The goal of addiction recovery is to build relapse prevention skills that protect your progress and personal growth. However, relapse can happen when the hard work put into relapse prevention is pushed aside. Knowing recovery and relapse statistics for alcohol addiction can help you take control of your life.
If you or someone you love is experiencing alcohol addiction or relapse, Tree House Recovery can help. Talk to our admissions team today to assess the best level of care for your unique needs, and learn long-term prevention skills to help you regain your power.
Alcohol Use Disorder and Recovery Statistics
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a type of chronic health condition that will need to be managed over time. Unfortunately, there is no one pill to cure all.
Alcohol addiction treatment helps individuals with AUD develop skills and resources to maintain long-term sobriety. Each person’s recovery will look different depending on the person’s unique situation.
Studies found that people who stay in addiction treatment for three months or more have higher sobriety rates than those in 30-day programs.1 Longer treatments offer therapies and support that tackle the root causes of addiction and provide a safe, healthy environment to practice new relapse-prevention skills.
The success of substance use disorder treatment and recovery depends on a person’s commitment to changing their behavior and the support and expertise of their chosen facility.
How Many People Seek Treatment for Alcoholism?
According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2.3 million people ages 12 and older with AUD received alcohol treatment in the United States.2 This is less than 10% of people who are experiencing AUD (28.9 million people).3
With an estimated 178,000 alcohol-related deaths each year4, it is important to seek treatment for alcohol addiction and step toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Alcoholics Recovery Statistics: How Many People Stay Sober?
Although there is limited data on the success rates of alcohol addiction treatment programs, research shows that factors like treatment length, therapy variety, and the quality of therapists, counselors, and educators can impact a program’s success.
But ultimately, the individual has the power to maintain sobriety.
Does Alcohol Rehab Reduce Relapse Rates?
Yes. Alcohol rehab is designed to help people experiencing alcohol addiction learn the necessary coping skills and triggers to take control of their disorder. The longer someone stays in a recovery program, the lower their risk for relapse is.
Estimating sobriety statistics and alcohol recovery rates is challenging because of the lack of studies on AUD recovery, as well as various factors like addiction severity, physical and mental health impact, and external influences that can affect the rates.
Alcohol Relapse Statistics
Addiction is complex and can damage internal systems that can challenge sustainable recovery from addiction.
For some, the road to recovery can feature relapses.
What Is Relapse?
Relapse, also known as recurrence or a return to substance use, is an instance of substance use after a period of abstinence.5
In some situations, relapse can be dangerous. For example, when someone who hasn’t misused for a while relapses and uses the same quantity of the substance they used previously, they are at risk for an overdose because their tolerance has decreased.
Relapse is not failure. Instead, it means that parts of a person’s treatment plan need changes or reinforcement to prevent relapse.6
The Types of Relapses (Slips, Lapses & Relapses)
To better understand alcohol relapse statistics, let’s unpack the different types of relapses that can happen:
- Slip: A short setback where a person drinks alcohol after a period of sobriety but does not resume regular drinking.
- Lapse: A short-term return to alcohol use involving multiple instances of drinking without fully reverting to habitual abuse.
- Relapse: A complete return to previous patterns of excessive alcohol consumption, resuming old habits and behaviors like heavy drinking.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) suggests referring to relapses as “recurrences” or “a return to substance use” to reduce stigmatization.5
Alcohol Relapse Statistics
Recovery from alcohol addiction is a life-long process that depends largely on a person’s circumstances, support systems, and the effectiveness of treatment.
Alcohol relapse rates will differ from person to person, but the rates range from 40% to 60%. These numbers highlight the challenges people face while maintaining long-term sobriety, highlighting the importance of finding the best addiction treatment and aftercare programs for you.
Understanding alcohol relapse statistics can offer valuable insight into the long-term effects of alcohol addiction and the importance of recovery.
Key relapse statistics include:
- Nearly 1 in 3 recovery alcoholics experience relapse within the first year of sobriety.
- In the second year of recovery, about 21.4% of alcoholics may relapse.
- Nearly 36% of alcoholics who recover and maintain long-term sobriety.
- Between three and five years of sobriety, the relapse rate drops to 7.2%.
The first two years of recovery are the hardest. However, maintaining the skills and community built during treatment can empower you to remain sober longer, decreasing your risk of relapse.
The 3 Stages of Relapse
Alcohol relapse does not start the moment someone takes a drink. However, studies have suggested that three stages of alcohol relapse happen gradually.
- Emotional relapse: Emotional relapse is often considered the first stage, happening when self-care habits start to decline. Signs include bottling up emotions, isolating, refusing to express feelings, poor sleep and eating habits, and skipping meetings.7
- Mental relapse: The second stage, mental relapse, occurs when someone struggles between the desire to drink and the commitment to staying sober. This may involve alcohol cravings, romanticizing past alcohol use, or thinking about people, places, and situations associated with drinking.7
- Physical relapse: Physical relapse is the third and final stage of relapse. This stage happens when someone starts drinking alcohol again. Physical relapse can be a result of triggers like stress, environmental cues, or internal and external factors.
Relapse occurs in stages, so identifying which stage you or someone else may be in can help prevent a physical relapse by adjusting the treatment plan. Professional help can pinpoint areas for improvement in treatment, strengthen coping skills, build a sense of community, and address emotional triggers.
If someone has progressed through all three stages of relapse and started drinking again, professional help can still benefit them. Seeking alcohol addiction treatment, adjusting strategies, and strengthening life skills can help increase the likelihood of long-term recovery.
When Is Alcohol Relapse Most Likely to Happen?
Alcohol relapse often happens when external or internal factors reintroduce stress in a person’s life. While that individual may have relapse prevention skills, unhealthy behaviors associated with addiction may have returned and gone unnoticed.
Health professionals identify several key factors that can lead to alcohol relapse, including a lack of support and motivation. Several factors associated with the risk of relapse include:
Internal Factors of Alcohol Relapse
- Strong emotional reactions: Experiencing extreme highs or lows can impact decision-making.
- Unhealthy coping mechanisms: Relying on ineffective coping strategies.
- Distorted thinking patterns: Developing negative or irrational thoughts that reinforce harmful behaviors.
- Low confidence in overcoming challenges: Doubting one’s ability to resist urges or navigate difficult situations.
- Guilt and shame around recurrence: Struggling with self-blame and negative emotions after setbacks.
- Lingering positive associations with substance use: Holding onto memories or thoughts that glorify past use.
External Factors of Alcohol Relapse
- Social Pressures: Influence from friends, coworkers, or social events that encourage use.
- Easy Access to Substances: Availability of drugs or alcohol in one’s environment.
- Triggers and Environmental Cues: Places, people, or situations that spark cravings or risky behaviors.
Warning Signs of an Alcohol Relapse
There are a few warning signs that can indicate that a physical alcohol relapse is coming.
Some common warning signs of alcohol relapse include:
- Craving for alcohol
- Co-occurring mental health disorders
- Increased stress levels
- Availability of a support network
- Exposure to triggers
The three phases of relapse can help identify some more of the warning signs of alcohol relapse.
Recognizing these predictors can help professionals and individuals struggling with alcoholism identify potential risks and develop effective relapse prevention strategies.
What Do To If You Relapse
Relapsing is not something to be ashamed of. Recovery is still and will always be an option for recovering alcoholics. If you relapse, the best thing you can do is take immediate action to regain control. It is essential to assess the cause of relapse, identify what you can change to avoid relapse and adapt to achieve your recovery goals.
You can seek help and support from your family, friends, support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), and treatment centers. When it comes to treatment and professional support for alcohol relapse, addiction specialists can help you find the best level of care for your addiction and how to strengthen relapse prevention skills.
Treatment for relapse will look different for everyone. Some people may benefit from a partial hospitalization program, while others may attend evening intensive outpatient programs. Assessing your needs with a professional can help you gauge what level of care best suits you.
Alum programs can also support those who have been to treatment before. Alum programs at Tree House Recovery provide a safe and supportive space for you to connect with others and find resources to help with addiction recovery.
Do You Need to Go Back to Rehab if You Relapse?
Addiction treatment might be a great option if you relapsed. Treatment can help you rediscover a path toward long-term recovery.
Again, the level of care you need depends on your unique circumstances regarding alcohol relapse. Talking to a professional about your relapse, past treatment, and goals for recovery can help determine the right level of care for you.
Find Alcohol Relapse Support in North Carolina
If you or someone you care about has relapsed, Tree House Recovery can help. Call our admissions team at (910) 812-1728 to learn more about available treatment and aftercare options.
Our team can assess the best level of care for you, verify insurance, and answer any questions you may have about seeking treatment for alcohol addiction.
Sources
Lesser, B., & Ben LesserBen Lesser is one of the most sought-after experts in health. (2024, March 2). How Long Should Rehab Be?. Dualdiagnosis.org. https://dualdiagnosis.org/addiction-treatment/how-long-you-stay/
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2025, January). Alcohol treatment in the United States. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics-z/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-treatment-united-states#:~:text=According%20to%20the%202023%20National,treatment%20in%20the%20past%20year.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024, September). Alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the United States: Age groups and demographic characteristics. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-use-disorder-aud-united-states-age-groups-and-demographic-characteristics
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024, November). Alcohol-related emergencies and deaths in the United States. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics-z/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-related-emergencies-and-deaths-united-states#:~:text=The%20Alcohol%2DRelated%20Disease%20Impact,States%2C%20behind%20tobacco%2C%20poor%20diet
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019). Enhancing Motivation for Change in Substance Use Disorder Treatment. https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/tip-35-pep19-02-01-003.pdf
- NIDA. (2020, July 6). Treatment and Recovery. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery
Melemis, S. M. (2015). Relapse Prevention and the Five Rules of Recovery. NCBI. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4553654/pdf/yjbm_88_3_325.pdf