Case Study: Your Client

Your client has made great gains in treatment by being abstinent for the past 8 months. This week he detoured from his usual route home because of construction. He passed his old "pick-up" place, became tempted, and then got some crack and smoked it. He felt so bad about it that he relieved his guilt and anxiety by using more because he figured, "Once a drug addict, always a drug addict."

He missed his appointment with you and called the following week to reschedule. During the conversation he told you he "picked up and used" and he wants to talk about it at the next session.

Task: Delineate a strategy for how you will talk to him about this problem. Use Marlatt's relapse prevention model as your guide.