Relapse

Goal for Client Intervention:

Help client to see relapse as a normal part of the process of change.

Intervention Options:

ASK:

• Ask client the reason(s) for resuming tobacco use.
  What happened to make you start using tobacco again?

ADVISE:

• Advise client that relapse is a normal part of the process of change.
  Almost everybody slips back sometime. It can take a smoker several quit attempts before they are successful. Most people find they gain knowledge about themselves that helps them succeed in their next attempt.

ASSIST:

• Assist client in recognizing the benefits that were gained.
  Your overall health was improved while you were tobacco free.
  Your risk for __________ reduced while you were tobacco free.
• Assist client in identifying and discussing reasons for relapse and identify strategies for dealing with these reasons for the next quit attempt.
  What did you like about being a non-smoker?
  Do you know what happened to make you return to smoking?
  What could you try next time to get around that?

ARRANGE:

• Arrange to re-stage client and reassess his/her current stage of change and intervene accordingly now or at the next contact.
  How ready are you to try quitting again?

Determine the client’s stage of change. Click on the appropriate stage below for examples of what the health professional might say to clients. These are suggestions to stimulate your thinking about what you want to say to that particular client.