Why Some People Relapse After 90 Days

Staying in treatment for addiction for 90 days, or three months, can significantly reduce or stop drug use for some people. However, relapses can occur after this milestone for various reasons. A relapse is a sign that someone needs to return to a level of treatment that will help them get back into recovery quickly.1 It is crucial to understand why relapse occurs, common triggers, and how to maintain long-term recovery.

Understanding the 90-Day Milestone

Addiction is complex, and even after someone experiences harmful outcomes, they may continue to misuse substances. Because of this, treatment is also complex and must be tailored to a patient’s needs to help them achieve long-term recovery.1

Drugs and alcohol alter how the brain and body function. Therefore, the body must readjust and relearn how to function without substances. Addiction treatment must address the medical, psychological, vocational, social, age, gender, ethnicity, and legal factors.1

Many patients undergo several stages of recovery, each lasting from months to years. The stages include abstinence, repair, and growth. Dealing with cravings and relapse triggers is difficult during the abstinence stage. Unfortunately, many relapses occur within the first twelve weeks, or 90 days. Staying in treatment for 90 days can bring about stability. Still, you may also face vulnerabilities that can lead to relapses.2

Common Reasons People Relapse After 90 Days

The reasons people relapse after 90 days vary due to factors that support or discourage sobriety. Relapse risk factors include:3

• Starting to use substances at an early age
• Addiction in your family
• Impulsive personality traits
• Severity of the addiction
• Co-occurring disorders
• Lack of social support

The body needs time to heal during the recovery relapse process. If you aren’t participating in activities to help the body heal, you may be tempted to relapse after treatment. Eating a healthy diet, replenishing nutrients reduced by drug or alcohol use, and allowing your mind and body to reset and begin functioning correctly are also essential to recovery. It is crucial to make positive lifestyle changes to help the healing process.4

Relapsing on alcohol or drugs does not mean you have failed in recovery. Relapses are often viewed as a natural part of the recovery process. However, a relapse does mean that you need more or different treatment strategies to help you remain in recovery long-term.5

Relapse Statistics After Treatment

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, between 40% and 60% with a substance use disorder relapse after receiving treatment.5 More specifically, 50% of relapses occur within the first 12 weeks, or 90 days after completing intensive inpatient programs.2 The statistics are comparable to relapses that occur among those with high blood pressure and asthma. Therefore, addiction should be treated like other medical conditions when it comes to reentering treatment.5

In a review of more than 500 alcoholism studies, results showed the relapse rate after rehab to be more than 75%, with 40% to 80% having at least one drink, or lapse, within the first year after treatment. Further, around 20% returned to pre-treatment levels of alcohol use. Nicotine and heroin relapses were comparable to those of alcohol relapses, with 80% to 95% relapsing after a year.6

Preventing Relapse After the 90 Day Mark

Relapses can be prevented if you implement the tools and strategies available at treatment centers with qualified staff to guide you through the process. Prevention methods include continuing in behavioral therapies to strengthen your skills for avoiding a relapse. Medications to curb cravings and withdrawal symptoms may also be necessary. Additionally, you can receive assistance in establishing a positive peer support network and developing healthy routines.1

When developing healthy routines, consider joining social support groups, relapse prevention groups, and 12-step programs.1 Additionally, there are mobile recovery apps with online communities and support groups to maintain your recovery and connect with others.7

Overcoming Relapse and Rebuilding Recovery

Relapsing on alcohol or drugs does not mean you are starting all over. The progress you made in the past still exists, and long-term recovery is still a very realistic goal. Using a substance the first time after entering recovery is called a “lapse”. If you reenter recovery and return to using substances, it is a “relapse.”6 Neither a lapse nor a relapse can prevent you from achieving long-term sobriety.

To overcome relapse and rebuild recovery, you must focus on self-efficacy and regaining the confidence you need to cope with stressors that may trigger a relapse. You should also adjust your expectations and understand that alcohol or drugs will not improve your situation.6

Continuing in therapy can improve coping skills and emotional regulation, both of which can prevent relapse. You can also benefit from learning urge management techniques, cognitive restructuring, stimulus control, lifestyle balance, and gaining social and interpersonal support.6

Relapse prevention is not a guarantee, but it can reduce the chances of you returning to your addiction. Through cognitive-behavioral approaches, you can develop skills to help you maintain recovery.6

How Empowered Recovery Center Supports Long-Term Sobriety

Continuing care after you complete a high level of treatment can help you strengthen your recovery. It can offer continued support, structure, accountability, and help with any recovery issues that arise. It involves continually reassessing your recovery progress and adapting services as needed.8

The outpatient programs at Empowered Recovery Center in Kansas City help you maintain your recovery by creating an individualized relapse prevention program to assess your risk of relapse and develop specific strategies to meet your unique recovery needs. They offer aftercare support for one full year after graduation to ensure you stay on track in your recovery. Programs are flexible, allowing you to fulfill your responsibilities at work, home, or school while also receiving ongoing support.

Getting Started with Relapse Recovery in Kansas City

Long-term recovery is possible, even if you have experienced a relapse or multiple relapses. The key is to access the tools and services available to help you reach your recovery goals. At Empowered Recovery Center in Kansas City, we can help you navigate your recovery process and achieve key milestones. Our rehab center in Kansas City offers comprehensive addiction treatment, personalized recovery planning, and supportive recovery services.

The first step in relapse recovery is to contact the admissions department to receive an assessment that will determine which level of treatment you need to begin your journey. The admissions team can help you figure out how to pay for rehab and verify your insurance coverage. They offer a variety of programs with varying intensities, such as intensive outpatient, alumni support, transitional living, and partial-hospitalization programs.

You do not have to overcome a relapse alone. Call us today or verify your insurance benefits so we can help you get started with your recovery.

References

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Principles of drug addiction treatment: A research-based guide (third edition). Retrieved on September 29, 2025, from https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/podat-3rdEd-508.pdf.
2. Guenzel N, McChargue D. (2023). Addiction relapse prevention. Retrieved on September 29, 2025, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551500/.
3. Yazıcı, A. B., & Bardakçı, M. R. (2023). Factors Associated with Relapses in Alcohol and Substance Use Disorder. The Eurasian journal of medicine, 55(1), S75–S81. https://doi.org/10.5152/eurasianjmed.2023.23335. Retrieved on September 29, 2025, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11075040/.
4. MedlinePlus. (2024). Substance use recovery and diet. Retrieved on September 29, 2025, from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002149.htm.
5. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). Treatment and recovery. Retrieved on September 29, 2025, from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery.
6. Menon, J., & Kandasamy, A. (2018). Relapse prevention. Indian journal of psychiatry, 60(Suppl 4), S473–S478. https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_36_18. Retrieved on September 29, 2025, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5844157/.
7. Get Smart About Drugs. (2022). Sober apps: New tools to help those in recovery. Retrieved on September 29, 2025, from https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/news-statistics/2017/06/09/sober-apps-new-way-help-those-recovery.
8. McKay J. R. (2021). Impact of Continuing Care on Recovery From Substance Use Disorder. Alcohol research: current reviews, 41(1), 01. https://doi.org/10.35946/arcr.v41.1.01. Retrieved on September 29, 2025, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7813220/.