The maintenance stage of Prochaska and DiClemente's transtheoretical model of change is concerned with continuing to achieve the progress that began in the action stage. For people with addictions, this means upholding the intentions made during the preparation stage and the behaviors introduced in the action stage.
Usually, this will mean staying abstinent from alcohol or drugs, keeping to a reduced level of addictive behaviors, sticking to limits set (such as a budget, for gambling or shopping addictions) or continuing to pursue harm reduction goals (such as practicing safer sex).
The maintenance stage is not at its most challenging after reaching the goals set during preparation and achieved during action, but after a period of time has elapsed and the focus on reaching the goal has lost its intensity. People can become complacent at this point, and they may begin to think that a small slip will make no real difference.
Maintenance can also become difficult when the stress of life catches up with you and the old, familiar ways of coping (using the addictive behavior) re-surface. This is why it is important to learn new ways of coping with stress during the action stage, so that alternative strategies will be available to you during the maintenance stage.
Although many people are successful at maintaining abstinence from addictive behaviors, controlled drinking and substance use, and moderation in other addictive behaviors, relapse is also common. For this reason, relapse is also sometimes included as a stage within the stages of change model.
Sources"
Hartney, E., Orford, J., Dalton, S., Ferrins-Brown, M., Kerr, C. & Maslin, J. "Untreated Heavy Drinkers: a Qualitative and Quantitative Study of Dependence and Readiness to Change." Addiction Research & Theory, 11:317-337. 2003.
Prochaska, J., Velicer, W., Redding, C., Rossi, J., Goldstein, M., DePue, J., Greene, G., Rossi, S., Sun, X., Fava, J., Laforge, R., Rakowski, W. & Plummer, B. "Stage-based expert systems to guide a population of primary care patients to quit smoking, eat healthier, prevent skin cancer, and receive regular mammograms." Preventive Medicine, 41:406-416. 2005.
Segana, C., Borlanda, R. & Greenwood, K. "Can transtheoretical model measures predict relapse from the action stage of change among ex-smokers who quit after calling a quitline?" Addict Behav. 31:414-428. 2006.
Velicer, W. F., Hughes, S. L., Fava, J. L., Prochaska, J. O. & DiClemente, C. C. "An empirical typology of subjects within stage of change." Addict Behav. 20:299-320. 1995.
