Youth Making Choices: Gambling Prevention Program

Unit 6: Moving to ChangeAppendix BTeacher Resource 2Relapse PreventionWhat Is Relapse?Relapse is a process that begins when a person starts slipping back into old behaviour patterns.Things that can lead an individual to relapse include the following:• feeling that he or she has gambling under control and taking a chance to gamble again• not working out stresses and problems at home, work or school, and when these build up ora crisis happens, the individual returns to gambling to help cope• not handling negative feelings such as boredom, loneliness or anger• giving in to urges to gamble• not seeing any way to cope when under stress other than to gamble• not working to maintain goals related to quitting or reducing gambling.To avoid relapse1. Plan to handle day-to-day feelings and problems as they happen. This way, pressure andstress do not build up.2. Keep life—work, school and relaxation—in balance as a way to reduce stress.3. Gain support and trust. Family, friends, teachers, coaches, a support group or a counsellorcan talk with the individual about the pressures experienced while trying to reduce or quitgambling. They can watch for the warning signs of relapse and help handle the stress.4. Identify and plan for high-risk situations—those in which an individual is more likely togamble. Everyone faces high-risk situations at some point; they can be handled more easilyif an individual knows ahead of time what they are and creates ways to handle them inadvance.Youth Making Choices: Gambling Prevention Programwww.ProblemGambling.ca6.16