Addiction Basics
A chronic condition that affects the brain and behavior and involves compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences.
What is addiction?
Negative attitudes, stereotypes, or discrimination toward people with addiction.
What is stigma?
The process of improving health and wellness while working toward a substance-free life.
What is recovery?
Talking to a counselor to address thoughts, behaviors, and triggers.
What is therapy?
Sharing accurate information about addiction to challenge myths.
What is education?
The brain chemical heavily involved in reward and pleasure that is affected by many drugs.
What is dopamine?
The harmful belief that people with addiction simply need more willpower.
What is a misconception about addiction?
Programs like NA or AA provide this important recovery element.
What is peer support?
People, places, or emotions that increase the urge to use substances.
What are triggers?
Treating people in recovery with dignity and understanding.
What is compassion?
This occurs when a person needs more of a substance to feel the same effect.
What is tolerance?
Stigma can prevent people from seeking this important form of help.
What is treatment?
A return to substance use after a period of sobriety.
What is a relapse?
A strategy used to prevent relapse by identifying triggers and coping skills.
What is a relapse prevention plan?
A powerful way people in recovery help others understand addiction.
What is sharing personal recovery stories?
Physical or psychological symptoms that occur when someone stops using a substance.
What are withdrawal symptoms?
When a person begins to believe negative stereotypes about themselves because of addiction.
What is self-stigma?
Healthy activities like exercise, therapy, and support meetings help build this in recovery.
What is a recovery lifestyle?
Family, friends, and recovery peers who help encourage sobriety.
What is a support system?
Communities that support recovery help reduce stigma and increase this.
What is acceptance?
This medical model describes addiction as a long-term illness rather than a moral failure.
What is the disease model of addiction?
Using respectful terms like “person with substance use disorder” instead of labels like “addict.”
What is person-first language?
This key recovery principle means recovery is possible for everyone.
What is hope?
A coping skill that involves focusing on the present moment and emotions without judgment.
What is mindfulness?
The idea that people with addiction deserve treatment and respect like any other health condition.
What is recovery advocacy?