Environmental risks to be considered in substance user treatment planning, implementation, and assessment

The therapeutic process made during treatment is often negated by adverse factors in the patient's social environment. Relapse is often associated with addictive use of alcohol or other drugs by the spouse or other close personal associates. A major emphasis of every aftercare plan should be to effectively deal with these addicted individuals in the patient's environment. Ideally the adverse effects will be eliminated by successfully treating the significant other's own addiction. Failing that, other appropriate strategies should be employed to protect the patient from his or her relapse-inducing adverse influences.