NEXT RIGHT ACTION
You notice that you are beginning to isolate, skip recovery activities, and spend more time thinking about using. What is one positive action you can take?
Recognize the warning signs and reach out to a recovery support, counselor, or other trusted person.
This means taking responsibility for your behavior without attacking yourself as a person.
Accountability
Name one personal strength that can help someone maintain recovery.
Examples include honesty, courage, perseverance, patience, willingness to ask for help, self-awareness, resilience, accountability, communication, or problem-solving.
Name one person or support you could contact when recovery becomes difficult. And how do they support you/your recovery?
Examples: counselor, therapist, treatment team, sponsor, peer, trusted friend, family member, recovery meeting, or another appropriate support.
A person has stopped attending meetings, is isolating, and has begun telling themselves that they no longer need recovery supports. What might this be an example of?
Relapse drift.
You are experiencing a strong craving and notice that your thoughts are becoming increasingly focused on using. Name two recovery-supportive actions you could take.
Examples include contacting a support person, leaving a triggering environment, attending treatment/support, using coping skills, or asking for additional help.
Complete the statement:
“I made a mistake” focuses on behavior, while “I am a ______” attacks your identity.
Failure / loser / bad person.
Someone has remained engaged in recovery despite experiencing difficult cravings, stress, or setbacks. What does this provide evidence of?
Their resilience, persistence, coping ability, commitment, and/or other recovery strengths.
Why is reaching out early often better than waiting until a situation becomes a crisis?
Early support can interrupt relapse drift, provide accountability, reduce isolation, and help address problems before they become more difficult to manage.
You are having cravings but don't want anyone to know because you are afraid they will judge you. What is the more recovery-supportive choice?
Reach out rather than isolate. Being honest about increasing risk allows supports to respond before the situation escalates.
A person has a slip and immediately thinks, “I already messed up, so I might as well keep using.” What is a healthier response?
Stop the cycle, acknowledge what happened without shame, reach out for support, and take immediate recovery-oriented action.
True or False: Self-compassion means making excuses for substance use or avoiding responsibility.
False
Name one strength that could help someone ask for help when they feel embarrassed or ashamed.
Examples: courage, honesty, humility, self-awareness, willingness, or accountability.
Someone experiences a slip and feels embarrassed, so they want to stop attending treatment. What is a more recovery-supportive response?
Continue or reconnect with treatment, be honest with the treatment team as appropriate, and use the setback as an opportunity to identify what needs to change.
A person experiences a slip and immediately feels intense shame. Name two things they can do before deciding to give up on recovery.
Practice self-compassion, contact support, continue treatment, honestly assess what happened, identify triggers, and make a plan for the next recovery-supportive action.
Name three things a person could do during the first few hours after recognizing a significant relapse warning sign or setback.
Possible answers: contact support, notify the treatment team when appropriate, remove themselves from a high-risk situation, attend treatment, avoid further substance use, review their safety plan, or seek appropriate professional support.
Give an example of something you could say to yourself after a slip that demonstrates both compassion and accountability.
Examples:
“I don't like what happened, but I can learn from it and take action now.”
“I am responsible for what I do next.”
“This setback does not erase my progress.”
Turn this statement into a strengths-based statement:
“I always mess up when things get hard.”
Possible response:
“I have struggled when things get hard, but I can learn from those experiences and use my strengths and supports differently next time.”
Give an example of what someone could actually say when contacting a counselor, sponsor, peer, or support person after recognizing that they are struggling.
Examples:
“I've been struggling and I don't want to isolate. Can we talk?”
“I've noticed my cravings are getting stronger and I need some support.”
“I had a setback and I want help figuring out what to do next.”
A friend says:
“I blew my recovery. There is no point in trying anymore.”
Give them a response that demonstrates self-compassion and empowerment.
Possible response:
“One setback doesn't erase everything you've accomplished. You can take responsibility for what happened and still choose what you do next. Let's get you connected with support.”
Put these responses in the most recovery-supportive order:
A. Isolate
B. Contact support
C. Acknowledge what happened
D. Give up on treatment
E. Identify what contributed to the setback
C → B → E, followed by continued treatment and additional recovery planning. Isolation and abandoning treatment are not recovery-supportive responses.
Why can shame make recovery more difficult after a slip or relapse?
Shame can lead to isolation, hopelessness, secrecy, avoidance, and giving up on treatment or recovery supports, which can increase the risk of continued use.
Identify one strength you have already demonstrated in recovery and explain how you could use that strength during a future high-risk situation.
Open-ended. Award points for identifying a genuine strength and connecting it to a specific recovery action.
Name three ways someone can increase their recovery support when their current plan is no longer working well enough.
Examples include increasing treatment participation, contacting the treatment team, attending additional recovery meetings, reaching out to sober supports, increasing accountability, developing a new relapse-prevention plan, or seeking an appropriate higher level of care when clinically indicated.
A person notices increasing isolation, stronger cravings, missed treatment, and thoughts about using. Develop a three-step recovery response plan for what they should do next.
A strong response should include: