We go back because we are addicts and though we get some clean time under our belts that doesn't mean we are cured. Cunning and deceiving run deep and generally the parasite in our brain tells us we can just do one line, take one hit, pop one pill ... we can do it this time and not get all caught up like before, but it is a lie from the pit of hell that some of us fall for over and over and over again... much to the grief of our loved ones.
When actively using there is a voice that screams to be feed .. it is loud and unbearable.. the addict will do anything to shut it up ... and when we get into recovery same voice just a different approach... all in all it is just the addiction screaming to be fed.
Relapse is part of recovery ... lessons can be learned during these times, triggers can be identified and can be used to strengthen a person in the recovery process.