something that's important to you.

Preventing a relapse

• Have a plan to deal with relapse. Learn to recognize changes in your thinking that lead you to drink or use drugs. Get help before you start to drink or use drugs again.
• Try to stay away from situations, friends, or places that may lead you to drink or use drugs.
• If you feel the need to drink alcohol or use drugs again, seek help right away. Call a trusted friend or family member. Some people get support from organizations such as Narcotics Anonymous or SMART Recovery or from treatment facilities.
• If you relapse, get help as soon as you can. Some people make a plan with another person that outlines what they want that person to do for them if they relapse. The plan usually includes how to handle the relapse and who to notify in case of relapse.
• Don't give up. Remember that a relapse doesn't mean that you have failed. Use the experience to learn the triggers that lead you to drink or use drugs. Then quit again. Recovery is a lifelong process. Many people have several relapses before they are able to quit for good.