Substance Facts
The most commonly abused illicit (illegal) drug.
What is marijuana?
According to SAMHSA, in 2022, 22% of people aged 12+ reported having used marijuana in the past year.
Shaking, sweating, anxiety, and nausea are signs of this stage of withdrawal.
What is acute withdrawal?
Acute withdrawal is the physical withdrawal from certain drugs/alcohol that begins shortly after stopping use.
This type of breathing helps reduce anxiety and calm the nervous system.
What is deep breathing/diaphragmatic breathing?
What common triggers does the acronym "HALT" stand for?
What is HUNGRY, ANGRY, LONELY, TIRED?
These are common emotional states that increase vulnerability to cravings.
What is "we admitted we were powerless over alcohol, and that our lives had become unmanageable."
Planning what to do when a trigger/craving hits is part of this type of recovery strategy.
What is a relapse prevention plan?
Drinking this daily helps reduce fatigue, headaches, and cravings.
What is water?
According to Cleveland Clinic, current general recommendations for fluid intake are about 13 cups (3L) for men, and 9 cups (2L) for women (but everyone is different). Water-rich foods also count towards hydration.
MYTH or FACT: You have to hit "rock bottom" to begin the recovery process.
What is a MYTH?
Early intervention with SUD leads to better outcomes and recovery can start at any stage of substance use.
This legal but addictive substance slows down the central nervous system and is often abused in a pill or liquid form.
What is alcohol?
Benzodiazepines act on the same GABA receptors in the brain that alcohol does, producing a "depressant" effect on the central nervous system. Conversely, stimulants stimulate the CNS.
This acronym describes the long-term symptoms some people experience after detox, including mood swings and trouble sleeping.
What is PAWS (Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome)?
This creative activity is often used in recovery to express emotions and reduce stress.
What is art therapy (or journaling, or music therapy)?
TRUE or FALSE? Ignoring or "stuffing down" cravings can make them worse.
What is TRUE?
It is more effective to acknowledge the craving ("I'm having a craving, and it will pass") than trying to block it out completely.
This is the meeting schedule recommended to newcomers in 12-step programs.
What is 90 meetings in 90 days?
This emotion, when left unchecked, is one of the top causes of relapse.
What is anger (or stress)?
It is recommended that most adults get 10%-35% of their daily calories from this macronutrient, which is needed to build and repair body tissues.
What is protein?
Everyone has different protein needs based on age, weight goals, muscle mass, activity level, and health conditions (kidney disease). The general recommendation is 0.8-1g of protein per kg (2.2 lbs) of body weight.
MYTH or FACT: Addiction is a choice.
What is a MYTH?
Addiction is a chronic brain disease that alters brain chemistry, decision-making, and impulse control. Initial use may be a choice but addiction is not.
This opioid is often prescribed for pain but has led to widespread addiction.
What is oxycodone (OxyContin)?
OxyContin was released by Purdue Pharma in 1995 and was marketed as a "less addictive" opiate pain reliever that was appealing for its extended release action.
True or False: PAWS can last for weeks to over one year.
What is true?
The duration of PAWS symptoms can depend on substance used, amount, frequency, and duration of use, as well as overall health status and strength of support systems in recovery.
This practice involves being present and aware of one's thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations without judgement.
What is mindfulness?
Cravings usually last this long before passing.
What is 15-30 minutes?
Coping skills including distraction can be helpful in "riding the wave" of the craving until it passes.
This is the task members of 12-step programs complete in Step 9.
What is making amends?
A relapse prevention plan may include these things.
What are triggers, coping skills, support groups, supportive people, self-improvement ideas, healthy lifestyle changes, accountability methods, goals, reasons for staying sober.
Exercise releases these feel-good brain chemicals.
What are endorphins?
Endorphins are hormones produced by the body that act as natural painkillers and mood enhancers in response to pleasure or stress.
MYTH or FACT: Relapse is a normal part of the recovery process for many people.
What is a FACT?
Relapse is common in many chronic illnesses, including addiction. Relapse is a sign that the treatment plan needs to be adjusted, not that it failed altogether.
This illicit substance was used by German soldiers during WWII in the form of a pill named Pervitin.
What is methamphetamine?
Meth was used by the Nazis in WWII to increase alertness, reduce fatigue, and suppress appetite.
Withdrawal from these two substances can directly cause death.
What are alcohol and benzodiazepines?
Opiate withdrawal can also cause death in some cases as a result of severe dehydration due to vomiting and diarrhea, which decreases essential electrolyte levels.
These coping strategies can help reduce craving intensity.
What are distraction, grounding, breathing exercises, and calling a supportive person (among many other things).
Seeing people or places from your using days are examples of this kind of trigger.
What is an external trigger?
External triggers can also include certain situations and objects such as drug paraphernalia.
This step states "we continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it."
What is Step 10?
These behaviors are considered early warning signs for relapse.
What are mood swings, bottling up feelings, isolation, poor sleep schedule, unhealthy eating habits, poor self-care, failure to use coping skills, not going to meetings/participating in meetings, secretive/dishonest behavior.
It is recommended to limit intake of this chemical to 400 mg/day or less.
What is caffeine?
400 mg is about 4 cups of coffee or two energy drinks. Too much caffeine can disrupt sleep, increase blood pressure, worsen anxiety, and lead to dependency and withdrawal.
MYTH or FACT: Recovery is just about stopping substance use.
What is a MYTH?
Recovery involves healing and changing behaviors in all aspects of life, including physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially.
The percentage of all violent crimes in the US that involve alcohol.
What is 40%.
Peak symptoms of opiate withdrawal usually occur this many days after last use.
What is 2-3 days?
Symptoms such as nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, sweating, and insomnia may be at their worst at this time.
This CBT strategy challenges negative thoughts and replaces them with healthier ones.
What is cognitive restructuring?
Cognitive restructuring involves learning to notice and challenge unhelpful thinking patterns and replacing them with more positive/balanced thoughts.
(I ALWAYS do EVERYTHING wrong)
This term refers to the inability to experience pleasure from activities once found enjoyable.
What is anhedonia?
This is a common symptom of PAWS as well as many mental health disorders. It can be a trigger for relapse as well as a contributing to recreational use moving into excessive use/SUD.
This Detroit-based Christian group influenced Bill W. and Dr. Bob to create AA.
What is the Oxford Group?
Relapse happens in these three stages.
What are emotional, mental, and physical?
This essential vitamin is often depleted by alcohol use and can lead to brain fog and memory issues (and "wet brain").
What is vitamin B1 (thiamine)?
80% of people with AUD are deficient in thiamine. Deficiency symptoms can include fatigue, muscle weakness, and tingling in arms and legs.
MYTH of FACT: There are many pathways to recovery.
What is a FACT?
No one recovery path fits everyone. Options include 12-step programs (AA, NA, CA, etc.), SMART Recovery, Recovery Dharma, individual/group therapy, MAT, faith-based recovery, etc.