How Does Abstinence Violation Effect Impact Recovery?

The Abstinence Violation Effect (AVE) is a psychological phenomenon that refers to a person’s reaction to breaking a self-imposed rule of abstinence or self-control. A single lapse in abstinence can result in a full relapse due to a phenomenon known as the abstinence violation effect (AVE). This aspect of relapse prevention can be beneficial to those in addiction treatment or contemplating treatment since it is not necessarily a failure to exercise self-control or abstain from using a substance of abuse. An abstinence violation increases the likelihood that a single lapse will lead to a full relapse into negative behavioral or mental health symptoms if abstinence violation effects are present.

Countering The Abstinence Violation Effect: Supporting Recovery Through Relapse

You don’t have to wait until a relapse occurs to seek help if you are concerned that you might be headed for a relapse. There are some common early psychological signs that you might be on the way to a relapse. In psychology, relapses are seen as the result of an accumulation of events, not a single event. They are the result of a series of events occurring over the course of time, explains psychologist Alan Marlatt, Ph.D. It can be a single instance where someone decides to use Alcoholics Anonymous the substance again. The importance of understanding the stages of relapse and avoiding them cannot be overstated.

Abstinence Violation Effect AVE What It Is & Relapse Prevention Strategies

• Sorry, but I like meat medium/rare for most, a bit more for pork and chicken.
• After six successful months of recovery, Joe believed he was well on his way to being sober for life; however, one evening, he got into a major argument with his wife regarding her relationship with another man.
• A person who has abused a substance for a long time is likely to have a higher tolerance for its effects.
• Thus, despite various definitional issues in the research, the above definitions will guide this article and discussing the issue of relapse.
• A person with alcohol use disorder (AUD) may feel like drinking when out with friends at their favorite hangout, for example.
• Usually, these should be more long term goals because it will be easier to think about your development in the grand scheme of things and not fixate on minor setbacks.
• The study was especially notable because most other treatment readiness measures have been validated on treatment-seeking samples (see Freyer et al., 2004).

As a result, it’s important that those in recovery internalize this difference and establish the proper mental and behavioral framework to avoid relapse and continue moving forward even if lapses occur. As a result, the AVE can trigger a cycle of further relapse and continued substance use, since people may turn to substances as a way to cope with the emotional distress. Jim is a recovering alcoholic who successfully abstained from drinking for several months.

A Lapse Vs. A Relapse

You may be conflicted between resisting thoughts about drugs and compulsions to use them. It is possible to rationalize the fact that if you continue to use, you might not experience the same consequences abstinence violation effect as before. Advocates of nonabstinence approaches often point to indirect evidence, including research examining reasons people with SUD do and do not enter treatment.

• On the one hand, it can serve as a valuable learning opportunity, highlighting the triggers and situations that lead to relapse or rule violation.
• These variations can depend on things like individual self-control, the motivation for the abstinence, and other factors.

Abstinence can be considered a decision to avoid behaviors that are risky in and of themselves, like using drugs. That said, abstinence can also come from a desire to avoid a potential high-risk situation later on. For example, someone might decide to quit smoking to lower their health risks later in life, even if a single cigarette might not be life-threatening in the moment. Research suggests that online therapy can be effective in treating things like gambling disorders and helping with smoking cessation. It has also been shown to promote a decrease in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and specific phobias, all which have a comorbid relationship with substance use disorders. If you’re interested in trying online therapy, you can reach out to get matched with a qualified virtual therapist today.

• Drug addiction rewires the brain to consider drug use an important source of reward.
• These rectifying steps usually include changing external elements rather than finding a magic button of willpower.
• 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.
• These emotional and cognitive reactions intensify the Abstinence Violation Effect, which may lead to a further loss of control and increased vulnerability to subsequent relapses or deviations from the established rule.
• I’ve heard of AA meetings where a member with over 10 years of sobriety ends up drinking (let’s say as an attempt to cope with the loss of a loved one or other tragic event).

Learn From Relapse

The myth that we need to erase all past mistakes and start with a “blank slate” if we want to live a healthful life is dangerous because it keeps us striving for fad fitness trends rather than consistency. If you’ve relapsed and need help getting back on the road to recovery, reach out to one of our admissions navigators at to regain your sobriety today. It was at these meetings that he finally decided that he was an alcoholic and that he needed to stop drinking. After six successful months of recovery, Joe believed he was well on his way to being sober for life; however, one evening, he got into a major argument with his wife regarding her relationship with another man.