Substance Use
What is the term for something that increases the likelihood of wanting to use a substance?
A trigger
What is anxiety?
A feeling of worry, fear, or nervousness, often about something that may happen.
What is a coping skill?
A healthy strategy used to manage stress, difficult emotions, or challenging situations.
True or false: Self-care is only about relaxing and having fun.
False
What does the acronym SMART stand for in SMART Recovery?
Self-Management and Recovery Training
What is tolerance?
When someone needs more of a substance to experience the same effect.
What is an irrational thought?
A thought that is unrealistic, extreme, or not supported by the available evidence.
Name two coping skills that can be used when you're angry.
Examples include taking a break, deep breathing, exercising, journaling, talking to someone, or listening to music.
Name one basic need that is part of taking care of yourself.
Sleep, nutrition, hydration, hygiene, movement, or medical care.
What is peer pressure?
Influence from people your age or social group to behave or make choices in a certain way.
What is the difference between a trigger and a craving?
A trigger is something that can cause an urge, while a craving is the strong desire to use.
Someone thinks, “I failed one test, so I’m going to fail everything.” What thinking pattern is this?
Overgeneralizing
Why can taking a break from a stressful situation be helpful?
It gives you time to calm down and think before reacting.
Why is getting enough sleep important for mental health?
Sleep supports mood, concentration, emotional regulation, and overall functioning.
What is a boundary?
A limit you set around how others treat you, what you're comfortable with, or what you're willing to do.
What is one reason someone might continue using a substance even after experiencing negative consequences?
The brain’s reward system can reinforce the behavior, making it difficult to stop.
Someone thinks, “If my friend doesn't text me back, they must be mad at me.” What thinking pattern could this represent?
Jumping to conclusions
You receive a message that makes you extremely angry. What could you do before responding?
Pause, take some time to calm down, and think about what you want to communicate.
Someone spends all their time helping other people but ignores their own needs. What area of self-care might they need to work on?
Setting boundaries and taking care of their own physical/emotional needs.
Someone says, “Everyone else is doing it, so it can't really be that bad.” What is wrong with this reasoning?
Other people's behavior doesn't determine whether something is safe, healthy, or right for you.
Someone says, “I only use because all my friends do.” What type of influence might this be?
Peer pressure/social influence
What is the difference between a thought and a fact?
A thought is an interpretation or belief; a fact can be supported or verified by evidence.
Using the SMART Recovery idea of urge surfing, what are you trying to do when an urge occurs?
Notice and ride out the urge without acting on it, recognizing that urges rise and eventually decrease.
What is the difference between self-care and avoidance?
Self-care helps you manage a situation or restore yourself; avoidance involves continually escaping something instead of addressing it.
A friend makes a decision you strongly disagree with. What is the difference between supporting your friend and supporting their decision?
You can care about and support the person without agreeing with or encouraging their choice.