Substances
____ is the most commonly abused substance in America.
Alcohol
This 12-step program, often associated with addiction recovery, encourages individuals to work through a series of steps to help them achieve and maintain sobriety.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
Only people with severe mental illness become addicted.
Myth! Addiction can affect anyone, regardless of the severity of mental illness. While mental health disorders can contribute to addiction, many people without severe mental illness also develop substance use disorders.
In "Breaking Bad," this character battles addiction to methamphetamine, which complicates his relationships and family dynamics.
Jesse Pinkman
This outdoor activity, often done on trails or in parks, involves walking at a leisurely pace and is a great way to get fresh air and clear your mind.
Hiking
This substance has psychoactive properties and can be legally consumed for medical or recreational use in some U.S. states.
Marijuana
This practice involves focusing on the present moment in a non-judgmental way and is often used to reduce stress and improve emotional regulation.
Mindfulness
People in recovery will always be "recovering."
True! People in recovery can lead full and meaningful lives, but recovery is a lifelong commitment to maintaining healthy behaviors and avoiding relapse.
This rapper's album "Recovery" addresses his battles with addiction and has been critically acclaimed for its candidness.
Eminem
This creative activity allows individuals to express themselves through colors and shapes, often resulting in a piece of art displayed at home or in a gallery.
Painting or drawing
This device, often marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, delivers nicotine in vapor form rather than smoke.
Vape (or e-cigarette)
This form of treatment combines individual therapy, group therapy, and educational sessions to help individuals understand addiction and develop coping skills.
Outpatient rehabilitation
People with mental health issues are less likely to recover from addiction.
Myth! People with mental health issues can recover from addiction, especially with comprehensive treatment that addresses both mental health and addiction.
This "Iron Man" actor has openly discussed his struggles with alcohol and substance use, which he overcame through rehabilitation.
Robert Downey Jr.
This ancient practice, which combines physical postures, breath control, and meditation, is often used to improve flexibility, strength, and mental clarity.
Long-term use of this stimulant can lead to anhedonia, psychosis, and severe dental decay due to its impact on dopamine regulation and oral health.
Methamphetamine
This coping strategy involves replacing negative or harmful thoughts with healthier, more constructive thoughts in order to reduce the risk of relapse.
Cognitive restructuring
Recovery is only about stopping substance use.
Myth! Recovery is not just about stopping substance use; it involves emotional, mental, and social healing to build a healthy life.
This actress, known for her role in The Parent Trap, has been vocal about her struggles with substance abuse, which she has described as a way of coping with the pressures of growing up in the public eye.
Lindsey Lohan
This activity involves solving puzzles by following clues to unlock a series of locks and can be done in groups or as a team-building exercise.
Escape room
This stimulant, often used recreationally as a party drug, is chemically related to amphetamines and has both legal and illegal forms.
Ecstasy (or MDMA)
This type of therapy, often used in treating addiction, involves talking with a mental health professional to explore feelings, behaviors, and triggers.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT), like methadone or buprenorphine, is just replacing one addiction with another.
Myth! Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a clinically proven approach that helps people manage opioid use disorder. Medications like methadone and buprenorphine reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing the same euphoric high as opioids. When taken as prescribed, they stabilize brain chemistry, allowing individuals to focus on recovery, therapy, and rebuilding their lives. Unlike addiction, which is compulsive and harmful, MAT is a medically supervised treatment that improves long-term recovery outcomes.
This late actor, known for his roles in Good Will Hunting and Dead Poets Society, openly struggled with addiction to alcohol and drugs, with his battle widely covered in the media before his death in 2014.
Robin Williams
This mental challenge, often played in a competitive format, involves solving a grid of numbered puzzles where each number must appear only once in each row, column, and box.
Sodoku