Triggers
What is something that causes you to experience an emotional reaction or urge to use?
Trigger
True or False: Having a craving means you have to use.
False
What does TIPP stand for?
Temperature, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, Paired muscle relaxation
What is one major warning sign that someone may be heading toward relapse?
Increased cravings, isolation, romanticizing use, reconnecting with using friends, etc.
What is the goal of harm reduction?
Reduce the negative consequences associated with substance use and keep people safer.
True or False: People, places, and certain emotions can all be triggers.
True
What is one thing you can do to “ride out” a craving?
Distract yourself / delay / breathe / talk to someone
Name one healthy way to deal with anger without acting impulsively.
Walk away, breathe, exercise, talk, journal, etc.
True or False: Relapse prevention should begin before someone leaves treatment.
True
True or False: Harm reduction means encouraging someone to continue using drugs.
False
You walk past the neighborhood where you used to buy drugs and suddenly feel an urge. What type of trigger is this?
Environmental trigger
A craving feels overwhelming. What DBT skill can help you tolerate an intense emotional or physical urge?
TIPP
What DBT skill involves observing your thoughts and feelings without immediately reacting to them?
Mindfulness
Why can hanging around people who are actively using increase relapse risk?
It increases exposure to triggers, opportunities, and social pressure.
What medication can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose?
Naloxone (Narcan)
Your girlfriend breaks up with you and you immediately want to get high. What emotional trigger might be involved?
Rejection, sadness, anger, loneliness, etc.
You receive a text from your old dealer. Name two things you could do before responding.
Pause, block, delete, leave the situation, call support, use a coping skill, etc.
You're extremely angry and want to send an angry text. What DBT skill could you use before hitting “send”?
STOP
Name three things that should be part of a relapse-prevention plan.
Triggers, coping skills, support people, meetings, emergency contacts, activities, etc.
Why is using alone particularly dangerous when opioids are involved?
There may be nobody present to recognize an overdose or provide naloxone/call for emergency help.
Name three things you can do when you recognize a trigger instead of acting on it.
Any healthy coping strategies
Someone says, “I can handle just one time.” What relapse-thinking pattern might this represent?
Minimizing/rationalizing or romanticizing use
Name five coping skills you could use without spending money or using substances.
Any five appropriate skills
You have been clean for six months. Your old friends invite you to a party where everyone will be using. What are three reasons saying no may be the healthier choice?
Protect recovery, avoid triggers, avoid access/opportunity, maintain goals, etc.
Name three harm-reduction strategies that can reduce the risk of overdose or other serious harm.
Examples: carrying naloxone, not using alone, avoiding mixing substances, accessing treatment/MOUD, knowing overdose signs, using drug-checking services where available, etc.