How Many People Stay Sober After Rehab?
What are the chances you or someone you care about will stay sober after rehab? It’s a fair question, and one that comes up often when treatment ends and real life begins.
Relapse is common after rehab, with studies showing that 40% to 60% of people experience it. That doesn’t mean recovery isn’t working. Like other chronic health conditions, addiction often involves setbacks before long-term change takes hold.
Long-term sobriety is absolutely possible, especially when programs address more than just the addiction. When treatment includes help for trauma, stress, and mental health like many addiction recovery services in Texas do, people have a much better chance at lasting change.
In this post, we’ll look at the latest statistics, what early recovery is really like, why relapse happens, and the tools that help people stay sober for good.
What Percentage of People Stay Sober After Rehab?
Studies consistently show that addiction recovery is possible but rarely linear. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), relapse rates for substance use disorders range from 40% to 60%, comparable to other chronic illnesses like diabetes or hypertension [1]. This means relapse does not signal failure—it’s a symptom of a condition that requires continued care.
Other research has found that relapse rates can range widely depending on the population studied, length of follow-up, and treatment quality. For example, a review published in JAMA Psychiatry found that people who engaged in longer treatment and structured aftercare were significantly more likely to maintain abstinence [2]. The same study showed that relapse risk drops the longer someone remains sober, with the highest risk coming in the first year after treatment.
It’s important to understand that these statistics do not represent personal destiny. Instead, they highlight how essential effective treatment, persistence, and follow-up care are to sustaining recovery.
What to Expect in Early Recovery After Rehab
Early recovery is a time of big changes. After leaving treatment, many people feel hopeful but also unsure about what comes next. This stage is often where cravings, triggers, and emotional ups and downs show up the most. It's a time when support and structure matter more than ever.
The first few weeks and months are when the risk of relapse is highest. That doesn’t mean failure, it means this phase needs extra care, patience, and planning.
- Within weeks or months: Most relapses happen early, often in the first 90 days after rehab. Strong, consistent recovery activities are essential to get through this.
- During the first month: Emotions like anxiety or sadness can feel stronger without substances or other addictive behaviors to numb them.
- At the 60-day mark: Some people start to feel better physically, but old routines or social pressures can return.
- By three months: Support systems outside of treatment, like therapy or meetings, remain essential. This is where too many people slow their recovery activity and then relapse.
- At six months: Building a new lifestyle starts to feel real, but it takes consistent effort to maintain.
- After one year: Reaching this milestone greatly lowers the chance of relapse, especially with strong support.
Getting through early recovery is a big step. It’s not about being perfect, but about staying connected, asking for help, and building habits that make sobriety easier to maintain.
Why Do So Many People Relapse After Rehab?
Relapse occurs for many reasons, most of which have little to do with willpower. Many people return to use because of unresolved trauma [3], untreated anxiety or depression, or being exposed to high-stress environments. Neuroscience research shows that stress and negative emotional states can trigger powerful cravings by reactivating brain pathways associated with reward and relief [4]. When a treatment program addresses these drivers—rather than just the surface behaviors—relapse risk declines substantially.
It’s also worth remembering that addiction is a chronic condition, not an acute one. Just as people with diabetes may experience spikes in blood sugar or those with asthma may have flare-ups, people in recovery may experience setbacks. What matters most is how those setbacks are managed. With the right support, coping tools, and treatment environment, each attempt at sobriety can bring a person closer to lasting recovery.
What Factors Affect Whether You Stay Sober After Rehab?
Long-term sobriety isn’t just about finishing a rehab program. Many things outside of treatment play a role in whether someone can stay sober or not. Some of these factors are personal, while others come from the environment or level of support available.
Understanding these influences helps people prepare for life after treatment. It also shows why recovery looks different for everyone.
- Type of substance used: Some drugs create stronger physical and emotional dependencies, making relapse more likely.
- Co-occurring mental health issues: Depression, anxiety, or trauma can affect recovery if not treated alongside addiction.
- Family and social support: People with a stable, supportive environment tend to have better long-term outcomes. This is why sober living homes can be a vital part of early recovery.
- Access to continued care: Ongoing therapy, coaching, and recovery group support (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, etc.) after rehab increase the chance of staying sober.
- Length and quality of treatment: Longer, evidence-based programs that offer personalized care often lead to better success rates.
- Daily stress and life pressures: High-stress situations, including work or relationships, can trigger cravings or relapse. Aftercare and other ongoing support can make all the difference in navigating these.
- Willingness to make lifestyle changes: Avoiding triggers, finding new routines, and building healthy habits all support recovery.
The more these factors are addressed during and after treatment, the better the chances of staying on track. Sobriety isn’t about luck, it’s about having the right tools, support, and plan in place.
Best Ways to Stay Sober After Rehab
While no single formula guarantees lifelong sobriety, research and clinical experience point to several factors that make lasting recovery more likely:
- Comprehensive, trauma-informed care: Programs that treat both addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions help clients heal the root causes of substance use [5].
- Master’s-level therapists and credentialed clinicians: Professional expertise allows for more accurate assessment and evidence-based treatment planning.
- Therapy and recovery coaching: Combining psychotherapy with practical recovery coaching bridges insight into real-world application and accountability.
- Validated outcome-tracking tools such as Trac9: Tracking client progress allows treatment teams to identify risks early and adjust interventions for better results.
- Individualized length of stay: Each client’s treatment duration should be based on their progress, readiness, and needs—not arbitrary time limits.
- Ongoing aftercare and relapse-prevention support: Continued therapy, support groups, and coaching reinforce the gains made in residential treatment.
When these elements are integrated, clients are far more likely to build the skills and confidence needed to sustain recovery.
How Windmill Wellness Ranch Supports Lasting Recovery
At Windmill Wellness Ranch, we understand that sobriety is more than abstaining from substances, it’s rebuilding a life. That’s why our treatment approach incorporates everything listed above and more. Our approach begins with trauma-informed care, delivered by a team of master’s-level therapists, psychiatrists, and licensed specialists who treat mental health and addiction together rather than separately. Clients receive both individual therapy and one-on-one recovery coaching multiple times each week to help them apply skills they can use beyond the treatment setting. We also help families not only cope but also heal together with our extensive family program. We use innovative approaches not available at most treatment facilities.
We use validated outcome-tracking tools including Trac9 to monitor clinical progress across emotional, cognitive, and behavioral domains. This allows us to measure what works, identify early relapse risks, and tailor interventions for sustained improvement. Each client’s length of stay is individualized, ensuring they have adequate time to achieve stability before discharge.
The results are clear: Trac9 results have independently confirmed that Windmill clients feel better and are more successful in meeting their goals than the national average. Windmill clients report 14% higher sobriety rate and 50% less alcohol use than national averages for people after treatment. Most importantly, they feel better and more satisfied about their lives in recovery. See the result for yourself here. In a recent survey of our alumni, out of 80 respondents, 91% reported being sober. Given how hard it is to overcome addiction, we are very proud of our alumni and our part in helping them have such tremendous success.
When someone does relapse, it’s not seen as failure—it’s viewed as vital information that can help with their healing journey. We help clients analyze what happened, refine their tools, and return stronger. Our alumni and aftercare programs provide continued connection, accountability, and community—key ingredients for lasting recovery.
Is Long-Term Sobriety Possible?
Addiction recovery is rarely easy, but it is absolutely possible. The key lies in comprehensive, personalized care that treats the whole person, mind, body, and spirit—while using science-based tools to measure and sustain progress. For many, the path to lasting sobriety includes multiple attempts, and each one represents growth, not failure.
At Windmill Wellness Ranch, we believe every client deserves not just recovery, but realistic hope, the kind that comes from skilled care, ongoing support, and a belief that healing is achievable for everyone. Call 830-223-2055 or contact us online to take the first step toward healing.
References
1. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). Drugs, brains, and behavior: The science of addiction (Treatment and recovery). https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery
2. Rolová, G., Lukavská, K., Ghaisová Tibenská, A., Skorkovský, T., Miovský, M., Vevera, J., & Gabrhelik, R. (2025). Factors associated with abstinence in addiction inpatient treatment cohort: a five-year follow-up. Journal of Substance Use, 30(1), 10-16.
3. Arabshahi, A., Mohammad-Beigi, A., Mohebi, S., & Gharlipour, Z. (2023). Prediction of Addiction Relapse Based on Perceived Social Support and Childhood Trauma. Addiction & Health, 15(4), 253.
4. Sinha, R. (2024). Stress and substance use disorders: risk, relapse, and treatment outcomes. The Journal of clinical investigation, 134(16).
5. Brown, V. B. (2020). A trauma-informed approach to enhancing addiction treatment. In Textbook of addiction treatment: International perspectives (pp. 401-415). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
FAQs
What percentage of people stay sober after rehab?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, relapse rates for substance use disorders are between 40% and 60%. However, individuals who remain engaged in ongoing treatment, support groups, or coaching have significantly higher long-term success rates.
Does relapse mean I failed?
No. Relapse does not mean failure, it means the treatment plan needs adjustment. Addiction is a chronic condition that can be managed successfully with the right supports, just like other chronic health issues.
How many times do people go to rehab before staying sober?
There is no set number. Many people need more than one stay in treatment, and each experience can help them identify triggers, strengthen coping skills, and move closer to lasting recovery.
How long should someone stay in rehab for the best outcome?
Research consistently shows that longer stays lead to better outcomes, especially when care is individualized. A personalized approach allows clients to reach clinical readiness rather than leaving too soon.
What makes Windmill’s approach different?
We combine trauma-informed therapy, individualized recovery coaching, validated outcome tracking (including Trac9), innovative approaches, extensive family support, and master-level clinicians to provide the most effective, evidence-based care possible.
