A drug or alcohol relapse can be emotionally and financially devastating. It can also be deadly. Relapse or recurrence is when an individual begins to use substances after a period of sobriety or abstinence. Because substance use disorders are chronic (meaning recurring), the National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 40 to 60 percent of individuals will experience a recurrence. A relapse doesn’t need to occur. Some of the best tools to prevent relapse are understanding how and why a relapse can happen, developing a plan to implement if the urge to relapse occurs, and developing recovery supports before using substances.