You’ll find that you are more successful avoiding relapse when you have a solid plan to deal with triggers, temptation, and all the other challenges that come with sobriety. A good relapse prevention plan will help you recognize when you are at risk, and it will give you several ways to navigate those experiences successfully.​

The Relapse Prevention Plan worksheet provides a bare-bones structure for creating such a plan. This resource will ask you to identify red flags warning you that you’re near relapse. You will be able to identify who you can call during cravings, and things you can do to take your mind off using. Because of this worksheets have a open-ended nature, and we suggest using it as a prompt for conversation in groups.

• Cravings will eventually pass. Do your best to distract yourself and ride it out.
• Don’t become complacent. Relapse can happen years after you’ve quit using. It probably won’t ever be safe to “just have one.”
• Avoid situations that you know will put you at risk of relapse, such as spending time with friends who use drugs or going place that remind you of your past use.
• The decision to relapse is made when you put yourself in risky situations, long before you actually use. 
• Don’t view relapse as a failure. Falling back into old patterns because of a slip will only make the situation worse.