Episode 189 - What Do You Do When Someone Relapses?Episode 189 - What Do You Do When Someone Relapses?
Recovery Is Possible
Mike Van Meter and Lillie talk about what happens when someone in recovery relapses, including the risks around prescription medication and crisis situations. They share personal experiences and practical guidance for families on boundaries, safety, and supporting recovery without enabling addictive behaviour.
37:55•14 Sept 2026
What Do You Do When Someone Relapses? Mike and Lillie Talk Crisis and Boundaries
Episode Overview
- Relapse is common but not inevitable, and it is not a required part of recovery.
- People with an addicted brain are vulnerable to becoming dependent on prescription medications, even when they start out as legitimate treatment.
- Honesty with doctors and nurses is crucial, but each person remains personally responsible for protecting their own recovery.
- Family members should focus on safety, set firm boundaries, and avoid enabling, while remembering the "four Cs" of addiction.
- Chasing someone who is actively using and refusing help can harm the family; support is best offered when the person is ready to seek recovery again.
“You and you alone are the one that's responsible for your recovery.”
How do people cope with the challenges of staying sober when relapse and medical crises barge in uninvited? This episode of *Recovery Is Possible* focuses on exactly that, as Mike Van Meter and Lillie talk frankly about relapse, prescription medication, and the messy reality of addiction as a disease.
You’ll hear Mike share a vivid story from his own recovery: a serious cycling accident, surgery, and strong painkillers offered freely despite him repeatedly telling staff, "Hey, I'm in recovery." Even then, he noticed how easy it would have been to manipulate the system for more drugs, leading him to one core message: "You and you alone are the one that's responsible for your recovery." That idea runs through the whole conversation.
Mike and Lillie break down how people with an "addicted brain" can slide from alcohol into prescription pills, even when those medications are initially prescribed for legitimate pain or mental health issues. They stress that addiction isn’t neatly separated into alcohol, drugs, gambling or sex; it’s the same underlying condition, which can latch onto almost anything. The episode also speaks directly to family members and loved ones caught in the chaos.
Lillie shares her experience leaning on Al-Anon, focusing on safety, and learning the "four Cs": you didn’t cause it, you can’t control it, you can’t cure it, but you can contribute to it. Together, they talk about boundaries, protecting children, and avoiding the trap of chasing someone who is actively using and doesn’t want help. Instead, they suggest holding a clear line: point to treatment, refuse to enable, and let natural consequences happen without creating extra harm.
It’s honest, sometimes tough to hear, but aimed at giving both addicts and families practical ways to respond when relapse shows up. If someone in your life is in crisis, what role are you really playing in their recovery story?
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