You are never crazy to hope! I would remain cautiously optimistic. it is a lifelong condition but that does not mean that he will relapse although it is somewhat rare to not ever relapse it is possible. One day at a time is the best advice I can give Good Luck ! Dee

i know of people who have come around their first time in rehab! there is hope! so glad he is doing so well. i know the feeling of holding you breath and almost not believing it,as it seems too good to be true. Be thankful for each day and try not to worry about the end of the program. i write these things to myself as well as you! There are people who quit drugs and alcohol on their own so i would think a year long residential program would be an amazing start and the skills they learn hopefully will last a life time. you are not crazy to hope. In my opinion you are crazy not to hope! keep hoping!

My son only did one rehab. He did a court appointed cheapo councelling that wasn't working and he continued to spiral down...and HE went for help. He walked into a charity hospital, they told him come back in three days...he stayed home drinking until they had room for him. 28 days there, onto a homeless shelter for 3 months with friar monks and then onto a rehab for 8 weeks. all totally voluntary. we are today 3 years, 8 months 3 weeks.
It takes a long time to relax after all we have been through. Trust that if he is working the program, he is doing the best he can. Pray for him and put it all into God's hands and start to enjoy each moment. Just think: your negativity (or worrying) does nothing but send out bad vibes...so tell your brain to stop and each time that you think "what if" think "thank God" and you will heal nicely too.
So happy he is doing so well.

I can't add anything to what the others have said. I totally agree with blue; enjoy and be grateful for each moment he's clean and sober and don't obsess about the uncertain future. You have no control over what he is going or not going to do. Just support and love without enabling and let him take control of his recovery. I'm in the same boat: hoping and praying and trying not to interfere in my son's 7-month recovery effort. Like someone on here says all the time, we may not be where we want to be, but we're in a better place that we were. Wishing you and him all the best!

I am very happy for him. Some young people do go into a program and come out and do not relapse especially is they are younger. I was just reading an article published from the government that is a person is under age 25 their chances of stopping drugs or drinking is very good only a small percentage go on where it is a major problem and that is after age 30.

Here is a study from NIDA, I hope this program has cognitive therapy because that has been shown to really make help someone struggling with addiction.
http://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/nida-notes/2010/12/multidimensional-family-therapy-adolescent-drug-abuse-offers-broad-lasting-benefits

You know my daughter has an expression. She always says people relapse but it is not a requirey in recovery, Translation there are many cases where they get it the first time if there willing to do the work. In the meantime enjoy every day of clean time as the gift it truly is

Hope is what we live for with our addict children... keep hoping! Being cautious is good, that way you will be clued in to any dangerous behaviors... keep the faith momma

Thanks so much to all! I literally have not ever head of someone doing only one rehab. I guess it's like I always told my son when he said "everyone does drugs" - I told him that he just wasn't paying any attention to the majority who weren't. The media may not cover the stories of those who work it out. I will hope, read that article, and YES - remember that my negative energy is wasted when there is so much to do in life (for instance... I could HAVE one...) :)

Never give up hope. Hope and believing is what made me fight my way back from the scars of my addict son. He is doing all the right things, and I think Dee said it perfectly, it is a lifelong disease and be cautious and learning from the last helps us to create a strong future. One day at a time will take on a whole new meaning.