How Long Does It Take To Achieve Stable Sobriety?
Because of the permanence of the structural and functional brain changes associated with addiction, achieving stable long-term sobriety is a process that takes most recovering addicts years, not months. It takes facing a lot of life’s challenges without drinking or using to feel secure that no matter what problems are encountered, you can get through them without picking up a drink or drug. That takes time.
Neuroscientists say addiction affects learning — addicts see drugs as the solution — and addicts retain powerful emotional memories of the benefits of drug use which can overpower consideration of the rational consequences. Recovery, addiction researchers say, is a lengthy process during which those memories loose their power. It takes a long time for the addict brain to devalue those toxic memories.
Furthermore, there’s a saying about 12-Step recovery, “It works, if you work it.” So achieving stable sobriety, and the length of time it takes, depends on how hard the sober addict works at it. If one attends meetings regularly (most successful addicts I’ve known have gone to at least one meeting every day for a long time), works the 12 Steps with a sponsor, tries to access a connection with a Higher Power, practices the program’s principles, and volunteers to help newcomers to recovery, his chances of successful, stable, long-term sobriety are far greater than if one doesn’t.
However, it’s important not to get complacent no matter how many years of sobriety one has achieved, because relapse is always a danger. I’ve known people who have relapsed after 10, 15, even 20 years of continuous sobriety. Recovery is not something any sober addict can ever take for granted.
For much more detail, including my experience, click on the Treatment Intro/Menu.
