"(They) learn where the edge of the cliff is," he said. "(They learn) 'I can't let my stress levels get that high. I can't get to that point again."'

If someone slips, it's an indicator their disease needs more attention. More medicine, different treatment — something to address the underlying emotional trauma that triggers drug use.

Often restarting is beneficial, changing the participation from "compliance, where the guy is jumping through the hoops because he has to, to adherence, where the guy is jumping through the hoops because he wants to," McMillen explained. "For a significant number (of clients), that second time around we see a much higher level of adherence."

But what happens between the first round and the second round of treatment? What if there isn't family support or money for additional treatment programs?

That's what worries Colette Hawley, 46, a "straight-up alcoholic" from New York who cleaned up her life in rehab before moving to a sober living home in Orem. She never relapsed but watched as her friends did.

They were kicked out of treatment and ended up on the street with no money to pay for more treatment.

"Relapsing is part of the whole business plan," she said. "If you throw someone out who's relapsing, you're sending them out to a death march."

Rules of relapse

"We won't give up on them," Waghorne said about clients who slip. But she has a responsibility to keep her other recovering residents safe.

After a relapse, she'll do everything possible to find the vulnerable client a safe place to stay, whether it's a willing neighbor's house, with family or in another residential treatment facility.

In the Papilion House, which is patterned after The Oxford House, a relapser is asked to be sober for 30 days before re-applying. But down the road in Orem, a recent change in city code requires 60 days of clean time before a resident can reapply.

It has to be that way, said Orem city attorney Steve Earl, because of the Fair Housing Act.

The act prevents housing discrimination against those with disabilities, which includes recovering addicts. However, he said, the courts have defined an "active user" as someone who has used drugs or alcohol in the past two to three months.

Active users are not disabled, thus not protected. So they can't live in a home with special allowances for more disabled people, he said.

But many treatment providers agree that a relapse is the strongest indicator someone is disabled.

"(They come saying) 'I have a disease' and as soon as they actually exhibit the symptoms of that disease, they're told to leave," Hill said.