Triggers And Cravings
True or False: Cravings always mean that someone is going to relapse.
False. What do you think a craving actually means, and how should someone respond when one happens?
True or False: People generally know when they're making a risky decision involving alcohol or drugs.
False. Do you think people recognize the risk in the moment, or do they convince themselves that “it'll be fine”?
True or False: Motivation is something you either have or you don't have.
False. Can motivation change over time? What makes it stronger or weaker?
True or False: The people you spend the most time with can influence your substance-use decisions.
True. How much influence do you think other people have over our choices?
True or False: If someone only drinks on weekends, they can't have an alcohol problem.
False. What do you think actually determines whether someone's drinking is problematic?
True or False: Stress is one of the most common reasons people return to substance use.
True. Why do you think stress can be such a powerful trigger?
True or False: Understanding the consequences of substance use is enough to prevent someone from repeating the behavior.
False. If knowing the consequences isn't enough, what else does someone need?
True or False: Someone has to “hit rock bottom” before they can successfully change.
False. Why do you think some people change after one major consequence while others experience many consequences before changing?
True or False: A good friend will always support whatever decision you make.
False. What does healthy support actually look like? Can a good friend tell you something you don't want to hear?
True or False: If someone can stop using for 30 days, they don't have a substance-use problem.
False. Why might the ability to stop temporarily not tell us the whole story?
True or False: You can experience a craving even when you don't actually want to use.
True. Why do you think that happens? What is the difference between having a thought/urge and acting on it?
True or False: Someone can make a bad decision without being a bad person.
True. Where do you think the line is between taking responsibility for your behavior and beating yourself up over it?
True or False: Someone can be successful in recovery even if they don't feel motivated every day.
True. What do you think matters more on difficult days: motivation, habits, discipline, support, or something else?
True or False: Setting boundaries with people can be an important part of recovery.
True. What's the difference between setting a healthy boundary and simply cutting someone off?
True or False: Someone can be impaired by alcohol even when they don't feel drunk.
True. Why do you think people sometimes believe they're okay to drive when they're actually impaired?
True or False: Avoiding every possible trigger is the best way to prevent relapse.
False. Do you think it's better to avoid triggers or learn how to manage them? Can it depend on the situation?
True or False: A person can genuinely regret something they did while drinking and still make the same type of decision again.
True. How can both things be true?
True or False: Recovery requires changing more than just your substance use.
True. What other parts of someone's life might need to change?
True or False: If someone supports your recovery but continues to use substances around you, they're still a good support person.
True. Can someone genuinely care about your recovery while still making it harder for you? Where does responsibility fall?
True or False: Having a DWI does not necessarily mean someone has an alcohol use disorder.
True. What do you think someone should look at when trying to understand whether their drinking has become a problem?
True or False: Boredom can be just as dangerous as stress for someone in recovery.
True. Why might having “nothing to do” create problems for someone trying to change their substance use?
True or False: The consequences of substance use are usually what motivates people to change.
False. What do you think is more powerful in the long run: avoiding negative consequences or wanting a better life?
True or False: A person can know exactly what they need to do differently and still have a hard time doing it.
True. Why isn't knowing what to do always enough to change our behavior?
True or False: Sometimes protecting your recovery means disappointing other people.
True. Why can it be so difficult to prioritize yourself when other people don't understand or agree with your choices?
True or False: A person can have a serious substance-use problem even if they haven't lost their job, home, or relationships.
True. Why do you think people sometimes compare their substance use to someone else's before deciding whether they have a problem?