When did the Backstreet Boys have a break from the music?

Because they had been together for 10 years by then, and with Aj's drug addiction, and the need for Nick and Howie to be working on solo projects was very overwhelming. They took a break so that they could go off and do what they want to do by themselves, and they would decide from there if they wanted to stay solo, or get back in boyband mode. Obviously, they decided that they would be backstreet boys forever!