Recovery is a journey,not a building.

1. 01

   Recognise

   Understanding that something is not right is the first step.

   • Notice changes
   • Accept the concern
   • Reach out for help

   What this stage involves

   Name what is happening without shame, so that it can be looked at clearly.

   • The person or family notices that use has changed something — health, money, mood, relationships, work
   • Information is gathered about the substance and its effects
   • Denial, fear and hope often appear together at this stage

   Questions to ask

   • “What has changed in the last six months?”
   • “What has already been tried?”
   • “Who else knows, and who can help?”

   Who helps

   Family members · A general physician · A counsellor · Trusted community or workplace support

   Signs of progress

   • The situation is described honestly
   • The person is willing to talk to someone qualified
2. 02

   Assess

   Understanding your situation and what kind of support may be needed.

   • Assessment
   • Identify needs
   • Understand options

   What this stage involves

   Let a qualified professional understand the situation before any plan is made.

   • Medical review of physical health and withdrawal risk
   • Mental-health review, since anxiety, depression and substance use often occur together
   • Discussion of what setting and intensity of care may fit

   Questions to ask

   • “What is the withdrawal risk here?”
   • “Is inpatient care needed, or can this be managed as an outpatient?”
   • “What else is going on medically or psychologically?”

   Who helps

   Psychiatrist · Physician · Clinical psychologist · Addiction counsellor

   Signs of progress

   • There is a written or clearly explained assessment
   • The recommended level of care is understood
3. 03

   Stabilise

   Address immediate risks, withdrawal concerns and health needs.

   • Medical evaluation
   • Detox if needed
   • Stabilisation

   What this stage involves

   Make the person medically and emotionally safe before deeper work begins.

   • Withdrawal is managed with supervision where needed
   • Sleep, nutrition and physical health are addressed
   • Immediate safety concerns are handled first

   Questions to ask

   • “Who monitors withdrawal, and how often?”
   • “What happens if there is a medical complication at night?”
   • “How long is this phase expected to take?”

   Who helps

   Medical team · Nursing staff · Psychiatrist

   Signs of progress

   • Acute symptoms settle
   • The person can engage in conversation and therapy
4. 04

   Treat

   Evidence-based treatment for mind, body and behaviour.

   • Therapy & counselling
   • Medical care
   • Structured programme

   What this stage involves

   Work on the patterns, triggers and conditions underneath the use.

   • Individual and group therapy
   • Treatment of co-occurring mental-health conditions
   • Skills for handling craving, conflict and stress
   • Medication where a doctor considers it appropriate

   Questions to ask

   • “What therapies are used, and how often?”
   • “Who delivers them, and what are their qualifications?”
   • “How is progress reviewed?”

   Who helps

   Psychologist · Counsellor · Psychiatrist · Peer support

   Signs of progress

   • Triggers can be named
   • Craving is recognised and managed rather than acted on
5. 05

   Rebuild

   Rebuilding health, relationships, routine and self-worth.

   • Physical health
   • Mental well-being
   • Healthy habits

   What this stage involves

   Restore the ordinary parts of life that use had pushed aside.

   • Daily routine, sleep and physical health are re-established
   • Work, study or income is planned for
   • Relationships are repaired at a realistic pace

   Questions to ask

   • “What does a normal week look like after this?”
   • “What support exists for work or study?”
   • “How is family involved?”

   Who helps

   Counsellor · Family · Vocational or educational support · Community groups

   Signs of progress

   • A predictable routine exists
   • There is something to do with the time that use once filled
6. 06

   Prepare

   Preparing for life outside treatment and managing triggers.

   • Coping skills
   • Relapse prevention
   • Goal planning

   What this stage involves

   Plan for the pressures that come after treatment, before they arrive.

   • A written relapse-prevention plan naming specific triggers
   • Agreement on early warning signs and who to contact
   • Discussion of high-risk situations, including festivals, grief and job loss

   Questions to ask

   • “What is the plan if a lapse happens?”
   • “Who is called first?”
   • “What are the earliest warning signs for this person?”

   Who helps

   Counsellor · Family · Peer support

   Signs of progress

   • A concrete plan exists and is shared
   • The person can describe their own early warning signs
7. 07

   Aftercare

   Continued support to stay strong and prevent relapse.

   • Follow-up care
   • Support groups
   • Ongoing guidance

   What this stage involves

   Keep support in place through the period when relapse risk is highest.

   • Scheduled follow-up sessions
   • Continued medication review where relevant
   • Ongoing family or group support

   Questions to ask

   • “For how long is follow-up provided, and is it included in the fee?”
   • “What happens if the person moves city?”
   • “How is a missed appointment followed up?”

   Who helps

   Treatment centre · Outpatient clinic · Counsellor · Support groups

   Signs of progress

   • Follow-up is actually attended
   • Difficulties are raised early rather than hidden
8. 08

   Reconnect

   Reconnecting with life, purpose and what truly matters.

   • Meaning & purpose
   • Relationships
   • A fulfilling life

   What this stage involves

   Return to a life with meaning in it, not just the absence of a substance.

   • Work, study, community and family roles resume
   • Identity shifts from the problem to the person
   • Some people choose to support others in recovery

   Questions to ask

   • “What matters to this person beyond stopping?”
   • “What relationships are worth rebuilding?”
   • “What would a good year look like?”

   Who helps

   Family · Community · Peers · Employers

   Signs of progress

   • Time is filled with things worth protecting
   • Setbacks are handled without collapse

A relapse is common and does not erase progress. It usually means the plan needs adjusting — more support, different therapy, or attention to something that was missed. This page is general information, not a treatment plan.