A relapse is a term used in addiction recovery to describe a return to substance use after a period of abstinence. It can happen when a person stops maintaining their goal of reducing or avoiding use of alcohol or other drugs and returns to their previous levels of use. A relapse can be a brief period of substance use followed by a clear return to the person’s recovery goals, which is called a lapse. A relapse can also refer to a return of alcohol or other drug use, or gambling, which someone has previously managed to control or quit completely.

There are many reasons why a person may relapse, including personal challenges, ongoing emotional and psychological issues, and social or economic problems such as financial hardship, rejection by social support networks, and challenges in personal relationships. A relapse is not a sign that the person is weak or a failure, but rather an opportunity to explore what happened and what could be done in the future to prevent it from happening again.

If a person relapses, it needs to be addressed right away. They should speak with a doctor or clinical treatment professional to understand what happened and why, as well as what steps they can take to prevent it from happening again. This may involve returning to treatment, revising treatment, or trying a different treatment approach.