Planning for Alcohol or Drug Relapse Topic Overview Back to top
- A lapse is the first time you use a drug or alcohol again
after you have quit, or brief episodes of use at later points. -
A relapse is not being able to stay drug-free or sober over
time. It can occur if you have a series of lapses close together
or a lapse that leads to heavier drug or alcohol use over a
longer period. It is most likely to happen a few months after
you have quit using drugs or alcohol. A lapse or relapse doesn't
mean you or your treatment has failed. It may mean that you just
slipped up. If this is true for you, accept the mistake and move
on. Try to find out why you relapsed and make changes in your
life so that it won't happen again. You also may need more
treatment, another type of treatment, or more time in support
groups such as Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous. You
might have several relapses, whether you have tried to quit
substance abuse on your own or have had treatment. As time goes
on, relapses usually o