Addiction 101
Addiction is considered a _______ because it changes the brain's structure and functioning. It is not caused by poor willpower or character flaws.
What is a disease?
True or false - methadone has a low abuse rate.
What is false?
Name a benefit of having social support.
What is:
- improved physical/mental health, feeling of security, greater resilience to stress, improved self-esteem, greater life satisfaction, greater chance of maintaining recovery.
What is a trigger?
Anything that prompts the brain to think about using substances, or that prompts unwanted emotions that could lead one to think about using substances.
Returning to a regular pattern of substance use after a period of sobriety.
What is a relapse?
True or false: methadone makes you gain weight.
What is false? Some patient report that they enjoy the taste of their food a lot better now that they have eliminated drug use as the center of their lives, and so they may actually be eating more. Many patients also report sugar cravings.
This type of social support helps manage emotions such as stress, anger, or depression. This type of support may listen to problems and show empathy.
What is emotional support?
What is an example of an external trigger?
What is:
- A party, a bar, a neighborhood, a using friend, a movie, a news story, etc.
An isolated incident of use without returning to old patterns of substance use.
What is a lapse?
True or false: The lower the dose of Methadone the better
What is false? A therapeutic dose is determined by several factors including weight, height, gender, underlying medical conditions, metabolism, etc. Methadone dosage is not "one size fits all."
This type of support provides information that helps solve a problem or overcome a challenge. This may include advice or information about helpful resources.
What is informational support?
What is an example of an internal trigger?
What is:
- Fear, frustration, anger, guilt, anxiety, depression, insecurity, embarrassment, irritability, jealousy, boredom, exhaustion, loneliness, worry, grief, paranoia, hunger, etc.
Needing more of the substance to achieve desired effect.
What is tolerance?
True of false: Methadone is unsafe during pregnancy.
What is false? Methadone is an approved treatment by the FDA for pregnant women suffering from opioid addiction.
This type of support helps fulfill basic social needs, such as love, belonging, and connectedness. This helps provide a feeling of security and contentment.
What is a social needs support?
Scenario: While at work, Ralph received a call that his son was expelled from school for fighting and had to leave work to pick him up. Ralph felt angry and annoyed that he was behind on work, but couldn't help feeling a sense of guilt for being a bad influence on his son before he got sober. Ralph dropped his son off at home and returned to work but felt anxious for the rest of the day and forgot to eat lunch. A coworker, unaware that Ralph is in recovery, notices his bad mood and invites Ralph to grab a beer after work. Ralph accepts, wanting to blow off some steam, and ends up getting drunk and calling his dealer.
Identify 1 internal and 1 external trigger.
Internal triggers: anger, annoyance, guilt, hunger, anxiety.
External triggers: Call from the school, his son's behavior, getting behind on work, going to a bar.
Physical or psychological symptoms when not using the substance.
What is withdrawal?
Methadone binds to the opioid receptors in the brain and activates them, making it an opioid _______. (Hint: agonist or antagonist)
What is agonist?
Name 3 ways to build social support.
What is:
- Attend to your existing relationships, increase community involvement, attend support groups, use professional support.
Name 3 ways Ralph could have coped with these triggers to prevent a relapse.
What is:
- Call a sober support, pick a different activity to "blow off steam", tell his coworker he is in recovery and/or politely decline, go to a meeting after work, process his feelings by journaling, practice deep breathing, have a snack, "play the tape."