After quitting substance use, the first week is an important high-risk period for relapse. This is the time when many people give up and relapse to avoid the withdrawal symptoms. But, relapse can happen at any point in recovery. Generally, the relapse rate for substance use disorders (SUDs) compares to other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension.

Similar to dependent drug behaviors, the process of recovery, and the reasons for relapse, are very personal. Relapse doesn’t indicate that the person is a ‘failure’ or ‘weak.’ It’s just prolonging old coping behaviors that need to be replaced with new ones.

What is Relapse?

When an individual returns to a previous condition of a disease or addictive behavior after an initial period of improvement. When you wonder “Why do people relapse?” you should know that it’s a commonplace part of the recovery process. It might be just a temporary setback or it may become a return to their previous levels of usage.

Relapse is different from a lapse. A lapse is a temporary deviation from the person’s goal of abstinence, followed by a return to abstinence. The amount of substance use can change within a lapse. However, what makes a lapse different from a relapse is that it’s a short-lived period of substance use followed by an obvious return to their recovery goals.

woman doing rope course as Sabino Recovery

Why Do People Relapse?

Many things can lead to a relapse. A strong link exists between alcohol and drug dependence and personal challenges. There are a range of situations that may prompt a relapse:

  • Circumstances that tempt the person to return to substance use like people and places where the person would have used drugs previously.
  • Situations that are triggers for substance use as a coping mechanism. This may be unstable housing, personal or professional disappointments, social stigma, or social pressures.
  • Pre-existing emotional or mental health disorders. Many people use substances to medicate mental health struggles.
  • Pre-existing physical health concerns. Unsatisfactory physical health can lead people to use non-prescription pharmaceutical drugs, especially if they have persistent pain.
  • Guilt caused by having a lapse. An individual trying to quit substance use may experience guilt if they have a lapse. This can lead to self-blame which means the person is more likely to turn back to substance use as a coping method.

Types & Stages of Relapse

Contrary to popular thought, relapse is not a quick, situational occurrence. It’s actually a drawn-out process that happens in 3 stages. It starts subtly and gets worse. Being aware of the stages may help prevent a relapse before it occurs.

1. Emotional Relapse

During this stage, the person isn’t actively considering returning to substance use. Still, their behaviors and emotions may be setting them up for a future relapse. Warning signs of emotional relapse are:

  • Bottling up emotions
  • Not attending recovery sessions or support group meetings
  • Isolating from friends and family
  • Poor sleeping and eating habits
  • Attending meetings but not sharing
  • Concentrating on other peoples’ problems to avoid their own
  • Not being able to manage anger, anxiety, or other emotional issues
  • Intolerance
  • Defensiveness
  • Mood swings
  • Not seeking help
  • Poor emotional or physical self-care
  • Not taking time for themself or having sober activities

2. Mental Relapse

If a person chooses not to work on the signs in the emotional stage, there is a high risk of transitioning to the second stage. Mental relapse has been described as a war going on inside the person–part of them wants to use, but the other part doesn’t. Fantasizing about use is common in this stage. As they go deeper into the mental relapse stage, their cognitive resistance to relapse decreases, and their need to escape increases. Signs of mental relapse include:

  • Cravings (physical and psychological)
  • Reflecting on people, places, and things connected to past use
  • Spending time with friends who also use substances
  • Playing down the consequences of past use or glamorizing it
  • Bargaining–when bargaining, people begin to imagine scenarios where it would be acceptable to use. It’s common for people to give themselves permission to use on special occasions or family events. Many people also start to believe they can relapse from time to time in a controlled way. Bargaining can also mean switching from one addictive substance to another.
  • Lying
  • Dreaming up schemes to better control their substance use.
  • Looking for opportunities to relapse
  • Imagining and fantasizing use
  • Planning the relapse

3. Physical Relapse

If the symptoms aren’t addressed during the first two stages, it doesn’t take long to lead to physical relapse. This includes the actual use of the substance. It’s important to get help immediately to stop the cycle of addiction before it’s too late.

man in individual therapy

Relapse Timeline

  • According to the National Library of Medicine, two-thirds of people relapse within weeks of beginning treatment.
  • According to research, the greatest probability of relapse happens within the first months after completing treatment. The most crucial period is the first 6 to 12 months.
  • More than 85% of people go back to previous substance use within 1 year after treatment.
  • Even though relapse rates decrease after the first 12 months, a 40% risk of relapse lasts after two years of recovery. And a 15% risk continues after 5 years.
  • Generally, the risk of relapse decreases as time in recovery goes on.

Relapse Risk Factors

Studies by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) revealed that these factors may predict the likelihood of relapse:

  • Stress and trauma
  • Depression
  • High levels of craving
  • Environmental cues to use substances
  • The substance that was used.

The highest relapse rates by substance, according to American Addiction Centers, are:

  • Alcohol
  • Heroin
  • Cocaine
  • Methamphetamine
  • Marijuana
  • Prescription drugs

What to Do After a Relapse

When someone experiences a relapse, there are things that can be done to cope and get help:

Seek Medical Attention

When a person regularly uses a substance, they develop a tolerance. This means they need to use more to get the effect they got initially. By not using during treatment and recovery, their tolerance decreases. When they take their usual dose during a relapse, it could be too much and lead to an overdose. This is a specific risk and if an overdose is suspected, get medical help immediately.

Find Support

Support from friends and loved ones is vital. This includes family, friends, mutual support groups, and primary care providers.

Be Patient With Yourself

Frequently, it takes several attempts to successfully quit a behavior or substance. The best thing to do is help the person stay safe and get back on track.

It’s important for the individual to focus on recovery immediately and try to recognize what led to the relapse. What were the triggers? Why did they relapse?

women smiling at each other

Treatment and Relapse Prevention Plans

Managing relapse long-term is about preventing it as much as possible. These strategies have been proven effective:

  • Avoid certain people, places, and things that used to lead the person to use.
  • Get clinical and non-clinical support as necessary. An informal network of supportive friends and family and the formal support of a medical provider will help avoid negative situations.
  • Participate in meaningful activities. Doing things they like and that have a positive impact on the community helps to avoid negative situations and behaviors.
  • Balanced lifestyle and self-care. Poor mental and physical self-care can trigger substance use. They need to get enough sleep, eat nourishing food, and keep a clean home environment.
  • Think differently. Encourage them to try to learn from their mistakes, build a positive self-image, and set goals for the future.

Sabino Recovery Can Help Prevent Relapse

Our drug and alcohol rehab center in Tucson, AR, can help you or a loved one prevent a relapse.

Post-Detox

After detox, Sabino Recovery offers several treatment programs depending on your individual needs and the severity of the addiction:

  • Residential–living full-time at the treatment center
  • Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)–technically an outpatient program, this program compares in intensity to a residential program
  • Outpatient programs:
  • Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
  • Outpatient (OP)

Trama-Focused Programs

Trauma plays a significant role in addiction and relapse, as unresolved traumatic experiences often lead individuals to self-medicate with substances to cope with emotional pain. Specific forms of trauma, such as abandonment, betrayal, rejection, and sexual abuse, can profoundly affect mental health, fostering feelings of shame, distrust, and unworthiness. These unresolved emotions can trigger a cycle of substance use and relapse.

Trauma-focused treatment programs are designed to address the underlying pain contributing to addiction. Through therapies like EMDR, somatic experiencing, and trauma-informed counseling, individuals can process traumatic memories, rebuild trust, and develop healthier coping strategies. By addressing the root causes of addiction, these programs empower individuals to heal holistically, reducing the likelihood of relapse and fostering long-term recovery. Sabino’s specialized trauma treatment offers a compassionate and structured environment for clients to overcome the effects of past trauma and reclaim their lives.

Therapies

Sabino Recovery offers a comprehensive approach to overcoming addiction and preventing relapse through innovative therapies tailored to address the mind, body, and spirit. Neurofeedback therapy helps clients retrain their brain activity, promoting emotional regulation and reducing stress, which are key factors in maintaining sobriety. Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) allows individuals to process traumatic memories quickly and effectively, reducing the emotional triggers that can lead to substance use. Equine therapy fosters emotional growth and self-awareness by building connections with horses, helping clients develop trust, communication, and confidence. Together, these therapies create a holistic treatment experience that empowers clients to heal from addiction’s root causes and build a resilient foundation for lasting recovery.

Contact Us Today

Waiting to get help or waiting to relapse is no way to live. Things will only get better if you ask for help. Contact us and take that first step on the path to recovery.

Understanding Peak Relapse Times: Why Do People Relapse?

Dec 23, 2024

Recovery

Written by: Sabino Recovery

After quitting substance use, the first week is an important high-risk period for relapse. This is the time when many people give up and relapse to avoid the withdrawal symptoms. But, relapse can happen at any point in recovery. Generally, the relapse rate for substance use disorders (SUDs) compares to other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension.

Similar to dependent drug behaviors, the process of recovery, and the reasons for relapse, are very personal. Relapse doesn’t indicate that the person is a ‘failure’ or ‘weak.’ It’s just prolonging old coping behaviors that need to be replaced with new ones.

What is Relapse?

When an individual returns to a previous condition of a disease or addictive behavior after an initial period of improvement. When you wonder “Why do people relapse?” you should know that it’s a commonplace part of the recovery process. It might be just a temporary setback or it may become a return to their previous levels of usage.

Relapse is different from a lapse. A lapse is a temporary deviation from the person’s goal of abstinence, followed by a return to abstinence. The amount of substance use can change within a lapse. However, what makes a lapse different from a relapse is that it’s a short-lived period of substance use followed by an obvious return to their recovery goals.

woman doing rope course as Sabino Recovery

Why Do People Relapse?

Many things can lead to a relapse. A strong link exists between alcohol and drug dependence and personal challenges. There are a range of situations that may prompt a relapse:

  • Circumstances that tempt the person to return to substance use like people and places where the person would have used drugs previously.
  • Situations that are triggers for substance use as a coping mechanism. This may be unstable housing, personal or professional disappointments, social stigma, or social pressures.
  • Pre-existing emotional or mental health disorders. Many people use substances to medicate mental health struggles.
  • Pre-existing physical health concerns. Unsatisfactory physical health can lead people to use non-prescription pharmaceutical drugs, especially if they have persistent pain.
  • Guilt caused by having a lapse. An individual trying to quit substance use may experience guilt if they have a lapse. This can lead to self-blame which means the person is more likely to turn back to substance use as a coping method.

Types & Stages of Relapse

Contrary to popular thought, relapse is not a quick, situational occurrence. It’s actually a drawn-out process that happens in 3 stages. It starts subtly and gets worse. Being aware of the stages may help prevent a relapse before it occurs.

1. Emotional Relapse

During this stage, the person isn’t actively considering returning to substance use. Still, their behaviors and emotions may be setting them up for a future relapse. Warning signs of emotional relapse are:

  • Bottling up emotions
  • Not attending recovery sessions or support group meetings
  • Isolating from friends and family
  • Poor sleeping and eating habits
  • Attending meetings but not sharing
  • Concentrating on other peoples’ problems to avoid their own
  • Not being able to manage anger, anxiety, or other emotional issues
  • Intolerance
  • Defensiveness
  • Mood swings
  • Not seeking help
  • Poor emotional or physical self-care
  • Not taking time for themself or having sober activities

2. Mental Relapse

If a person chooses not to work on the signs in the emotional stage, there is a high risk of transitioning to the second stage. Mental relapse has been described as a war going on inside the person–part of them wants to use, but the other part doesn’t. Fantasizing about use is common in this stage. As they go deeper into the mental relapse stage, their cognitive resistance to relapse decreases, and their need to escape increases. Signs of mental relapse include:

  • Cravings (physical and psychological)
  • Reflecting on people, places, and things connected to past use
  • Spending time with friends who also use substances
  • Playing down the consequences of past use or glamorizing it
  • Bargaining–when bargaining, people begin to imagine scenarios where it would be acceptable to use. It’s common for people to give themselves permission to use on special occasions or family events. Many people also start to believe they can relapse from time to time in a controlled way. Bargaining can also mean switching from one addictive substance to another.
  • Lying
  • Dreaming up schemes to better control their substance use.
  • Looking for opportunities to relapse
  • Imagining and fantasizing use
  • Planning the relapse

3. Physical Relapse

If the symptoms aren’t addressed during the first two stages, it doesn’t take long to lead to physical relapse. This includes the actual use of the substance. It’s important to get help immediately to stop the cycle of addiction before it’s too late.

man in individual therapy

Relapse Timeline

  • According to the National Library of Medicine, two-thirds of people relapse within weeks of beginning treatment.
  • According to research, the greatest probability of relapse happens within the first months after completing treatment. The most crucial period is the first 6 to 12 months.
  • More than 85% of people go back to previous substance use within 1 year after treatment.
  • Even though relapse rates decrease after the first 12 months, a 40% risk of relapse lasts after two years of recovery. And a 15% risk continues after 5 years.
  • Generally, the risk of relapse decreases as time in recovery goes on.

Relapse Risk Factors

Studies by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) revealed that these factors may predict the likelihood of relapse:

  • Stress and trauma
  • Depression
  • High levels of craving
  • Environmental cues to use substances
  • The substance that was used.

The highest relapse rates by substance, according to American Addiction Centers, are:

  • Alcohol
  • Heroin
  • Cocaine
  • Methamphetamine
  • Marijuana
  • Prescription drugs

What to Do After a Relapse

When someone experiences a relapse, there are things that can be done to cope and get help:

Seek Medical Attention

When a person regularly uses a substance, they develop a tolerance. This means they need to use more to get the effect they got initially. By not using during treatment and recovery, their tolerance decreases. When they take their usual dose during a relapse, it could be too much and lead to an overdose. This is a specific risk and if an overdose is suspected, get medical help immediately.

Find Support

Support from friends and loved ones is vital. This includes family, friends, mutual support groups, and primary care providers.

Be Patient With Yourself

Frequently, it takes several attempts to successfully quit a behavior or substance. The best thing to do is help the person stay safe and get back on track.

It’s important for the individual to focus on recovery immediately and try to recognize what led to the relapse. What were the triggers? Why did they relapse?

women smiling at each other

Treatment and Relapse Prevention Plans

Managing relapse long-term is about preventing it as much as possible. These strategies have been proven effective:

  • Avoid certain people, places, and things that used to lead the person to use.
  • Get clinical and non-clinical support as necessary. An informal network of supportive friends and family and the formal support of a medical provider will help avoid negative situations.
  • Participate in meaningful activities. Doing things they like and that have a positive impact on the community helps to avoid negative situations and behaviors.
  • Balanced lifestyle and self-care. Poor mental and physical self-care can trigger substance use. They need to get enough sleep, eat nourishing food, and keep a clean home environment.
  • Think differently. Encourage them to try to learn from their mistakes, build a positive self-image, and set goals for the future.

Sabino Recovery Can Help Prevent Relapse

Our drug and alcohol rehab center in Tucson, AR, can help you or a loved one prevent a relapse.

Post-Detox

After detox, Sabino Recovery offers several treatment programs depending on your individual needs and the severity of the addiction:

  • Residential–living full-time at the treatment center
  • Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)–technically an outpatient program, this program compares in intensity to a residential program
  • Outpatient programs:
  • Intensive Outpatient (IOP)
  • Outpatient (OP)

Trama-Focused Programs

Trauma plays a significant role in addiction and relapse, as unresolved traumatic experiences often lead individuals to self-medicate with substances to cope with emotional pain. Specific forms of trauma, such as abandonment, betrayal, rejection, and sexual abuse, can profoundly affect mental health, fostering feelings of shame, distrust, and unworthiness. These unresolved emotions can trigger a cycle of substance use and relapse.

Trauma-focused treatment programs are designed to address the underlying pain contributing to addiction. Through therapies like EMDR, somatic experiencing, and trauma-informed counseling, individuals can process traumatic memories, rebuild trust, and develop healthier coping strategies. By addressing the root causes of addiction, these programs empower individuals to heal holistically, reducing the likelihood of relapse and fostering long-term recovery. Sabino’s specialized trauma treatment offers a compassionate and structured environment for clients to overcome the effects of past trauma and reclaim their lives.

Therapies

Sabino Recovery offers a comprehensive approach to overcoming addiction and preventing relapse through innovative therapies tailored to address the mind, body, and spirit. Neurofeedback therapy helps clients retrain their brain activity, promoting emotional regulation and reducing stress, which are key factors in maintaining sobriety. Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) allows individuals to process traumatic memories quickly and effectively, reducing the emotional triggers that can lead to substance use. Equine therapy fosters emotional growth and self-awareness by building connections with horses, helping clients develop trust, communication, and confidence. Together, these therapies create a holistic treatment experience that empowers clients to heal from addiction’s root causes and build a resilient foundation for lasting recovery.

Contact Us Today

Waiting to get help or waiting to relapse is no way to live. Things will only get better if you ask for help. Contact us and take that first step on the path to recovery.

Table of Contents

←Table of Contents
Scroll to Top
Skip to content