Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome, or PAWS, is a condition which occurs in recovering addicts immediately after the withdrawal of detoxification subsides. The symptoms are both physiological and psychological, and they can linger for months or years. In fact, many recovering addicts report reoccurring PAWS symptoms after decades of clean living. Despite the severity of this condition, most rehab facilities do little to educate addicts on its symptoms or teach them to mitigate its crippling effects. This lack of understanding unfortunately makes addicts' returns to substance abuse more likely. Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome is the leading cause of relapse, and treatment professionals ought to make dealing with it a large component of their inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient programs.

Before an addict can begin an inpatient program, he must undergo detoxification, a short but intense treatment which removes or drastically reduces his body's drug dependency. During detox, addicts experience the symptoms of withdrawal. These include anxiety, insomnia, thoughts of suicide, and depression. Though intense, these symptoms can often be well-managed through the use of various relaxation techniques and medications. Detox by no means cures addiction; an addict is always an addict. However, removing the constant need for drugs is an essential first step for substance abusers who want to cope with their physiological compulsions.

The symptoms of PAWS tend to be far less intense than those experienced during full-blown withdrawal. However, this condition is typically a much larger threat to an addict's long-term recovery. With most of the symptoms lasting between three and six months, PAWS can severely disrupt the treatment programs at an inpatient facility. Other symptoms last for years and appear intermittently, making it very difficult for those who have completed their treatment programs to maintain sober, productive lives and positive relationships. Among these symptoms are:

*Sleeping problems

*Loss of memory

*Depression and mania

*Emotional numbness

*Feelings of disarray

*Loss of sexual desire or function

*Lack of communication skills

*Loss of concentration

A particularly frustrating aspect of these symptoms is that they can cause a non-active drug addict to appear drunk or high. Afflicted addicts often experience slurred speech, clumsiness, and an inability to effectively communicate. Appearing this way in public often leads to social anxiety, a commonly-reported problem among PAWS sufferers. This phenomenon also skews the public's image of drug addicts. Because they lack an understanding of the physiological nature of addiction, many people assume that active abusers and PAWS sufferers alike are simply weak-willed people who refuse to change their ways.

According to medical professionals, Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome is the leading cause of relapse. Its frustrating and often crippling symptoms lead sufferers to self-medicate with more drugs or alcohol, continuing their cycles of addiction. However, with adequate education, addicts can learn to recognize and cope with their PAWS symptoms before they get out of hand. While many treatment facilities do little to mitigate the effects of this dangerous condition, some are starting to place great emphasis on PAWS education. By recognizing their symptoms, addicts can use the coping techniques they learn in cognitive-behavioral and reality therapies to prevent relapses. For most recovering substance abusers, this is a life-long struggle.