Why is Relapsing So High? (85%) 6 Reasons Why!
Did you know 40-60% of people relapse in the first 3 months?
And did you know that number rises to 85% within the first year.
If you’ve been battling addiction or helping someone who is, you’ve probably heard the daunting statistic: 85% of people relapse within the first year. That can feel extremely hard, and even unlikely!
I fell for this trap too. I was sober for 2/4 months, and when I found a pill in my house, I took it. I convinced myself of all things. Since that day, whenever it was, I have been sober.
But it still begs the question: why is relapsing so common? Why do so many people, who definitely don't want to fall back into old habits, do so anyway?
A simple truth is, addiction rewires your brain, your habits, and your life in ways that make staying clean tough—but not impossible. For example, you’ve taken drugs or used your addiction throughout all types of emotions: happy, sad, bored, stressed. It’s highly linked with all aspects of our life.
Here are 6 breakdowns of why relapse rates are so high and what we—and you—can do about it.
1. Addiction Changes Your Brain
Let’s start with the science. Drugs like cocaine mess with your brain’s reward system, flooding it with dopamine and creating a feeling of euphoria. Over time, your brain gets used to this massive dopamine hit, so it stops producing normal levels on its own.
When you stop using, your brain and body crave that hit, and cravings can be relentless. We’ll talk about that later. On top of that, your ability to say no is hampered because addiction literally damages your impulse control. It impacts massive amounts and parts of your brain. It’s literally rotting from the inside out. And it’s not about willpower—it’s about rewiring your brain, and that takes time. They say it takes about 90–180 days for the brain to start wiring and working without dependency.
2. Triggers Are Everywhere and Become Too Much
Imagine this: you’re doing great, being sober for a few weeks. Then, out of nowhere, you see an old friend you used to party with, or you pass a bar where you used to tear up the dance floor on drugs, or you go to watch the football on Saturday night and the alcohol has dampened your decision-making. Then, your brain is screaming at you to use again. The dealer can arrive in 5 minutes. He can do it on tick, and the boys are itching.
These triggers—people, places, and certain emotions—can feel overwhelming, positively and negatively, driving you to use.
Addiction can be sneaky like that, linking everyday things to using. Everyday things like opening a can, seeing a credit card, a smell, a text message—they all play a role. So, you have to work hard to break those connections. Seeking help is always advised, and feeling good after three weeks isn’t sufficient time to now say you’re complete with your help, be it therapy, rehab, or other forms of support. Don’t be overconfident with your recovery journey.
3. You’re Unsure and Have Lost Coping Mechanisms
For many, drugs aren’t just about getting high—they’re about escaping pain. In fact, that would be way more the case than to get high. It seemingly starts out to get high, and then as time goes on, it’s about escaping. Stress, anxiety, or boredom can make using feel like the only way to cope. Stress is the #1 reason for the use of drugs, regardless of whether we think we’re stressed too.
Without solid tools to handle life’s curveballs, it’s easy to fall back into old habits. In recovery, you simply must build new habits and ways to handle stress. Working out, journaling, or even calling a mate when things get hard can all be very helpful. Without these, fighting on your own can be the hardest battle of all.
4. Withdrawal Feels Endless
Quitting isn’t all about surviving the first few weeks. Months down the line, you can still feel the effects of withdrawal. You can just hate being sober from moments of sobriety, and this can lead down a nasty road.
Other symptoms like anxiety, low energy, depression, and insomnia can drag on for ages. Eventually, the attitude of ‘why not’ can kick in.
It can be exhausting, I know firsthand. And many people relapse because they want to feel “normal” again. Normal being the trick they’ve had, the high they’ve had, the normal that’s not normal. But here’s the bonus: every day you stay clean, your brain gets closer to healing, literally and neurobiologically.
5. Overconfidence is Dangerous
A common trap—and I love telling people about traps, especially on the journey of recovery—I see is people thinking they’ve got it under control. They’re confident they can go out this weekend. “I’ll just have one drink,” or “the boys said it’s just one drink,” or “One line won’t hurt.” For the vast majority of people, it’s not that simple. Addiction thrives on the idea of moderation. Listen to that: addiction thrives on the idea of moderation. And we’ve heard it before, everything in moderation. But in reality, it’s a slippery slope that leads straight downhill back to square one.
6. Unresolved Root Causes (Not Important)
Look, unfortunately, men in general think they’re not stressed, they think they’re good in their relationship, they feel fine, so all is fine. But let’s be honest: addiction isn’t just about the substance, the end results, the fail. It’s much more of a way to cope with deeper issues—trauma, anxiety, depression, feelings of unworthiness, or boredom.
In a nutshell, if the root causes aren’t dealt with, the cravings won’t go away. Read that again. And why? It’s because the pain hasn’t gone away. I call it the subtle pain—not overwhelming broken arm pain, but a leech sucking blood slowly and daily.
This is why digging deep in recovery is so important. It’s not just about stopping the drug—it’s about the underneath. And it really is!
So, What’s the Solution?
Recovery isn’t about being perfect, nor is it going to be. Because there isn’t a perfect way. The failure rate of the first year is super high.
Is it a lot about being prepared? Yes. And relapse is common, but it doesn’t mean failure. That’s important to hear. It means there’s more work to do, and that’s all.
Here are a few ways to fight back:
Get Support: Whether it’s therapy, group sessions, or a coach, don’t go alone on this one!
Build New Habits: Find your “new high.” Exercise, ice baths, Jiu Jitsu, or other hobbies. Even simple daily wins can help rewire your brain and create positive routines. Therefore, positive cycles! Meaning no need for drugs, because life’s good enough!
Address the Pain/Root: Work on the root causes of your addiction, whether it’s through therapy or self-reflection. The impact of this is grossly understated.
Prepare for Triggers: Identify what sets you off. Is it a text on Friday, a bottle clinking, a card and toilet, a sniffing sound? Depending on you, something gets you going. Learn, watch out, and take precautions.
At the end of the day, or year, or life, recovery is a journey. Some days will be harder than others—that’s unfortunately true—but as long as you keep moving forward, you’re winning. Even with a relapse, it’s not great, but it’s not the end of the world! And remember, recovery is possible. I did it, and you can too.
If you’re struggling with relapse or want to make sure it doesn’t happen, reach out. You don’t have to do this alone. I have trained for over half a decade and helped dozens of people stop abusing drugs. See below if that’s of interest to you.
Ready to Start Your Recovery Journey?
I’ve been where you are. I was addicted to cocaine and spent thousands on it. I know what it takes to break free, as I did myself and as I’ve helped others too. My programs are designed to help you stay clean and build a life you’re proud of. Let’s do this together.
Contact me today, because recovery is unbelievably better than staying in drug cycles.
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Recovery is Possible.
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