Addiction 101
What is tolerance?
When a person needs more of a substance to achieve the same effect, or the same amount produces less of an effect.
What is an external trigger?
Something outside the person, such as a place, person, object, or situation, that creates an urge to use substances.
What is a relapse prevention plan?
A plan identifying warning signs, triggers, coping strategies, and support resources to help maintain recovery.
Name three primary emotions.
Examples include anger, sadness, fear, joy, and disgust.
What is an automatic thought?
A thought or interpretation that occurs quickly, often without conscious consideration.
What is a personal boundary?
A limit that identifies what a person is comfortable with and how they will respond to certain behaviors or situations.
What is a coping skill?
A strategy used to manage stress, emotions, cravings, or challenging situations.
Why are daily routines important in recovery?
They provide structure, consistency, and opportunities to maintain healthy habits.
What is withdrawal?
Physical or psychological symptoms that may occur when someone reduces or stops using a substance after developing dependence.
What is an internal trigger?
A thought, emotion, memory, or physical sensation associated with an urge to use.
Name two early warning signs that someone may be drifting away from recovery.
Isolation, missed treatment appointments, secrecy, disrupted routines, or reduced contact with supportive people.
What is emotional regulation?
The ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotional responses in ways that support healthy behavior.
What is all-or-nothing thinking?
Viewing situations in extremes, such as complete success or total failure, without recognizing anything in between.
What is assertive communication?
Clearly and respectfully expressing needs, feelings, and boundaries while respecting the rights of others.
Name two healthy ways to manage stress without using substances.
Exercise, journaling, deep breathing, grounding, talking to a trusted person, or engaging in a healthy activity.
Name two examples of recovery support.
Counseling, peer support groups, sponsors, supportive friends or family members, and recovery communities.
What is the difference between physical dependence and addiction?
Physical dependence involves the body's adaptation to a substance, while addiction involves impaired control over use and continued use despite harmful consequences.
What is a craving?
A strong desire or urge to use a substance.
Why is it important to ask for help before cravings become overwhelming?
Seeking support early provides opportunities to interrupt unhealthy patterns and use coping strategies before risk increases.
What is the difference between reacting and responding?
Reacting is often immediate or impulsive, while responding involves pausing and making a deliberate choice.
What is a schema or core belief?
A recurring, deeply held pattern of beliefs or expectations that influences how someone interprets situations and responds emotionally or behaviorally.
What is the difference between supporting someone and enabling them?
Support encourages healthy responsibility and growth, while enabling may protect someone from consequences or allow unhealthy behaviors to continue.
What is grounding?
A technique that helps someone reconnect with the present moment by focusing on their surroundings, senses, or physical experiences.
What does accountability mean in recovery?
Taking responsibility for one's actions, acknowledging consequences, and following through with changes.
Why might someone experience cravings when returning to a place where they previously used substances?
The brain can associate certain places, people, or experiences with substance use, causing learned triggers and cravings.
Someone experiences a craving after arguing with their partner. Identify one possible trigger and one healthy coping response.
he argument or resulting anger may be the trigger. Healthy responses include taking a break, using grounding techniques, or contacting a recovery support.
A person stops attending treatment, begins isolating, and says they no longer need support. What recovery concern might these behaviors indicate?
Recovery regression or increased risk of returning to substance use.
Someone becomes angry after feeling rejected by a friend. What underlying emotion might be contributing to their anger?
Hurt, sadness, fear, embarrassment, or insecurity.
Someone says, “I missed one recovery meeting, so I'm a complete failure.” What thinking trap are they demonstrating?
All-or-nothing thinking or overgeneralization.
A friend repeatedly pressures someone to skip treatment to spend time together. What is an example of a healthy boundary?
"My treatment is important, and I'm not available during group. We can make plans another time.”
Someone feels overwhelmed at work and experiences an urge to use substances. Identify two healthy coping responses.
Take a break, use breathing or grounding techniques, contact a support person, or identify a manageable solution to the stressor.
Someone starts a new job that conflicts with their treatment schedule. What would be a recovery-supportive way to handle this situation?
Communicate with their counselor, explore alternative group times, and develop a plan to maintain treatment participation.
Identify two ways repeated substance use can affect the brain's reward system or decision-making.
Repeated use can alter reward sensitivity, strengthen associations between substances and environmental cues, and interfere with decision-making and impulse control.
A client feels confident in their recovery and decides to visit a former using environment. What potential risks should they consider?
Exposure to substance-related cues, unexpected cravings, peer pressure, and overconfidence in their ability to manage high-risk situations.
Someone returns to substance use after several months of sobriety. Identify three constructive actions they can take to get back on track.
Reach out for support, address immediate safety concerns, identify contributing triggers, reconnect with treatment, and revise their relapse prevention plan.
Why is it important to regulate emotions before attempting to resolve a conflict when experiencing emotional flooding?
Intense emotions can interfere with decision-making and communication. Taking time to regulate can reduce impulsive reactions and support healthier problem-solving.
Someone believes, “Nobody trusts me, so there's no point in trying.” How could they challenge this thought?
Identify the difference between facts and assumptions, look for evidence that supports or contradicts the belief, and develop a more balanced statement focused on consistent recovery-supportive actions.
Why is consistency more important than promises when rebuilding trust in recovery?
Consistent behavior demonstrates reliability and accountability over time, while promises alone do not establish lasting change.
Why can avoidance provide short-term relief but create long-term problems?
Avoidance may temporarily reduce uncomfortable feelings but leave problems unresolved, reinforce unhealthy coping patterns, and increase stress over time.
Someone wants to rebuild trust, maintain employment, and protect their sobriety. Identify three habits that could support all three goals.
Maintaining a consistent routine, communicating honestly, following through on commitments, asking for help when needed, and practicing healthy coping skills.