Acronyms
What does P.A.W.S. stand for
Post-acute withdrawal syndrome.
This actor, known for his role in Iron Man, has been open about their recovery from addiction.
Who is Robert Downey Jr.?
This term describes the euphoric optimism and sense of invincibility that many people feel in the early weeks of sobriety.
What is The Pink Cloud?
This brain chemical, often called the brain's "feel good" chemical, is heavily affected by most addictive substances.
What is dopamine?
This simple slogan reminds people to avoid being overwhelmed by future-oriented thinking.
"One day at a time"
Relapsing, or returning to substance use after a period of abstinence, means that a person's treatment for substance use disorder has completely failed.
False - between 40-60% of individuals relapse, similar to other medical diseases like hypertension (50-70%), and asthma (50-70%). This indicates that addiction is a chronic disease and that there are likely high-risk situations that need reexamination during the next treatment episode.
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery
What does the term H.A.L.T. stand for?
What is: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired?
This performer and singer of "Someone Like You" has spoken about her journey of mental health challenges and navigating recovery from Alcohol.
Who is Adele?
During this stage, the recovering person will experience physical detoxification, along with intense cravings, depression, low energy, irritability, insomnia, and disorganized thinking.
What is withdrawal? (0-15 days)
Alcohol increases this inhibitory receptor, which slows down brain activity, depressing the brain--what we might consider "relaxing it."
What is GABA? (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
_____, not ______
"Progress, not perfection"
Most people who achieve five years of continuous sobriety are still at very high risk for relapse.
False - Research shows that the risk of relapse dramatically drops after 5 years of continuous sobriety. A person's risk is less than 15%, which is similar to the general population's rate of developing various medical conditions.
What does MAT stand for?
What is Medically Assisted Treatment
This actor from the show "Friends" wrote the book Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Things about his addiction and recovery process.
Who is Matthew Perry?
During this stage, the recovering person often feels good and might become overconfident. They may have difficulty concentrating, have memory problems, intense emotions, mood swings, and talk about making multiple, dramatic lifestyle changes all at once.
What is the honeymood stage? (15-45 days)
Drugs like heroin, fentanyl, and prescription painkillers bind to these brain receptors.
What are opioid receptors?
This three-word slogan reminds us to see ourselves as individuals, rather than comparing ourselves to others' accomplishments and merits, which can lead to frustration and resentment in recovery.
The use of Medication-Assisted Treatment for opioid use disorder dramatically reduces the risk of death for those in recovery.
True - MAT (using medications like methadone or suboxone) is highly effective. Research has found that the use of approved medicines for OUD is associated with a reduction in deaths of approximately 50% or more.
https://delamere.com/blog/the-success-rates-of-different-addiction-treatments
What does PHP or IOP stand for?
What is Partial Hospitalization Programming or Intensive Outpatient Programming?
This Grammy-winning pop star has openly shared their journey with addiction and recovery, including a near-fatal overdose in 2018.
Who is Demi Lovato?
In this stage, the recovering person may return to old behaviors due to an inability to enjoy normal pleasures, and exhibit anger, hostility, irritability, aggression, depression, anxiety, intense cravings, and rumination (obsession) surrounding substance use. This period is when the recovering person is most likely to experience isolation, relationship problems, and to feel "defeated."
What is "the wall?" (45-120 days)
These natural opiates are produced in the brain to suppress pain. They are also known as "endogenous morphine."
What are endorphines?
This popular slogan is used by both secular and non-secular groups to turn over their control to a higher power during their recovery process.
"Let go and let God" or "Let go, and trust the process"
Formal, professional treatment is the only way a person can successfully achieve stable recovery from a significant substance use problem.
False - A large-scale national survey found that more than half (54.1%) of the millions of people in remission from a Substance Use Disorder achieved it without ever receiving formal treatment.
What does ASAM stand for? (It's the assessment you completed before and during treatment).
What is the American Society for Addiction Medicine?
This comedic actor and former MTV star of Jackass has been in and out of treatment, and advocates strongly for mental health and sobriety.
Who is Steve-O
This stage may feature relationship problems, boredom, lack of goals and direction, intense guilt and shame over past behaviors, job dissatisfaction, and re-surfacing trauma, psychopathology, and life issues that contributed to the addictive behavior originating in the first place.
What is the "adjustment" stage? (120-180 days)
Substances like methamphetamine and cocaine cause a surge of this neurotransmitter, which is associated with motivation, learning, and reward.
What is dopamine?
These two words often refer to when someone experiences thoughts and attitudes that lead to relapse.
"Stinkin Thinkin"
Most people in long-term recovery report a high quality of life, comparable to the general population.
True - A vast majority of people in recovery report a high quality of life. An incredible 88.4% rate their quality of life as "good, very good, or excellent."
What does the SMART stand for in SMART goals?
What is: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.
SMART goals help break large tasks into smaller ones, increasing the likelihood of success.
This country music legend, known for hits like "Friends in Low Places," has spoken about his long-term recovery from alcoholism.
Who is Garth Brooks?
In this stage, the recovering person usually develops insights into the underlying problems that contributed to their addiction, and into unhealthy relationships. During this period, patterns of addictive behavior may return in a different form, and the individual may struggle to accept the "lifelong" concept of addiction recovery.
What is the "resolution" stage? (usually occurs after 180 days)
This stress hormone rises during withdrawal and can trigger intense anxiety and cravings.
What is cortisol?
This slogan is used to encourage people to stay motivated and to remind them that someday they will not struggle as much.
"Fake it till you make it," but you might hear Tyler say "Do it till you're through it" because none of you are fake :)
When looking for a high-quality treatment program, one of the most important factors is that the program offers Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).
True - Public health agencies identify the provision of Medications for Addiction as a key sign of higher-quality programs. In 2017, the provision of medications for OUD varied widely by state, from 10% to 81% of facilities, highlighting it as a critical quality measure.
What does the DBT skill TIPP stand for?
Temperature, Intense Exercise, Paced Breathing, Progressive Muscle Relaxation.
Used for intense, unpleasant emotions like anxiety and panic.
This NFL quarterback led his team to a Super Bowl victory. Later that year, he went public about his recovery from opioid addiction.
Who is Brett Favre?
People with substance use disorders with more than three months and less than 1-year of complete abstinence from their drug of choice are considered to be in __________ ___________.
What is early remission?
Chronic heavy use of alcohol can lead to a severe deficiency of this vitamin, which is essential for brain functioning.
What is thiamine? (vitamin B1)
This slogan encourages members to trust that if they are working a program, recovery will work for them.
"It works if you work it."
On average, it takes people with a substance use problem many attempts (more than 5) to finally achieve stable recovery.
False - A national study found that the median number of serious recovery attempts needed to resolve a substance problem was only 2. The median suggests that most people need fewer attempts than commonly thought.
https://www.recoveryanswers.org/research-post/recovery-attempts-review/
What does the DBT acronym PLEASE stand for?
Physical Illness, Eat Balanced, Avoid Mood-Altering Substances, Sleep, Exercise.
In DBT, PLEASE is about building resilience against emotional dysregulation. In recovery, this looks like building a strong foundation of wellness so you're not thrown into relapse by preventable vulnerabilities.
This award-winning actress, known for Black Swan and her voice acting in Family Guy, speaks openly about her substance use treatment and prioritizing her mental health and recovery.
Who is Mila Kunis?
It takes this length of time for someone's substance use disorder to be "in remission," according to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, version 5 (DSM-5).
What is 12-months/1-year?
Research shows it can take this amount of time after quitting stimulant drugs for the brain to return to normal chemical functioning.
What is 12-18 months?
This saying reminds us that consistently practicing recovery tools — like meetings, step work, and daily routines — is what builds lasting change.
The majority of people with a Substance Use Disorder who need treatment ultimately receive it in a specialist facility.
False - In 2023, approximately 76.4% of individuals aged 12 and older who required substance use treatment did not receive it in a specialty facility.
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/rehab-guide/addiction-statistics-demographics
What does CAGE stand for in the alcohol screening tool?
What is: Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener.
1. Have you ever thought you needed to cut down on your drinking? 2. Have you ever felt annoyed when others criticized you about your drinking? 3. Have you ever felt guilty or bad about your drinking? 4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?
A score of 2 or more indicates problematic drinking patterns and likely alcohol use disorder.
This rapper, famous for albums like The Marshall Mathers LP, has been in recovery from pill addiction since 2008 and often credits his children for motivating his sobriety.
Who is Eminem?
This syndrome, marked by irritability, sleep problems, low motivation, and more, peaks in the first 6 months of recovery, but can last up to two years after quitting substances.
What are post-acute withdrawal symptoms, or PAWS?
Drugs like LSD, psilocybin (mushrooms), and MDMA influence this neurotransmitter.
What is serotonin?
This slogan reminds us that addiction does not define who we are as individuals; it's something we experience and can recover from.
"I am not my disease." or "You are not your disease."
Most people who achieve a year of sobriety are able to maintain that for the next five years.
True - For individuals who have been sober for at least one year, the chance of maintaining abstinence for the next four years is approximately 50%; around the same rate of recovery for other chronic health conditions like hypertension and heart disease.