The Harsh Reality of Relapse
by Ronnie Crocker
The harsh reality of relapse can be very discouraging to addiction ministry
workers and supporters!
Relapse is not limited to drug addicts.
Relapse (back into sin) is addressed in every New Testament letter
following the book of Acts. The
faithful are warned not to relapse back into sin.
The erring are admonished to repent.
Paul became frustrated with the relapse of the Galatians:
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the
truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as
crucified?” Galatians 3:1
Peter described both the danger and destructiveness of relapse:
“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the
knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them
and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
For it would have been better for
them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to
turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
But it has happened to them according to the true
proverb: ‘A dog returns to his
own vomit,” and, “a sow, having
washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’”
2 Peter 2:20-22
The purpose of this article is to explain the harsh reality of relapse as it
relates to Project Rescue.
Webster’s Dictionary defines Relapse as, “The act or an instance of backsliding,
worsening, or subsiding.”
It is well known in the addiction recovery community that the typical addict
relapses several times before overcoming an addiction.
Most of the men who come to us have already been in several programs.
Addiction recovery experts also understand that a recovering addict relapses
before he takes that first drug or drink.
He quits his program mentally before he quits it physically.
There are reasons why relapse is so prevalent in programs like Project Rescue.
Most of the men who decide to enter an in-house recovery program have
reached the worse point in their lives.
They are like the football player who has had to be taken out of the game
after a blow to the head. For the
first 3-months in the program, a typical member is suffering intellectually,
emotionally, physically, socially, and spiritually.
His mind is distorted from the drugs he has taken and disturbed from the
drugs he is craving. This is why
relapse is so prevalent in the addiction
recovery ministry.
After 30 days drug free, many addicts and alcoholics learn they have a
mental/emotional disorder separate and apart from their addiction problem.
Many have to deal with depression, bipolar, ADHD, and anxiety disorders.
This is another reason why relapse is so prevalent among recovering
addicts and alcoholics.
Here is a summary of our experience regarding the souls who have entered and
exited Project Rescue from February through October 25, 2011:
39 men have entered the Project Rescue Addiction Recovery Program since February
of 2011.
15 of these 39 men have quit the program:
Jeff (after 80 days), Brett (after 61 days), James (after 8 days), Ryan (after
34 days), Tim (after 39 days), Alan (after 21 days), Andrew (after 29 days),
Michael (after 10 days), Levi (after 30 days),Kenny (after 60 days), Preston
(after 46 days), Dustin (after 59 days), Chris (after 71 days), Lony (after 119
days), Micah (after 67 days).
Andrew and Lony have continued to attend church services.
A lengthy explanation could be given for the reasons why these men quit.
Some left because they lost hope.
Others quit because they did not like the rules.
Several tired of the frequent Bible studies.
A few were caught getting high or drunk.
We do not count the time we had with these souls as wasted time.
They sat in numerous Bible classes and Worship services and heard God’s
Word (Isaiah 55:10,11). They
enjoyed weekly fellowship from members of the Beltline church of Christ.
They will remember this
experience from now to eternity!
4 men have graduated:
(Mike Reaves graduated in February of 2011 (after 9 months ), Josh
Robinson graduated on February 21, 2011 (after 6 months), David Wallace
graduated after 1 year (he worked for us until he moved to Virginia to live with
his dad), Craig Stamps graduated last month (after 1 year).
Craig is now serving as our Dorm Manager.
All of our graduates, as of this date, continue to live drug-free lives faithful
to the church!
We presently have 20 men participating in the program:
Ronnie (7 days), Daniel (8 days), Michael (9 days), Bill (24 days), Wes (43
days), David (44 days), Matt (51 days), Doug (59 days), Clete (62 days), Mike
(71 days), Don (83 days), Beau (117 days), Jason (130 days), Leroy (144 days),
Timothy (157 days), Aaron (167 days), Royce (174 days), James (208 days), Rick
(241 days), and Travis (289 days).
All of these men are in danger of relapse.
They must heed the Apostle Paul’s exhortation to the Christians in
Galatia, to, “Stand fast therefore
in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again
with a yoke of bondage.” Galatians
5:1
As the program manager of Project Rescue, I know how discouraging it can be when
a program member relapses after a month or two.
It is easy to think that perhaps we are wasting our time trying to win
addicts back to the Lord. However,
I know we are not wasting our time.
We are doing a great work.
We must remember that relapse is a harsh reality when it comes to the addiction
recovery ministry. Our hearts will
break over the ones who quit, and we will rejoice together over the ones who
graduate and continue to fight the good fight of faith.
We must remember the words of Paul after he described the resurrection:
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the
Lord.”
1 Corinthians 15:58
In His service,
Ronnie Crocker, minister