The Issue of Relapse and Addiction Tackled by Recovery Centers of America in New Treatment Program at Devon, PA Campus
Devon, PA – February 25, 2019—The risk of relapse is the nemesis of anyone in recovery from drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately, around half of those who receive treatment will use drugs and alcohol again. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH) states that relapse rates for drug use are similar to rates for other chronic medical illnesses. However, relapse IS dangerous because it carries a higher-than-average risk of overdose and the potential to go back to regular usage of drugs or alcohol.
To address the problem of multiple relapses for patients seeking treatment for addiction, Recovery Centers of America (RCA) has created a specialized program at its Devon, Pennsylvania facility called PRISE, Promoting Recovery through Intensive Support and Education.
“Relapse is a common occurrence in addiction recovery and it’s important for individuals – and their families – to not give up hope if it does happen,” said Scott Weisenberger, LPC, Vice President of Clinical Services for Recovery Centers of America. “Understanding that doesn’t mean that we encourage relapse but that we can learn the skills to move on from it and try again.”
PRISE uses a three-pronged therapeutic, evidence-based approach to treat patients for whom recovery has been elusive:
- Acceptance Commitment Therapy: PRISE patients reconnect with earlier values and aspirations, learn to let negative emotions and behavior “pass through” and take a stand for themselves by staking their own claim on recovery.
- Narrative Therapy: Staff work with patients by making problems concrete and thus easier to solve. By identifying addiction – and not the person – as the problem, patients can apply solutions more easily.
- Positive Psychology: Through community activities, work therapy, and doing for others, patients learn true gratitude – which energizes them to move forward. The simple act of helping another person struggling with addiction, science has proven, can trigger happiness neural pathways in the brain.
The curriculum contains individual and group therapy and seminars designed to reunite patients with their former values and actively address individual crises and trigger points that can set off a relapse.
PRISE also partners with the RCA Chester County Alumni Chapter to match patients with alumni mentors for face-to-face guidance on moving from addiction into the world of recovery. Additionally, patients will engage in live volunteer experiences in the community, such as working at a food bank. Finally, patients learn practical life skills to assist them in life on the outside.
The 3-4 week program starts right after a period of detoxification with the creation of the addiction story. That story becomes the blueprint for creating a new life of recovery and reuniting each patient with who they were and who they were meant to be. The recovery story will be presented to the entire community prior to each patient’s discharge. The symbolism is clear: By writing their addiction story, they are leaving that behind at RCA and by writing their recovery story, they are stepping into their future.
Medication-assisted-treatment is also offered in the PRISE program in both the inpatient and outpatient program using Suboxone and VIVITROL®.
Recovery Centers of America (1-800 Recovery) provides evidence-based comprehensive addiction treatment at six inpatient residential facilities in Devon, Pennsylvania; Mays Landing, NJ; Westminster and Danvers, Massachusetts; and Earleville and Waldorf, Maryland. A full spectrum of outpatient treatment is also provided at many of these facilities. RCA also provides Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).
