How Many People Relapse? Relapse Rates by Substance

If someone in recovery isn’t prepared, relapse can creep up on them. And after, it’s hard not to be frustrated. But relapsing isn’t a failure. By understanding relapse rates, a person in recovery can see that they are not alone. Many people recovering from substance use disorder will grapple with relapse.

While relapse comes with risks, it isn’t the end. In this piece, we’ll review relapse, its stages, and relapse statistics.

What is Relapse?

Relapse is when a person stops maintaining their goal of reducing or avoiding substance use and returns to previous habits. While a lapse indicates a temporary departure from a person’s substance use goals followed by a return, a relapse lasts longer.

In fact, relapse is actually separated into three distinct stages, each with its own warning signs. The first stage is emotional relapse, where individuals begin to exhibit behaviors that set them up for relapse down the road. A person in emotional relapse may bottle up their emotions, skip meetings or refuse to share their struggles, focus on the problems of others, and have poor eating and sleeping habits. In essence, emotional relapse is heralded by poor self-care, as a person in the stage of emotional relapse ignores their emotional, psychological, and physical needs. 

The second stage of relapse is mental relapse, in which a person begins thinking about using. They may crave drugs or alcohol, think about people, places, and things associated with past use, and glamorize it. A person in mental relapse may begin bargaining or lying. They may look for relapse opportunities, schemes to control their substance use better, and even plan a relapse.

The final stage of relapse is physical relapse. During this stage, a person will find a window of opportunity to engage in substance use again.

Relapse is actually extremely common. Thus, just because a patient relapses, it doesn’t mean that treatment has failed. Due to the chronic nature of addiction, relapse can be part of the process of recovery. In fact, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, relapse rates for people with substance use disorder have been found to be 40-60%, a number similar to those of other chronic illnesses.

Relapse Rates by Substance

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) conducts research on mental health and substance use rates across the United States. As mentioned before, relapse rates for people with substance use disorder tend to be 40-60%. However, certain drugs have a higher-than-average relapse rate. For example, SAMHSA estimates that:

• the relapse rates for heroin use disorders are around 78.2 percent.
• the relapse rates for alcohol use disorders are around 68.2 percent.
• the relapse rates for cocaine use disorders are around 61.9 percent.
• The relapse rates for methamphetamine use disorders are around 52.2 percent.

Many studies have also found relapse rates of approximately 50 percent within the first twelve weeks after treatment. Whatever the type of substance use disorder, the takeaway is that relapse is normal. While it is important not to ignore its negative consequences on a person’s life, it also shouldn’t be considered a failure.

How Do You Treat Relapse?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a person can treat relapse through a combination of medication and therapy or counseling. Medications also help people to detoxify from drugs. A person recovering from opioid use disorder can be treated with methadone. Nicotine can be treated through nicotine replacement therapies. Finally, alcohol can be treated through naltrexone.

However, this must be followed by other treatments, such as counseling, or else the patient is likely to relapse again. Treatment for relapse can take the form of a multitude of behavioral therapies that will help patients handle the stressful situations and triggers that might lead to relapse. For example, a patient might undergo cognitive-behavioral therapy, learning the tools to recognize, avoid, and cope with situations in which they are likely to relapse. 

Ultimately, whatever treatment is used must address the needs of the whole person in order to be successful. 

Understand the Path to Recovery with SoberMind Recovery 

Relapse is a common and accepted part of the recovery process. While it can be frustrating, understanding how relapse happens can prepare a person for the struggles of addiction. So, too, can knowing relapse statistics. The question of how many people relapse is an answerable one. Having that information empowers a person to focus on recovery.

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use disorder, SoberMind Recovery can help. With LGBTQ+ sober living and dual diagnosis treatment in Los Angeles, SoberMind Recovery’s experienced team of addiction professionals can help a patient live a productive life in recovery. Contact us and begin your recovery journey today.