Substances
This is typically called the gateway drug
Marijuana
These are internal or external cues—such as people, places, or emotions—that increase the risk of returning to substance use.
Triggers
This core DBT skill involves observing, describing, and participating fully in the present moment without judgment.
Mindfulness
This neurotransmitter is heavily associated with reward and reinforcement and spikes in the brain’s mesolimbic pathway during substance use.
Dopamine
Known for playing a space princess from Alderan, this actress battled not only battled the empire, but opiate, alcohol and cocaine use disorder.
Carrie Fisher
This drug affects multiple neurotransmitters, especially GABA (which slows brain activity) and Glutamate (which excites it). That’s why it can make you feel relaxed and impair thinking.
Alcohol
This concept refers to returning to substance use after a period of abstinence and is often seen as part of the recovery process rather than a failure
Relapse
This DBT concept refers to accepting reality as it is, without approval or resignation, in order to reduce suffering.
Radical Acceptance
Chronic substance use weakens this part of the brain responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and evaluating consequences—making relapse more likely.
Prefrontal Cortex
Robert Downey Jr.
This drug was marketed as non-addictive and was used to replace morphine in the 1980s
Heroine
This structured plan outlines coping strategies, support contacts, and steps to take when facing cravings or high-risk situations.
Relapse Prevention plan (treatment plan/safety plan)
This distress tolerance skill uses cold water, intense exercise, paced breathing, and muscle relaxation to quickly reduce emotional intensity.
TIP Skills
This brain structure, part of the limbic system, plays a central role in forming emotional memories that can trigger cravings when a person in recovery encounters cues.
Amygdala
This actor known for playing "the boy who lived" dealt with alcohol use disorder due to the sudden fame in childhood and throughout his teens. He became sober in 2010 when the film series finished shooting.
Daniel Radcliffe
This substance comes from the leaves of the coca plant, traditionally used for thousands of years in South America to reduce fatigue and altitude sickness
Cocaine
This system includes programs like Alcoholics Anonymous emphasize peer support, sponsorship, and working through a series of guiding principles for recovery. Your family and friends can be part of this too.
Support System
This emotion regulation skill encourages engaging in positive activities to build a life worth living and reduce vulnerability to negative emotions
Accumulating Positive Experiences
This primary excitatory neurotransmitter becomes overactive during alcohol withdrawal, contributing to seizures and agitation.
Glutamate
This actress known for her movies involving a spooky holiday, suffered from opiate addiction for 10 years before getting sober in 1999
Jamie Lee Curtis
This drug was widely used by soldiers during World War II to stay awake and alert.
Methamphetamine
This stage of change involves recognizing there is a problem and beginning to consider taking action, but not yet fully committing.
Contemplation
S.T.O.P.
This brain region, often called the brain’s “reward hub,” releases dopamine when stimulated by addictive substances and is a key component of the mesolimbic pathway.
nucleus accumbens
This African American actor has been sober from cocaine since 1991. He has been known to play loud, intense, comedic, and intelligent characters appearing in many blockbuster franchises such as the Incredibles, Jurassic Park, and Die Hard.
Samuel L. Jackson