Relapse Process
This is the first stage of relapse, when thoughts and feelings shift before any use happens.
What is emotional relapse?
This substance is a depressant even though many people think it’s a “social stimulant.”
What is alcohol?
This part of the brain is responsible for decision‑making and impulse control.
What is the prefrontal cortex or frontal lobe?
In Minnesota, this is the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving, though you can still be arrested below it if impaired.
What is .08%?
This grounding skill uses the five senses to calm the body.
What is 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding?
This stage of relapse includes bargaining, minimizing, or thinking “just one time won’t hurt.”
What is mental relapse?
This category of drugs slows down the central nervous system and can cause drowsiness.
What are depressants?
This brain structure acts like an alarm system and reacts to stress or danger.
What is the amygdala?
Driving while impaired from any mood altering substance can result in this charge.
What is a DUI or DWI?
This skill involves "riding it out" before acting on a craving.
What is urge surfing, delaying, or pausing?
A common early warning sign of relapse is this change in behavior.
What is isolating or neglecting self-care?
This class of drugs increases heart rate, energy, and alertness.
What are stimulants?
This brain system releases dopamine and teaches us what to repeat by making certain behaviors feel rewarding.
What is the reward pathway (or reward system)?
Minnesota classifies illegal drugs into these categories, which determine penalties for possession and sale.
What are drug schedules?
This is the person you call when a craving hits.
What is support person, sponsor, counselor, or recovery coach?
This type of trigger comes from inside the body, like stress or loneliness.
What is an internal or intrinsic trigger?
This term describes using more of a substance to get the same effect.
What is tolerance?
In the dopamine loop cycle, after the initial spike of dopamine, what follows?
What is the crash or trough?
In Minnesota, having a controlled substance without a prescription can lead to this type of criminal charge, which ranges from a misdemeanor to a felony depending on the drug and amount.
What is illegal possession?
This coping tool helps interrupt the dopamine crash by shifting physical state.
This is the full cycle of relapse in order.
What is emotional → mental → physical relapse?
This is the brain chemical most involved in the “reward” feeling across many substances.
What is dopamine?
This part of the brain helps store memories of pleasurable experiences, which can later trigger cravings when similar cues appear.
What is the hippocampus?
In Minnesota, any drug possession or sale charge can be enhanced to a more serious offense when this item is found during the same search or incident.
What is a firearm?
This is the process of the brain healing itself after addiction.
What is neuroplasticity?