If you are speaking in terms of the disease of addiction, a "lapse" or "slip" is usually what is referred to as a "relapse". A relapse from active recovery back into the addiction the person was trying to treat is one of the most common issues facing addicts in their treatment.
A lapse or slip means:
1) a drop to a lower level, as in one's morals or standards.
2) let slip
3) passing away, a slipping away of time
4) go back to bad behavior
The word that completes the analogy is "slip." The relationship between "cold" and "freezing" indicates a progression in temperature, while "lapse" and "slip" share a similar meaning related to a gradual decline or mistake. Thus, just as "freezing" represents an extreme of "cold," "slip" represents an extreme of "lapse."
The root word for "lapsed" is "lapsum" in Latin, which means to slip or fall.
a gap
Lapse rate is the rate at which air temperature decreases with existing altitude
A behavior slip refers to a temporary lapse in behavior or conduct, typically when someone deviates from their usual standards or expectations. It can be a slight error or mistake in behavior that is generally out of character for the individual.
A 'a slip of the tongue' is when you say something that you did not mean to.
mistake, slip, error, blunder, lapse, oversight, indiscretion, failing, weakness, imperfection, flaw, deficiency, shortcoming, defect
A slip cordon is a group of fielders playing the slip position on the field.
This could indicate a memory lapse or a divergence between perception and reality, known as confabulation. It may also suggest a slip of attention or awareness in the moment. Tracking patterns of such instances and consulting a healthcare professional if it persists could be helpful.
mistake blunder miscalculation inaccuracy fowl-up wrong erratum flub misconception boo-boo slip up goof lapse in judgment
The homophone for lapse is laps.
Lapses is the plural of lapse.