Triggers
Seeing old friends who still use substances or visiting familiar places tied to past use are examples of these types of triggers.
What are environmental triggers?
This is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States.
What is marijuana or cannabis
This measurement represents the percentage of alcohol in a person's blood.
What is Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)?
This Schedule of drugs has no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse — examples include heroin, LSD, and ecstasy.
What is Schedule I?
Taking a walk, practicing yoga, or doing deep-breathing exercises are examples of this type of stress-management practice.
What is mindfulness (or relaxation techniques)?
Celebrations, paydays, or even boredom can spark the urge to use again. These are known as this category of triggers related to life events.
What are situational triggers?
A strong, sometimes fatal reaction to taking a large amount of a drug is known as this.
What is overdose
This syndrome, caused by heavy drinking during pregnancy, can lead to lifelong physical and mental disabilities in a child.
What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)?
This plant-based drug remains a Schedule I substance under federal law, even though many U.S. states have legalized it for medical or recreational use.
What is marijuana (cannabis)?
Talking openly with a counselor, sponsor, or trusted friend helps prevent relapse by providing this kind of emotional outlet.
What is seeking support (or communication)?
Stress, anxiety, or depression can lead to relapse if not managed — these are examples of this type of internal trigger.
What are emotional triggers?
Opioids like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl are this type of prescription pill that has a high potential for addiction.
What are painkillers or pain pills?
Having five or more drinks for men, or four or more for women, in one sitting is defined as this type of drinking.
What is binge drinking?
Cocaine and methamphetamine are placed in this Schedule, meaning they have accepted medical uses but a high risk for dependence.
What is Schedule II?
Writing about feelings, goals, or progress in a notebook can help process emotions and track recovery milestones.
What is journaling?
This type of trigger happens when the body or brain remembers the physical sensation or craving from prior substance use.
What are physiological (or physical) triggers?
This chemical, which plays a major role in the pleasure center of our brains, is primarily affected by addictive substances like cocaine and methamphetamine.
What is dopamine?
Long-term alcohol use can cause a deficiency of this vitamin, leading to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, sometimes called “wet brain.”
What is thiamine (vitamin B1)?
Commonly known as “special K,” this dissociative anesthetic is sometimes abused as a club drug and is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance in the U.S.
What is ketamine?
Developing healthy daily habits like regular meals, sleep, and exercise is part of building this foundation for long-term recovery.
What is a stable routine (or healthy lifestyle)?
Effective recovery often involves identifying triggers early and developing these—specific strategies or actions—to cope without returning to substance use.
What are coping mechanisms (or relapse prevention strategies)?
This term describes the process of safely removing addictive substances from the body under medical supervision, often the first step in recovery.
What is detoxification (or detox)?
This neurotransmitter system, associated with relaxation and inhibition, is the main target of alcohol’s depressive effects on the brain.
What is the GABA system?
Under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, this synthetic opioid, originally developed for severe pain management, is classified as Schedule II — yet it has been responsible for a large percentage of overdose deaths when illegally manufactured and mixed with heroin or counterfeit pills.
What is fentanyl?
Learning to replace negative thoughts with positive, realistic ones is a key part of this evidence-based therapeutic approach.
What is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?