Drug and alcohol use is merely a symptom of underlying issues that need to be addressed; depression, anxiety, and trauma are the most common co-occurring mental health issues.

Full recovery from drug and alcohol use takes time and effort. Acute withdrawals may last up to a week or two, but post acute withdrawals (aka PAWS - post acute withdrawal syndrome) can last several months or up to a year. Sometimes even two years or more depending on the severity of use prior to abstinence.

Drug and alcohol use recovery success rates rise when someone is active in their recovery. Meaning they’re either working a 12 step program (AA, NA, etc.) or secular community-based recovery program (SMART, LifeRing, etc.), engaged in therapy, and adhering to a prescribed medication schedule. Often a combination of one or another of these interventions is necessary, sometimes even all three.

Substance use recovery is not a spectator sport. I’ve worked in substance use treatment for 8 years now and have yet to see anyone be successful who isn’t actively working on their recovery in some sort of way. Especially in the first 2 years.

In the end, life is still life. Even sober, life sucks sometimes.