This means drug cues are nearly impossible for addicts to ignore, and when they are encountered they can lead to intense cravings and/or relapse. This sensitized cue-triggered drug 'wanting' can persist for years after an addict quits drugs, and long after drug withdrawal has ceased. This fact may account for the tendency of former addicts to relapse to drug use after quitting, sometimes even after many years of abstinence.
Drug cues are highly potent triggers for addiction, leading to intense cravings and/or relapse. This persistent craving can persist for years after quitting drugs, even after withdrawal has subsided.