HALT

An addict who has a “slip” does not necessarily mean that the person has had a complete relapse. It could possibly mean a temporary lapse in changing addictive behavior (Van Vormer & Davis, 2008). In other words, if an addict that has had 5 years of sobriety and suddenly has a slip due to a stressful situation; it is possible to get back to their program without thinking they have blown it. This kind of thinking could cause the addict to go completely off his or her program. It is better for these “lapses” to be viewed as valuable learning opportunities with the help of a therapist (Van Vormer & Davis, 2008).

The term HALT in substance abuse treatment means don’t get too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. These triggers can cause a setback and cause the addict to use again. It is important for therapists to help their client self-monitor for antecedents that may cause complete relapse (Van Vormer & Davis, 2008). Another method to relieve stressors could be through the concept of spiritual healing by attending church, Bible study, Celebrate Recovery, or cell groups to have a feeling of belonging and a support system that is easy to access in their own community.

Celebrate Recovery is a well-known 12 Step program based on the Bible to help addicts recover spiritually. They can be found in almost every city at Christian churches. Cell groups are formed by people from church who get together in people’s homes to have Bible study or coffee to talk about spiritual things relating to God. These home recovery groups and gatherings could also help teens stay clean by adding a sense of belonging and accountability. Sometimes the addict has had a spiritual life in the past and just needs help tapping back into it (Van Vormer & Davis, 2008).

Van Wormer, K., & Davis, D. R. (2008). Addiction treatment: A strengths perspective (2nd ed.) Belmont, CA: Thompson Higher Education.