Recurrence

Recovery language

Definition

The clinical-language alternative to "relapse." It frames the return of gambling the way medicine frames the return of any chronic illness — expected in some cases, treatable, and not a character failure. Increasingly preferred in public-health writing for exactly that reason.

Preferred phrasing

Use "recurrence" in clinical and journalistic writing; "relapse" is acceptable when the person uses it about themselves.

Source

https://www.recoveryanswers.org/addiction-ary/

Cite this

Betttr. "Recurrence." The Gambling Recovery Glossary. https://betttr.net/glossary/recurrence/ (accessed 2026-09-20).

Last updated: 2026-09-20.

Corrections: support@betttr.net