PREVENTING RELAPSE - GUIDELINES FOR THE PSYCHIATRIST

Preventing relapse first means establishing a state of recovery. This involves completing the first step of a 12-step program, whereby a tee nager accepts that alcohol and drugs have been so destructive in his o r her life that he or she needs to be abstinent. Moderate use is not p ossible if the teenager is at the stage of severe abuse or chemical de pendency. Being around alcohol- and drug-abusing friends and the prese nce of psychiatric disorders are the most common causes of relapse.