Trigger Trouble
This is a person, place, feeling, or situation that can bring up the urge to use substances.
What is a TRIGGER
This is a strong desire or urge to use a substance.
What is a craving?
This relapse prevention skill involves thinking about what could happen after making a risky choice.
What is playing the tape out?
When someone tries to convince you to use substances even though you don't want to, this is called what?
What is peer pressure?
This is someone you can talk to when you're struggling, experiencing cravings, or need help making a safer choice.
What is a support person?
Stress, boredom, loneliness, and anger are examples of this type of trigger.
What is an internal trigger?
This coping technique involves putting off a risky decision for 10 minutes rather than acting immediately.
What is the 10-minute delay?
Losing trust, getting grounded, or receiving a probation violation are examples of these.
What are consequences?
Saying “No,” repeating your answer, or leaving the situation are examples of these skills.
What are refusal skills?
Leaving a party where people are using substances is an example of this strategy for reducing relapse risk.
What is removing yourself from a high-risk situation?
Seeing an old smoking buddy or visiting a place where you used to get high are examples of this type of trigger.
What is an external trigger?
This brain chemical plays an important role in motivation, reward, and learning.
What is dopamine?
Saying, “I've been sober for a while, so one time won't hurt,” is an example of this kind of thinking.
What is rationalizing or minimizing?
Telling a friend, “Don't bring weed around me,” is an example of setting one of these.
What is a boundary?
Getting enough sleep, attending treatment, maintaining hobbies, and following a schedule are examples of maintaining this.
What is a healthy routine or structure?
Isolating, lying, skipping treatment, and reconnecting with old using friends can be examples of these.
What are relapse warning signs?
This term describes when someone needs more of a substance to get the same effect they previously experienced.
What is tolerance?
Before making a decision, considering what might happen today, tomorrow, and next week helps people think about these.
What are short-term and long-term consequences?
Lying about being clean and sober to get out of treatment, UAs, or responsibilities may be an example of this behavior when intended to influence others.
What is manipulation?
This four-letter acronym reminds people to check whether they are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.
What is HALT?
Remembering only the good feelings from using while forgetting the negative consequences is called this.
What is euphoric recall?
This coping skill involves noticing a craving without acting on it and allowing it to rise and fall like a wave.
What is urge surfing?
Replacing “Nobody will know” with “Even if nobody finds out, this could hurt my progress” is an example of this strategy.
What is a reality check or challenging a risky thought?
This is rebuilt through honesty, accountability, and consistently following through on your actions.
What is trust?
This individualized plan identifies triggers, warning signs, coping skills, supports, and steps to take if substance use happens again.
What is a relapse prevention plan?