07/30/2026
Did you know that recovery is more like Diabetes than most people realize?
Between 40% and 60% of people in recovery experience at least one relapse.
That number surprises many people. It shouldn't.
It's comparable to relapse rates for other chronic conditions like hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Yet we rarely call those conditions "failures."
Recovery deserves the same understanding. Relapse isn't proof that treatment didn't work. It's a sign that recovery, like many chronic conditions, requires ongoing management.
The goal is recognizing them early and having a plan to respond.
If we can view diabetes and hypertension with compassion instead of judgment, why should recovery be any different?