An exploration into the factors contributing to addiction relapse: A qualitative study

Identification of the factors contributing to addiction relapse is crucial for improving the care and treatment of substance users. This study aimed to explore the explanatory factors of return to drug abuse. Understanding these factors will enable healthcare providers and policymakers to create more effective intervention programs tailored to individual needs, ultimately reducing relapse rates. A qualitative study. Addiction treatment centers in the southwest of Iran. This inductive qualitative study, conducted between November 2020 and June 2023, involved 21 in-depth, unstructured, face-to-face interviews with 17 substance users referring to addiction treatment centers in a city in southwest Iran. The sampling method was purposive. Data were analyzed based on Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis utilizing MAXQDA-12 software. Data analysis of the interviews yielded two main themes: "facilitators of persistence in drug quitting" (effects and consequences of drug addiction, feelings of fatigue, helplessness, and exhaustion, following successful substance users in quitting drugs, and social support) and "challenges of persistence" (cognitive barriers, social frustration, vulnerable personality traits, facing tempting situations, choosing ineffective methods of quitting, poor life skills, and rehab-related factors. This study revealed a complex interplay of psychological, cognitive, and social factors that can either support or undermine long-term recovery from substance abuse. Thus, the factors identified in this study could be used to design and develop appropriate strategies, treatment guidelines, and relevant policies to prevent and decrease addiction relapse. • Our insights guide targeted interventions for traditional and industrial drug addiction. • Findings inform personalized treatments for patient-identified challenges and facilitators. • Psycho-social programs addressing addiction's health, economic, and social consequences are proposed. • Peer-support models based on successful quit experiences can motivate those in recovery. • Stigma reduction initiatives are needed to counter social rejection of addicts. • Cognitive-behavioral therapy is recommended to overcome cognitive barriers to withdrawal.