Relapse: The Revolving Door

One of the hardest challenges for a recovering alcoholic or drug addict is the temptation to use again and risk of relapse. It’s so difficult that nearly half of all recovering addicts will relapse within one year, and 61% of those will relapse more than once, over and over. This is why relapse is often referred to as a revolving door: a neverending cycle of addiction, treatment, recovery, and relapse. But there is hope: relapse is not a failure; it is simply a setback. You can always pick yourself up and try again.

Although the 5-year relapse rates - never released together before in this format - can be a little scary, the overall relapse rate is comparable to other chronic illnesses such as asthma, type 1 diabetes, and hypertension. The infographic below lays out some of the common triggers and causes of relapse. Use these tools to resist your relapse.


Infographic by Clarity Way