STEP 3: Provide On-going Help To Strengthen Recovery
I. CONTINUE REGULAR CONTACT
Maintain regular contact with the user and
his/her family support group throughout the recovery process. Invite
members of the family support group to assist you and the user as
needed. When the caregiver believes the user has successfully
completed the personal plan for recovery, regular interviews are no
longer needed. The decision to stop regular interviews is based on
inspiration and the user’s ability to stop alcohol and drug use.
II. FOLLOW-UP ON THE PLAN TO STOP USING ALCOHOL,
TOBACCO AND OTHER DRUGS
During each interview, review the users’ personal
plan developed in Step 2 Develop a Personal Recovery Plan.
The following questions can assist caregivers in monitoring the
users’ progress.
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Are they making the necessary behavior and
lifestyle changes? |
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Are they working to maintain their spiritual
strength? |
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Are they completing reading assignments? |
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Are they maintaining contact with their family
support group? |
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Are they studying and updating worksheets? |
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Are they attending available community support
group meetings? |
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If needed, are they attending therapy sessions
with mental health professionals? |
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Are they following through on any other
assignments made by the caregiver? |
The time required to complete a personal plan for
recovery varies according to the severity of the problem and the
users’ effort.
III. WORK THROUGH RELAPSES
During the recovery process many users relapse
into past behaviors. Relapse occurs when the users return to their
alcohol and drug use. Watch for possible relapses and help the users
recommit to their plan to stop using alcohol and drugs. If the
commitment to change is strong, relapses last only a brief time.
Recommit the users to follow the plan to stop
using alcohol and drugs by completing a blank Consequence
Worksheet; Stop Using Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Worksheet,
or Controlling Triggers and Temptations Worksheet as
necessary. If use continues despite caregivers best efforts or if
the caregiver becomes concerned at any point, consideration should
be given to helping the users return to a mental health or medical
professional.
IV. IMPLEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
Do not rescue the user from any unwanted consequence involving
alcohol and drugs and possible related illegal behavior. Prayerfully
evaluate any idea to make an exception to protect the user. Also
caution the members of the family support group to do likewise. The
user needs to experience the legal and natural consequences of
alcohol and drug use including legal, family, financial. See Step
4 Dealing with the Lack of Progress for ideas of how to
intervene.
