Recovery is the stage of heroin use that is associated with relapse. A relapse typically develops over time and occurs in three stages: emotional, mental, and physical. The emotional stage is immediately after the last use when the user wants to put heroin behind them. If they do not actively participate in their treatment through therapies or support groups, they might advance to relapse in later stages which lead to an actual relapse. This happens for various reasons including attending fewer meetings, losing focus on self-care, or feeling like they should be beyond the basics of recovery.