What is Relapse?

"An unfolding process in which the resumption of substance use is the last event in a long series of maladaptive responses to internal or external stressors or stimuli."

Back to Top

What is Relapse Prevention / Management?

"A set of strategies aimed at meeting the challenges client's face in maintaining abstinence upon returning to their everyday lives."

Back to Top

What are the two approaches?

They are called Recovery Training and Self Help (RTSH) and Cue Extinction.

Recovery Training and Self Help Recovery

Recovery Training and Self Help (RTSH) is a relapse prevention technique that combines as many as four strategies and can be used effectively in the context of aftercare and/or follow-up counseling services provided in the course of addiction recovery. RTSH can be used as part of either residential or outpatient programs. RTSH enables clients to learn how to identify and deal with specific high risk situations, how to enjoy social situations that do not involve drugs, and how to develop new relationships, both social and intimate.

Cue Extinction

Cue Extinction can help weaken the craving for drugs that clients may experience in response to certain situations and stimuli. It can be used effectively in combination with RTSH. Cue Extinction is a relapse prevention technique that can help weaken the craving for drugs that clients may experience in response to certain situations and stimuli. It can be used effectively in combination with RTSH. Cue Extinction can help clients reduce their craving for drugs, even when confronted with the situations that triggered the urge in the past.

Back to Top

Why are these two Relapse Prevention approaches recommended over others?

A variety of prevention approaches, and combinations, are currently in use around the country. Among them are cognitive-behavioral, social support, 12 step, lifestyle change, cue extinction, and pharmacotherapy.

The two approaches in the NIDA Relapse Prevention Technology Transfer Package were chosen because they have undergone careful scientific testing, and they work: They help recovering addicts stay off of drugs.

Twelve-step programs, such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), are commonly used to help many abusers recover. Treatment programs that are committed to approaches such as NA and AA will find that the two recommended approaches work well in concert with NA and AA.

Back to Top

An introduction to relapse prevention discussing the nature and causes of relapse, giving reasons for doing relapse prevention and describing two tested approaches;

Two individual sets of training materials, covering the RTSH model and Cue Extinction. Each set contains a program administrator's guide, which discusses administrative considerations in employing that approach, and in-service training materials for programs to train staff to use the approach. The RTSH training materials include a copy of the Zackon/McCauliffe RTSH Aftercare Manual.

Back to Top

Relapse Prevention can boost your success.

Using these approaches, you can help clients to develop coping techniques they can use, if they wish, to stay clean of drugs long after they have left your program. Use of these two proven relapse prevention techniques can help you elevate your success rate. To recap their purposes:

RTSH enables clients to learn how to identify and deal with specific high-risk situations, how to enjoy social situations that do not involve drugs, and how to develop new relationships, both social and intimate.

Cue Extinction can help clients reduce their craving for drugs, even when confronted with the situations that triggered the urge in the past. 

• These Training's are designed to disseminate knowledge and increase competencies of participants to utilize these approaches successfully in their agencies. Thomas H. Coyne continues to train professionals in the use of these two strategies. 
• The Relapse Prevention Technology Transfer Package is a must for all programs serving Alcohol and other Drug Abusing Clients.

Back to Top

Goal:
The purpose of this training is to enhance the clinical competency of drug treatment professionals by training them to integrate Cue Extinction techniques into an overall program of relapse prevention. Cue Extinction is a treatment approach based on traditional learning and behavioral modification theories that has been empirically tested and, when incorporated into a comprehensive relapse prevention program, has been found to be effective in supporting clients to maintain recovery.

Objectives:
Participants will be able to: 

• Explain the elements of conditioning and conditioned response in relation to drug addiction and recovery 
• Assist a client to identify key triggers that might induce drug craving 
• Identify and describe six Cue Extinction tools 
• Demonstrate the correct use of the Coping with Craving (CWC) Rating Scale 
• Employ six Cue Extinction tools in a clinical setting 
• Anticipate potential problems that could arise in a Cue Extinction counseling session and suggest ways for dealing with those problems 
• Incorporate Cue Extinction techniques into their counseling regimen

Recovery Training and Self Help - Goals and Objectives

Goal: To enhance the clinical competency of alcohol and drug treatment professionals by training them to understand and implement the Recovery Training and Self Help (RTSH), a Relapse prevention and aftercare approach that has been empirically tested and found to be effective in supporting clients in maintaining recovery.

Objectives:
Participants will be able to: 

• Identify four key components of RTSH
• Describe fundamental concepts that RTSH is based on
• Describe the key elements of a Recovery Training Group, Fellowship Group, Group social Recreation
• Recognize the value of Senior Recovering Persons
• Identify five parts of a Recovery Training Group
• Identify key leader skills in implementing a RT Group.

Back to Top

Thomas H. Coyne founder and Director of Training for NTS was one of the original contributors to the development of the NIDA Research Dissemination and Application (RDA) packages also known as Technology Transfer Packages (TTP). He was also part of the original training team disseminating these strategies around the country in 1993. He later became the Master Trainer and lead consultant during NIDA's Training of Trainers initiative to disseminate these packages to the field. NTS offers trainings in these two proven and effective relapse prevention approaches. Mr. Coyne is the most experienced trainer in the delivery of theses workshops and has been delivering these workshops nationally for the past seven years. These trainings equip participants with methods to assist their clients in developing coping techniques to stay drug free.

Back to Top

Here is what others around the country are saying about the Relapse Prevention Workshops?

New Orleans - "This a much needed approach in substance treatment."

New York - "The information on Relapse Prevention is vital for counselors."

Cincinnati - "This is what I've been looking for to implement but haven't had the time to research and implement."

San Francisco - "Great, first conference I've felt was relevant!"

New York - "I like the different techniques used and will use as tools with clients."

Multiple Cities - "This uses approaches I already know but applies them in a systematic manner."

Boston - "A great training for directors and coordinators of programs to take back to other staff."

Boston - "I will enthusiastically bring this information back to my fellow clinicians to process and possibly use."

San Francisco - "My hopes were to find new methods and they were reached."

Arizona - "This is what counselors in Substance Abuse Treatment need, Get the word out."

Multiple Cities - "I like the Gorski materials but this gives me concrete tools that I can use in my program."

New Jersey - "Informative and enlightening."

Los Angeles - "These materials will help me in working with my clients to prevent relapse, giving them the tools and the skills they need."

Back to Top