Abstinence Violation an overview

Another factor that may occur is the Problem of Immediate Gratification where the client settles for shorter positive outcomes and does not consider larger long term adverse consequences when they lapse. This can be worked on by creating a decisional matrix where the pros and cons of continuing the behaviour versus abstaining are written down within both shorter and longer time frames and the therapist helps the client to identify unrealistic outcome expectancies5. It was written based on peer-reviewed medical research, reviewed by medical and/or clinical experts, and provides objective information on the disease and treatment of addiction (substance use disorders). These negative thoughts fuel a dangerous cycle fed on hopelessness and more guilt. In order to cope or avoid these damaging thoughts, these individuals turn back to drugs or alcohol to numb the pain.

• Marlatt (1985) describes an abstinence violation effect (AVE) that leads people to respond to any return to drug or alcohol use after a period of abstinence with despair and a sense of failure.
• Early learning theories and later social cognitive and cognitive theories have had a significant influence on the formulation CBT for addictive behaviours.

Those who drink the most tend to have higher expectations regarding the positive effects of alcohol9. In high-risk situations, the person expects alcohol to help him or her cope with negative emotions or conflict (i.e. when drinking serves as “self-medication”). Expectancies are the result of both direct and indirect (e.g. perception of the drug from peers and media) experiences3. An important part of RP is the notion of Abstinence violation effect (AVE), which refers to an individual’s response to a relapse where often the client blames himself/herself, with a subsequent loss of perceived control4. It occurs when the client perceives no intermediary step between a lapse and relapse i.e. since they have violated the rule of abstinence, “they may get most out” of the lapse5.

A Lapse Vs. A Relapse

Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. This website does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Site. Reliance on any information provided by this website is solely at your own risk. There may be an internal conflict between resisting thoughts about drugs and compulsions to use them. There is a possibility that you might rationalize why you might not experience the same consequences if you continue to use.

• He adopted the language and framework of harm reduction in his own research, and in 1998 published a seminal book on harm reduction strategies for a range of substances and behaviors (Marlatt, 1998).
• When the minimal effective response (such as informing friends that “I do not drink”) is not sufficient to bring about change, the individual is instructed to escalate to a stronger response, such as warning, threat, involving others’ support.
• And all strategies boil down to getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.
• It’s an acknowledgement that recovery takes lots of learning, especially about oneself.
• Possible substitutes can be designated in advance, made readily available, listed in a relapse prevention plan, and swiftly summoned when the need arises.
• In sum, the current body of literature reflects multiple well-studied nonabstinence approaches for treating AUD and exceedingly little research testing nonabstinence treatments for drug use problems, representing a notable gap in the literature.

The memories of our slips may always sting a bit, but at least we can sleep easy at night knowing that we used them to do some good. Similar to the reward thought, you may have another common thought after a period of sobriety. When you’ve experienced some success in your recovery, you may think that you can return to drug or alcohol use and control it. You may think that this time will be different, but if your drinking and drug use has gotten out of control in the past, it’s unlikely to be different this time. How individuals deal with setbacks plays a major role in recovery—and influences the very prospects for full recovery. Many who embark on addiction recovery see it in black-and-white, all-or-nothing terms.

Experimental aspects of bulimia nervosa. Implications for cognitive-behavioral therapy

Creating a rewarding life that is built around personally meaningful goals and activities, and not around substance use, is essential. Recovery is an opportunity for creating a life that is more fulfilling than what came before. Attention should focus on renewing old interests or developing new interests, changing negative thinking patterns, and developing new routines and friendship groups that were not linked to substance use. Nevertheless, the first and most important thing to know is that all hope is not lost.

Using a wave metaphor, urge surfing is an imagery technique to help clients gain control over impulses to use drugs or alcohol. In this technique, the client is first taught to label internal sensations and cognitive preoccupations as an urge, and to foster an attitude of detachment from that urge. The focus is on identifying and accepting the urge, not acting on the urge or attempting to fight it4. Cognitive restructuring can be used to tackle cognitive errors such as the abstinence violation effect. Clients are taught to reframe their perception of lapses, to view them not as failures but as key learning opportunities resulting from an interaction between various relapse determinants, both of which can be modified in the future.

Models of nonabstinence psychosocial treatment for SUD

This is easier when utilizing a technique which Marlatt refers to as SOBER—Stop, Observe (our thoughts and emotions), Breathe, Expand (our awareness and our comprehension of potential consequences if we use), and Respond mindfully (make the right choice not to use). The first thing we must do after a relapse is check our thinking for signs of irrationality. Sometimes we must be hard on ourselves, but we must never view ourselves through a lens of hatred and self-loathing. Marlatt notes that one of the most important aspects of handling abstinence violation effect is the need to develop our coping mechanisms.

• Drawing from Intrinsic Motivation Theory (Deci, 1975) and the controlled drinking literature, Miller (1985) argued that clients benefit most when offered choices, both for drinking goals and intervention approaches.
• Although there is some debate about the best definitions of lapse and relapse from theoretical and conceptual levels, these definitions should suffice.
• Other research reveals there may be some benefits to abstinence—some abstinence programs have been positively correlated with reduced teen pregnancy.
• One is to help clients identify warning signs such as on-going stress, seemingly irrelevant decisions and significant positive outcome expectancies with the substance so that they can avoid the high-risk situation.
• The weight of this guilt often correlates to the amount of time spent in recovery leading up to the relapse.

There is an important distinction to be made between a lapse, or slipup, and a relapse. The distinction is critical to make because it influences how people handle their behavior. A relapse is a sustained return to heavy and frequent substance use that existed prior to treatment or the commitment to change.

2. Controlled drinking

Abstinence stands in contrast to concepts such as limited consumption or self-restraint, because the abstinence model requires complete avoidance of a substance or behavior. For example, a person who limited their drinking would not be practicing abstinence, but a person who refused all alcoholic beverages on a long-term basis would be abstaining from drinking. abstinence violation effect definition The abstinence violation effect occurs when an individual has a lapse in their recovery. Instead of learning and growing from their mistake, an individual may believe that they are unable to complete a successful recovery and feel shame and guilt. Abstinence violation effect can be overcome, but it is far better to avoid suffering AVE in the first place.

Rajiv a 45 year old gentleman, presented with long history of alcohol dependence. His father and maternal uncle were heavy drinkers (predispositions to drinking, social learning). Rajiv was anxious since childhood (early learning and temperamental contributions) and avoided social situations (poor coping). He started using alcohol in his college, with friends and found that drinking helped him cope with his anxiety. Gradually he began to drink before meetings or interactions (maladaptive coping and negative reinforcement).