Alcohol Scotland

Information, advice and support to help relieve the misery caused by Scotland's alcohol problems. For people worried about their drinking, families and friends affected by alcoholism, and anyone looking for practical help or clear answers.

Relapse

Starting to drink again does not erase the work you have already done. What matters now is what is happening, whether you are safe and how quickly you get help again.

If you have started drinking again Do not wait for things to become as bad as they were before asking for help.

Contact the service, GP, counsellor or recovery group that helped you before, or use a different route if that support was not right for you. You do not need to start from the beginning or prove that you deserve help again.

Getting help→ Find local alcohol and drug services in Scotland↗ Drinkline Scotland — 0800 7314 314Call
Why relapse can happen Stress, cravings, routines, social situations and difficult emotions can all pull someone back towards drinking.

Relapse often builds before the first drink. You may stop doing things that were helping, isolate yourself, stop attending appointments or meetings, start thinking that drinking will be different this time, or find yourself back in situations strongly linked with alcohol.

Looking at what happened is useful because it can show what needs to change in the recovery plan.

Review your recovery options→
Your tolerance may have fallen After a period of drinking less or not drinking, the amount you used to tolerate may affect you much more strongly.

Returning straight to your old amount can increase the risk of severe intoxication, falls, accidents, alcohol poisoning and other serious harm.

Read about alcohol tolerance→ What alcohol does to the body and brain→
Do not suddenly stop if dependence has returned If you are drinking heavily every day again, withdrawal may need medical support.

If you need alcohol to stop shaking or feeling unwell, drink in the morning, or have had serious withdrawal before, get medical advice before trying to stop.

Read about detox and withdrawal→ NHS 24 — 111 for urgent medical advice when your GP is closedCall Seizure, collapse, severe confusion, hallucinations or immediate danger — 999Call
Look at what changed before you drank The point is to identify what failed in the plan so you can change it.

Did you stop attending treatment or meetings?

Did stress, grief, conflict or loneliness increase?

Were you spending more time around alcohol?

Did cravings become stronger?

Did you stop taking prescribed medication?

Did sleep, mood or mental health get worse?

See recovery options→ See treatment options→
Go back to treatment quickly A short return to drinking is easier to deal with than waiting until it has become established again.

Tell the service what happened and how much you are drinking now. They may review medication, counselling, withdrawal risk, appointments or the amount of support you need.

What happens when you ask for help→ Find a local alcohol service↗
Peer support can help you get back on track You can return to a meeting even if you have been away or have started drinking again.

AA, SMART Recovery and other peer groups can provide immediate contact with people who understand what happened. You do not need to wait until you feel ready or have stopped again before asking what support is available.

Alcoholics Anonymous — 0800 9177 650Call Find an AA meeting↗ SMART Recovery UK↗
Mental health may need attention too Low mood, anxiety, trauma or suicidal thoughts can make relapse more likely and may need treatment in their own right.

Tell your GP or alcohol service if your mental health has worsened. If you are in immediate danger or think you may harm yourself or someone else, get emergency help.

Breathing Space — 0800 83 85 87Call Samaritans — 116 123Call Immediate danger or medical emergency — 999Call
Families and friends may need help too A relapse can bring fear, anger and old problems straight back into the family.

Family members do not have to manage the situation alone or take responsibility for keeping someone sober. They can get advice and support for themselves even if the person drinking refuses help.

Help for families and friends→ Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs — 08080 10 10 11Call Al-Anon Family Groups — 0800 0086 811Call
Starting again means changing the plan If the old plan did not hold, use that information rather than repeating exactly the same thing.

That may mean more frequent appointments, different medication, a different type of counselling, more peer support, help with housing or money, or changing the people and places strongly linked with drinking.

Review recovery options→ Review treatment options→