Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of emotional management training and self-confidence in decreasing recurrence of opiate users in Ardabil City, Iran.

Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out with pretest/posttest design with control group in patients referred to Ardabil addiction treatment centers in 2015. 40 opiate addicts were selected by available sampling method according to the criteria for entering and leaving and obtaining medical certificate confirmation. They were divided into two groups of 20 experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 10 sessions of emotional and self-confidence training and the control group spent their daily routine. The data were collected using the predictive scale of Wright's slip and return and demographic data in 3 steps (pre-test, post-test, and follow-up 3 months after the end of the intervention) and analyzed by repeated variance analysis.

Results: There was a significant difference between the mean pre-test, post-test and follow-up to return to addiction in the two experimental and control groups. Also, the effect of teaching emotional management and self-confidence on return to addiction was 0.056. There was a significant difference between the mean pre-test, post-test and follow-up of desire in two groups of experiment and control.

Conclusion: Emotion management and self-confidence training is effective in reducing slipping and preventing recurrence in opioid users.