Which of the following best describes the 'Maintenance' stage in the stages of change?

The 'Maintenance' stage in the stages of change is characterized by a period of sustained abstinence from addictive behaviors. During this stage, individuals strive to uphold the new behaviors they have adopted after making significant changes. It is essential for fostering long-term recovery and preventing relapse, as individuals aim to consolidate the gains they've made and continue practicing healthier habits.

In this phase, individuals often focus on reinforcing their commitment to sobriety or healthy choices, managing triggers, and utilizing coping strategies to navigate situations that may tempt them to revert to previous behaviors. This sustained effort helps in solidifying the changes made during earlier stages, enhancing the likelihood of lasting recovery.

The other stages do not pertain specifically to the concept of maintaining new behaviors over time. For instance, the initial recognition of a problem pertains to the precontemplation or contemplation stages, while implementing change describes the action phase. A return to previous habits aligns with relapse, which is not part of the maintenance stage.