Why Addicts and Alcoholics Relapse: Facts and Fiction

Why addicts think they relapse and why they actually relapse are often two entirely different things. In some cases, the one who has relapsed will express having no idea as to what happened. Others say they just made a choice to use, but if so, then why didn’t they just make a choice not to use? The answer to that last question provides important insight as to why addicts relapse. It starts with understanding that when addicts or alcoholics are not engaged in ongoing addiction recovery efforts, they lose the power of choice. They can’t stop themselves from using drugs or alcohol and once they start, they cannot stop. The question is, how do we help those who believe it is as simple as believing they have a choice whether to consume drugs or alcohol? Or, how do we help those whose families who believe that if their loved ones just met that special someone, stopped associating with “those” people, obtained employment, or started going to the gym or church, they would be cured?

Why addicts relapse

Some experts say that strategies like modern day counseling, believing the substance user is the most qualified person to know what is needed, harm reduction models and roll with the resistance, or meeting them where they’re at have all greatly contributed to relapse rates increasing and overall recovery rates decreasing. Prior to the inception of the disease model in 1960, recovery rates of addiction and alcoholism were said to be approximately 75% for those who committed and fully participated and surrendered to a program of recovery. Today, the rates of recovery and complete abstinence are thought to be lower than 10%. Another factor that could be contributing to the decline includes treatment approaches that do not encourage complete abstinence and use medications to replace treatment and therapy. This approach may remove the opportunity to address problem behaviors, past experiences, and trauma that lead to substance use. Until a strong program of recovery is in place and built on a strong foundation, untreated addicts and alcoholics will always choose the path of least resistance when in active addiction, early on in the recovery process, or when slipping into a relapse. For those who are untreated or stopping their treatment, the most comfortable path is thought to be the use of substances to solve their problems while manipulating others to help them. To an outsider looking in, that would appear to be the more difficult path, but to a substance user, it is the only path.

One additional factor that contributes to addicts relapsing is the matter of family recovery or the lack thereof. Most substance users who enter rehabilitation programs do so in isolation. In other words, they attempt to change and address their problems, but the family does not. When an addict or alcoholic returns home to the same environment and the same family dysfunction, it greatly reduces the likelihood of staying clean and sober. Families are often responsible for the addicts’ learned helplessness, victim mentality, and sense of entitlement. When the families change and stop enabling, addicts often start to understand the negative effects of their actions which the family now refuses to absorb. In a word, the loved one is held accountable. Accountability, or more precisely a lack thereof, is a strong predictor of addicts reverting back to old behaviors that lead to a drug or alcohol use relapse.

The most successful outcomes in addiction treatment that contribute to a decrease in an addict or alcoholic relapsing or discharging against medical advice (AMA) occur when the following happens:

• Long-Term Treatment – Although this does not apply in every case, data and research reveal that treatment programs of 3 months or longer improve positive outcomes.
• Family Involvement and Recovery – Family involvement greatly increases recovery rates for substance users. Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT) is an evidence-based treatment that involves the spouse and/or significant others. Addiction affects the entire family system. To leave that system in disarray with no treatment would be addressing but a small piece of the problem.
• 12-Step Facilitation – This is an evidenced-based, self-help support group for addicts and alcoholics. Although this is not the only way to stay sober after treatment, it is the most effective way.
• Sober Living – Not everyone will be a candidate for sober living, but it is a great option after treatment. Returning home to the same environment is rarely an effective strategy. We have seen the return home as one of the most significant factors in addicts relapsing. Sober living helps those in recovery be held accountable and stay connected to a recovering community in the early and vulnerable stages of recovery.
• Treatment that is Not Near the Addict’s or Alcoholic’s Usual Environment – Going far away for treatment may not be possible for everyone. However, traveling to treatment decreases early discharge rates and non-compliance episodes. It is far easier to leave a treatment center 2 miles or 2 hours from home than it is a treatment center that requires two layovers to get home. It is also far easier for a family to hold boundaries over the phone than when the loved one shows up on the doorstep unannounced, having left treatment AMA.
• Restricting Access to Cell Phones & Finances – Having access to contacts and social media during treatment is never a better option than not having access. Of all the things that cause problems during the treatment stay of an addict or alcoholic, cell phones and access to money can lead to exiting treatment early. Any time a family is in a position to temporarily suspend these two things, the opportunity for the substance user to focus on and stay in treatment is increased.
• Abstinence-based Treatment – Today, there are many professionals who believe in medically-assisted treatment and harm-reduction therapy. From their viewpoint, the use of the substances has been reduced or eliminated. This can be beneficial, and for some substance users who maintain it indefinitely, it can be helpful. Our experience has not seen as many positive outcomes when compared to the abstinence-based approach that encourages addressing behavior, emotions, and past experiences. Many argue that positive outcomes can be achieved with medically-assisted treatment, and this is true. What becomes difficult is this: first, it is challenging for someone to truly address emotions, feelings, and thoughts while continuing to ingest mind altering substances, even when medically prescribed and taken as directed. The second difficulty relates to coming off the medication. Some of the drugs used in medically-assisted treatment can cause mild yet uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. We prefer not to discourage anyone or judge those who choose medically-assisted treatment. All we can say is that in our experience, we see far fewer successful outcomes than those who follow an abstinence-based path.  

Why do addicts relapse when things are going well?

The most common reasons for addicts relapsing when things are going well are fear of success and believing the problem was rooted in the symptoms rather than the addiction itself. Addicts and alcoholics often have simultaneous fears of success and failure, most of which are rooted in childhood experiences. Many substance users have fears of rejection coupled with low self-esteem. Some resulting characteristics are people-pleasing behaviors and an inability to let people get close. Some addicts and alcoholics believe they are unworthy of love, intimacy, or experiences that bring success or positive outcomes. At the same time, they despise their uncomfortable feelings so much so that they are terrified to fail or be rejected. Consequently, they strive to avoid any kind of failure that would reinforce these negative feelings and emotions. The fears of success and failure are the driving forces behind the belief that addicts and alcoholics drink or use drugs in an attempt to harm those who love them the most. In other words, they drink or use at people. This is an attempt not only to gain the attention of those they feel have wronged them, it is also to inflict pain upon these same people. It can also be seen as an effort to see how much others will endure to show the addict or alcoholic how much they care. 

Oftentimes, addicts and alcoholics resume using following improvements to the quality of their lives during short periods of abstinence or sobriety. This almost always occurs when the addict or alcoholic has addressed treating the addiction by fixing what was broken or lost as a result of the addiction. Forgoing the behaviors, thoughts, and emotions that caused the addiction and ensuing symptoms is where many fail. It is not uncommon for substance users to go to treatment, not engage in ongoing recovery efforts, and remain abstinent for a period of time on sheer willpower alone. Once they get their lives back in order, they either self-sabotage or believe it is ok to try drinking alcohol or using drugs again. They often believe they have figured out how to avoid the pitfalls of “the last time,” and their primary method of recovery is to “not do those things” again. 

Addiction is largely behavioral in nature. Many substance users can relate to a magical connection with their drug of choice. They use the desired substance for the first time, and it is as if the lock found its key. Many experts believe this comes from brain development or lack thereof. Childhood traumas and experiences that begin as early as conception start to form in the brain. Throughout their lives, addicts and alcoholics may feel unloved or disconnected from those whom they feel should have been there for them. Humans need loving connections and relationships. When they do not exist, individuals often seek that delusional connection in a substance. The drive for this feeling is so great and so powerful that they are willing to sacrifice everything in order to continue making the connection. For those families reading this and thinking you were great parents and loved them unconditionally, you most certainly did. A family has no control over how the love is perceived or how the developing substance user is feeling inside, regardless of what was or was not provided. 

Common relapse triggers

The common denominator among relapse triggers appears to be those that involve changes in behavior. Many relapse prevention plans focus on external cues such as people, places, and things. Although these are important, coping skills and addressing these triggers through evidenced-based treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and twelve-step facilitation are far more effective than merely avoiding these pitfalls through willpower. Think about an alcoholic with many years of sobriety; are they never to go to a restaurant again that serves alcohol? Should a person with an opioid addiction, sober for many years, live in fear of injury, and being prescribed pain killers? The point is that addiction recovery and avoiding relapse are inside jobs.  

The warning behaviors that indicate someone is vulnerable to relapse are:

• Resentment
• Arguing with others
• Selfishness
• Dishonesty
• Victim mentality
• Restlessness, irritability, and discontentment
• Isolation
• Stopping ongoing treatment or recovery efforts
• Discontinuing healthy habits such as diet, exercise, and hobbies
• Contacting old friends and frequenting old places associated the with harmful lifestyle
• Gossiping
• Becoming ungrateful
• Hiding or becoming protective of a cell phone
• Infidelity
• Inattention to hygiene and keeping a clean dwelling
• Entitlement
• Seeking external validation 

Almost everyone will at some point in life manifest some of these characteristics whether in alcohol and drug recovery or not. The difference is that for people with a substance use disorder, these behaviors can lead to justifications to revisit people, places, and things that are unhealthy or risky. The result can be a return to substance use and a relapse that surpasses the damage of any prior experience. Most people in a strong recovery program will say that if the recovery is in order, it is possible to make it through every trial and tribulation life has to offer without reverting to substances. Of course, many external triggers can make an addict or alcoholic vulnerable to relapse. Preparing for when, not if, these things occur is a task that needs to be undertaken.

Signs of relapse

Among the indicators of a potential relapse, the ones that stand out as precursors are resentment and victim mentality. This is not just an Alcoholics Anonymous theme where the Big Book declares that resentments are the number one offender. In our experience, resentments truly are the number one offender, and it is difficult to overstate the role resentments play in addicts or alcoholics putting themselves in a position to be hurt. And when they are hurt, the degree to which the punishment they inflict on others never fits the crime is astonishing. They go through life doing much wrong to others, but when they believe they have been wronged, watch out for there will be hell to pay. When substance users enter recovery, they are encouraged and taught to see different ways of addressing or viewing problems. Addicts and alcoholics start to understand that the people in their lives whom they feel have harmed them are also unwell themselves. Substance users begin to address their behaviors and their negative experiences and through evidence-based interventions and treatments, start to transform and undergo a behavioral change. When these behaviors revert to old, unhealthy habits and the methods of addressing these problems return, relapse is almost inevitable. 

In the relapse triggers section above, we discussed triggers, almost all of them behavioral, that are precursors to a relapse and a return to substance use. Once the behaviors become unmanageable, active substance use often follows. Below are some examples of things substance users do that may indicate a relapse. 

• Avoiding family and friends
• Asking for money
• Dishonesty and saying they’re going to do something but fail do it or do the opposite
• Not attending meetings or calling their sponsor
• Avoiding authority figures such as probation or parole officers
• Anger when confronted about a relapse
• Anger when asked to take a drug test or breathalyzer
• Anger when asked where they have been
• Anger when asked if they are still in recovery
• Anger or excuses when asked where their money is and why they need money
• Smell of alcohol
• Dilated pupils or glassy eyes – opiates cause small pupils; stimulants cause large pupils
• Itching or nodding off – signs of opioid use
• Manic behavior – often present with stimulant use, can occur with opioids

Angered responses are noted in many cases of relapse. It is important to remember that anger is inverted fear. The response to being asked to take a drug test provides feedback that is as telling as the drug test itself and is sometimes even more accurate as the test can be manipulated. For those who have loved ones who became sober and are experienced with addicts or alcoholics, most of these signs are familiar. Remember, you may not always know when they are using, but you will always know when they are not. If you have to ask yourself if they are using again, they probably are or are close to doing so. 

How to deal with relapse

Two sides are affected by a drug or alcohol relapse: the substance user and the substance user’s family. How both sides deal with relapse depends on where they are in the recovery process. For substance users, chances are slim they can just consciously “snap out of it,” unless it was a slip and they are remorseful. If the addict or alcoholic has gone back to active substance use, it becomes harder based on frequency and amounts used. Addicts and alcoholics who relapse have done so behaviorally long before the substance use. Substance users aren’t likely to have an accidental relapse for no reason, and relapses require work that starts from within. It is rare that a person who is solid and strong in the recovery efforts decides to drink alcohol or consume drugs for no reason. If an addict or alcoholic is able, the best way to deal with a relapse is to tell someone and call a member of the treatment team. This is one of the many reasons a 12-step program is so valuable. Due to professional liability, the treatment team is probably not going to send out a search party if the loved one stops engaging. A 12-step group might. When in a fellowship, surrounded by other addicts or alcoholics, most look out for one another. Because addiction is not a struggle with willpower, and the addict or alcoholic loses the power of choice once substances are consumed, it is often the case that others have to step in to help as the loved one is currently incapable of succeeding alone in this struggle. It is often said that addicts or alcoholics stop relapsing when they have had enough and experience consequences greater than before. In our experience, this is often true. Strong accountability and boundaries from others often expedite the substance user’s ability to see the end of the relapse more quickly.

Should the substance user come to a point of re-entering treatment and stop the insanity associated with the relapse, great benefit can be derived from the relapse experience. Any time there is a relapse, it can be processed with the treatment team to dissect where and when it started and why. Every relapse starts with a behavioral lapse that compounds to more lapses as the behaviors go unaddressed. Identifying and reviewing these experiences can help strengthen and prepare a substance user with an effective relapse prevention plan moving forward. The average addict or alcoholic has several treatment attempts before maintaining long-term sobriety. Every treatment brings value and every relapse can bring perspective. Some get it the first time, and some have to go through it several times before realizing that substances are the solution to the problem and not the problem in and of itself. 

If you are the family of an addict or alcoholic who has relapsed, you really have only two choices. The first is to go back to the way things were and continue to enable the loved one. Doing this will greatly reduce any chance of him or her seeing or feeling the consequences of the relapse and doing something about it. The other option is for the family to respectfully and fondly hold the loved one accountable, reminding the substance user of the boundaries that are imposed in the event of a relapse. Family members can insist they are unable to be part of the situation but would be happy to help him or her back into treatment and recovery. In our experience, families who engage in their own recovery program and who have gone through a professional family intervention are in a far better position to know how to deal with a relapse. 

Myths about relapse and addiction

Several erroneous beliefs exist regarding addiction, intervention, and relapse. Some stand out and are referenced just about every time we consult with a family. Over time, addiction, considered a medical illness and a disease, became the only medical illness and disease which people believe they can correct themselves and often with no professional help. How did this happen? Many of the beliefs come from modern day treatment philosophies, and still more derive from non-professional opinion. Of all the ineffective guidance and suggestions swirling around, the least qualified people to be giving advice or taking their own suggestions are the substance users themselves and the codependent or dysfunctional family members who are emotionally attached to the problem. In summary, we have unwell people being guided by misinformed people with ineffective solutions and advice. So, what are these myths and misconceptions we consistently hear? 

The loved one has to want help or hit bottom – There is nothing you can do until then.

This belief is mentioned by almost every family we encounter. Although a myth, there is a grain of truth to it. An addict or an alcoholic has to see and feel the consequences of continuing the addiction as a precursor to considering change. As far as the bottom goes, everyone has a different one and no one can accurately predict what another person’s bottom is. It helps to remind people that bottom is a place you get to emotionally and not necessarily a profit and loss statement. We have come to realize that when a family is unhealthy, the members are collectively addressing the substance user in a way that prevents the loved one from wanting help or seeing the need for it. Unhealthy family behaviors do not even have to involve enabling, although that is often a large part of the problem. An unhealthy family system can provide just enough continued chaos and drama to keep the addict or alcoholic in his or her element. Addicts and alcoholics thrive in chaos and drama. The longer a family allows the addiction to consume the family, the more comfortable the substance user remains at the family’s expense. An unhealthy family additionally allows a substance or alcohol user to live as a victim while internalizing the blame cast upon them. A family that waits for their loved one to want help or hit bottom while tolerating an environment that prevents it will be waiting a long time for something that is most likely never going to happen. Some external forces such as arrests and medical consequences can encourage change, at least temporarily. After the shock of those experiences, an unhealthy family or environment is most likely going to provide the addict or alcoholic a familiar place of comfort, replete with chaos, drama, and control. 

He just needs a job, a significant other, or something positive to make him quit.

Employment, companionship, and positive healthy habits are all great adjuncts to a treatment plan. But these only address external problems and recall things lost as a result of the behaviors caused by the substances. If addiction were this simple, there would be no need for counseling, therapy, or treatment centers. Those addicted to substances would just start dating, working, and going to the gym after detox, and all would be well. This rarely happens, and when it does, it is rarely a sustainable solution. The myth here is that addiction is an issue of willpower that can be solved through the power of choice. For some who are only physically addicted, such an approach may prove effective. For those who have a true substance use or alcohol use disorder diagnosed as moderate or severe, this path often fails. 

The treatment center isn’t working, and he keeps relapsing. 

Part of this statement is not a myth as it is true that people often relapse. Blaming the treatment center(s) or treatment teams after multiple relapses is largely without merit. Some treatment centers can at times be to blame. There are instances when the addict or alcoholic just couldn’t connect with a primary therapist. When this happens more than once, we have to start looking at the substance or alcohol user and the family system. Blaming the centers and saying they do not work is a common excuse and an effective manipulation to justify the addict or alcoholic’s claim of victimhood. Think of how many times an alcoholic says that Alcoholics Anonymous doesn’t work. We have yet to interview one person making this claim about AA who can explain the program or admit to working it the way it was actually designed. In regards to claims the treatment center has failed, it doesn’t take long to debunk those falsehoods either. Almost every time a family states that the treatment center failed, they admit to allowing their loved one to come home early or to return home after a successful completion while still blaming the center for a subsequent relapse. When a loved one completes or leaves treatment and returns home to the same environment and/or unhealthy family system, the treatment center did not fail. Even if mistakes were made, there is much more to factor in for causing the relapse. 

Truths about relapse and addiction

When we explained the myths surrounding relapse and addiction, we also addressed clarifications and truths behind the misinformation. We would like to focus this section not only on the truths but also the positives associated with treatment and recovery. With all the pessimism and the negative views people have about those addicted as well as the recovery process, we have seen overwhelming evidence of optimism and positive outcomes. As addiction professionals, we do what we do because of the success stories that have been achieved. We see people transform their lives and reunite with their children and families. Regardless of the outcome, we have to try to help those who are temporarily incapable of seeing the need for help. The truth about addiction and relapse is that people do achieve recovery, and many of them lead lives they never thought they could have or deserved to have. Here are the truths we see about addiction and relapse. 

People do recover.

We often hear about low rates of recovery and stories about people who have died and those who are on the verge of doing so. The news is filled with negative accounts that would lead one to believe there is nothing good to talk about. Many people in recovery refer to non-addicts or non-alcoholics as normal people. What we have seen in so-called “normal people” is far from normal. In fact, many have less ability to work through problems or devise solutions to their problems. The difference is that “normal people” are not going to turn to substances that destroy their lives. They can be miserable and resentful with impunity while managing to avoid substance use. Addicts and alcoholics are given an amazing opportunity to transform their lives by applying effective solutions to problems that arise. These same solutions would be just as effective for those they view as “normal people,” too. Addiction is behavioral, and anytime we can change those behaviors and improve our outlook on life, we can and do become better people. Not only do people recover from a hopeless state of mind and body, but they are given the opportunity to start over and be happy for the remainder of their lives.

To sum up how powerful recovery can be, we recall a story of a man who was giving a lead at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. He had used drugs and alcohol for almost his entire life starting at a very early age. As the man told his story, he shared with the onlookers that he lost his eyesight at the age of 19. The next comment he made put things into perspective. Standing there at the age of 33 with four years of sobriety, he said that his worst day in sobriety while blind was better than any day he ever had in his addiction as a sighted person.

Treatment works.

Time after time, we hear substance users and their families cry out as victims, declaring that the treatment center did not work. As stated earlier, it is possible that one or maybe even two centers might not be the right fit. After a pattern of failed attempts, however, the family and the substance user have to look at themselves and see what part they are playing in the failed attempts. If a substance user goes to a treatment center, completely surrenders, and becomes honest with the treatment team, the chances of recovery are high. To increase the likelihood of a successful outcome, the substance user should follow through with all aftercare recommendations, and the family should continue to maintain boundaries and hold the substance user accountable. Simply put, do not purchase a product, throw the instructions in the trash, and then complain of a defective or ineffective product. 

Substance users and families can learn from relapses.

Nobody has to relapse, and many people who enter recovery never do providing they stay committed to the lifelong recovery process. For those who do relapse, it can take a personal toll on them as well as their families. A relapse is said to occur if the substance user was sober prior to the relapse. In other words, the loved one was in recovery and not just abstaining from drugs on willpower; using drugs in that case would be called resuming.

When a relapse occurs, two positives can come from it. In the first instance, the substance user can reflect on the experiences with the treatment team and figure out when the relapse started behaviorally. A relapse does not come out of nowhere; it requires work on the part of the substance user. As old behaviors and old ways of thinking slowly return, the substance user gradually slips closer and closer to substance use, and then suddenly, it happens. These triggers can help build self-awareness and a more effective plan for the future. The second positive is that a relapse allows family members to exercise their recovery efforts. Just as substance users can learn from their past behavior, families can learn the real-time warning signs that led to it. This can help prepare them for shifts in future behavior by the addict or alcoholic that could lead to relapse. Families can also learn how to put boundaries in place and hold the substance user accountable for a relapse. We hope nobody has to experience a relapse, but in the event it happens, there is much that can be learned from it.

How to Help Someone Avoid a Relapse

There are two ways to approach helping someone not to relapse. An ineffective way would be to continue the enabling and codependency that didn’t work in the past. The other option is to take care of yourself, hold the loved one accountable, set boundaries, and not enable the alcohol or substance use. Substance users are going to do what substance users do; the goal is to avoid helping them.  

A family’s most effective course of action is to enter their own recovery program. The biggest mistake families make is believing they can control the loved one, the addiction, or the outcome. A person in recovery is responsible for his or her own recovery. A mistaken belief of substance users, shared by many families, is thinking they can somehow fix, manage, or control others. 

A family in recovery will learn many effective ways to accept and understand their loved one and his or her addiction. They will become aware of behavioral warning signs that lead to relapse and know what to do in the event of a relapse. Here are some of the precursors to relapse and what a family can do to help themselves and possibly help the substance user think differently about the situation.

• The substance user asks for help in a way that does not seem right – If you notice your loved one slipping back, and he or she asks to talk, you can do so. When the conversation starts with a lengthy discussion of the current situation and the need for money, you can respond simply by asking what does the sponsor or treatment team suggest be done? You can offer to drive the loved one to a meeting or print out a meeting schedule. The goal is to not cosign any backsliding but to help redirect the loved one toward recovery. This may set off a fit of anger or a re-pleading of the case. If so, you have your answer as to what the motives are. 

• Old behaviors coming back – If you notice your loved one engaging in old behaviors, associating with old friends or engaging in risky behaviors, you’re allowed to say something. Your goal is to be loving and respectful while insisting that you see warning signs. Your questioning may result in the loved one getting angry or flipping the script. That is ok; you want to “clean your side of the street” and share your observations. What the loved one does after that is beyond your control.

• Self-Awareness and Family Recovery – The more you understand addiction and the better the family’s recovery program, the greater your ability to handle problems as you see them. Always bring the conversations with the substance user back to them. People headed for a relapse will start exhibiting the same behaviors seen in their addiction, minus the substance use. No matter what they ask or what they do, you can always bring it back to questions regarding their treatment team. The goal is to intervene on behaviors before they get to substance use relapse. Remember, you can’t control what they do, but you can control what you say that may help them do something differently. Offer to take them to a meeting, offer to help them find a meeting, ask them if you can speak to their sponsor, and so on. In the event they do relapse on substances, the only recourse is to remind them that you love them and you would be happy to help them when they are ready to go back into a treatment program. 

Our consistent message is to remind families that interventions are not about learning how to control or stop the person’s addiction. It is about letting go of believing that you can. Healthy boundaries, encouragement to go back into treatment, and holding loved ones accountable are the best course of action. Do not allow them to take you hostage again, and do not feed into their need to create chaos and drama; addicts and alcoholics thrive in that and you do not. Lastly, do not react and allow them to blame you for what is happening. When a family allows that to start up again, they allow the substance user to reclaim the victim role while feeding the resentment that leads to substance use. Families of addicts and alcoholics are encouraged to enter recovery programs such as Al-Anon and Open Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous and to attend meetings with a counselor or a therapist. Families should be doing this regardless of whether their loved one is in recovery.  

If you have questions about relapses and what family recovery looks like, reach out today. Our team of experienced intervention counselors is here to support you.

Back to Top