Relapse after cessation

Clinical bottom line

Without treatment, or with placebo, about 60-70% of people relapse after a period of abstinence.

Data

Three reviews of various interventions to prevent relapse in abstinent participants. A summary of the reviews is available as a downloadable PDF (32kb).

Results

For smoking, with follow up to six months after quit date, the relapse rate with placebo or control was 34% in pregnant or postpartum women. In 1,903 quitters, the relapse rate with placebo was 72%.
For acamprosate and naltrexone to prevent relapse to heavy drinking in studies of 30-122 days, the combined relapse rate for placebo was 62% in 2,761 previously abstinent participants.
For opioids, use of naltrexone with follow up over three to 12 months gave a relapse rate for placebo of 63% in 110 quitters.
A survey of risk of relapse to substance use after transplant of the liver or other solid organs with an average observation period of four years gave an annual percentage relapse rate of 2.5% for alcohol and 3.7% for illicit drugs. Tobacco use was at 9.9% per year.

Comment

Without treatment, or with placebo, about 60-70% of people relapse after a period of abstinence.