Understanding relapse concept

Being considered as a social disorder, addiction has become a major problem in many countries over the past years. Despite long-term and recurrent suffering of patients, families and community caused by drug dependence, curing the disorder has not yet been possible. Although patients can stop using alcohol/drugs for a while, it is always possible that they may return to alcohol/drug use. It has long been known that addictive disorders are chronic and relapsing in nature. Specifically, relapse is viewed as a return to the disease state. Recently a shift in focus has been observed towards including minor “slips” or “lapses” with a possibility of resuming abstinence or “health” instead of considering them full-blown relapse or “disease”. Stress, marital problems, financial issues, adverse life events, psychiatric comorbidity such as depression or anxiety, positive mood, social pressure, family dysfunction, and a lower level of social support are among factors that cause or precipitate relapse. Relapse cannot be counted an isolated event, but it is more of a process of becoming unable to cope with life in sobriety. However, the process may cause returning to alcohol/drug use, emotional disturbances, or even suicide. The relapse process is marked by predictable and identifiable warning signs that begin long before a return to use. Recent estimates from clinical treatment studies suggest that more than two thirds of individuals relapse within weeks to months of initiating treatment [1,2]. For 1-year outcomes across alcohol, nicotine, weight, and illicit drug abuse, studies show that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug use within 1 year of treatment [3].