Vocabulary #1
Trigger
An emotional, environmental or social situation that drags up memories of drug or alcohol use.
(Something that makes someone remember using drugs or alcohol and want to use again.)
Evidence-Based Treatment
Any therapy that has shown to be effective in peer-reviewed scientific experiments.
(Help that works because scientists have tested it and know it helps people.)
Pink Cloud
A stage in early recovery from addiction. This state involves feelings of excitement, confidence about recovery, euphoria, and elation.
(When someone feels extra happy and excited early in recovery.)
Coping Strategies
Efforts used to manage stressful events and difficult thoughts and emotions.
(Healthy ways to deal with big feelings or stress.)
Trauma
Trauma is a person's perception of an event or circumstance resulting in them suffering long-term physical, emotional, and/or life-threatening harm.
(Something very scary or painful that hurts someone for a long time.)
Sponsor
A recovery sponsor is Someone who has worked through a twelve-step program, maintained sobriety, and mentors’ others on their recovery journeys.
(A helper who has been through recovery and guides someone else.)
Euphoria
The experience (or effect) of pleasure or excitement and intense feelings of happiness. Some substances produce a euphoric effect.
(A very strong feeling of happiness or excitement.)
Obsession
A mental behavior one repeats involuntarily that can be harmful (such as needing to engage in use).
(When a thought gets stuck in your mind and won’t leave.)
Dopamine
A neurotransmitter that is naturally produced in the brain. It is often referred to as the “feel-good” hormone. Dopamine has an important role when it comes to understanding addiction and treating it.
(A chemical in your brain that helps you feel happy.)
Co-Occurring Disorders
Most often used to describe two illnesses or disorders within one person. Examples would be depression, anxiety or bipolar and addiction. Also referred to as comorbidity or dual diagnosis.
(When someone has more than one problem at the same time, like feeling sad and having an addiction.)
Relapse Prevention
A cognitive-behavioral approach to relapse with the goal of identifying and preventing high-risk situations, such as substance use, for those in recovery.
(Learning how to avoid going back to drugs or alcohol.)
Risk Factors
Factors that increase the risk of someone developing a substance use disorder.
(Things that make it more likely someone could develop an addiction.)
Denial
When someone with an addiction is unable to see the effects of their use on themselves, their loved ones, and their life as a whole. Delusional thinking is a common symptom of addiction
(When someone doesn’t believe or won’t admit there’s a problem, even when there is one.)
Spiritual Awakening
A newfound awareness of a spiritual reality.
(When someone sees life in a new, meaningful way.)
Relapse
A deterioration in someone's state of health after a temporary improvement. For example, when someone engages in substance use after a period of abstinence is considered a relapse.
(When someone starts using drugs or alcohol again after stopping.)
Enabling
Actions that typically involve removing or diminishing the naturally occurring negative consequences resulting from substance use. This increases the likelihood of disease progression.
(Helping someone keep doing something unhealthy, even if you don’t mean to.)
Coping Strategies
Efforts used to manage stressful events and difficult thoughts and emotions.
(Healthy ways to deal with big feelings or stress.)
Naloxone
A synthetic drug, similar to morphine, which blocks opiate receptors in the nervous system. It can reverse overdose from opioids. Sold commonly under the brand name Narcan.
(A medicine that can save someone’s life during a drug overdose.)
Enabler
Someone whose behavior allows a loved one to continue self-destructive patterns of behavior. Enabling is common in alcoholism and in addiction
(A person who helps someone else continue bad habits.)
Protective Factors
Factors that reduce the risk of an individual developing a substance use disorder.
(Things that help keep people safe from addiction.)
Resentment
Resentment is a negative sentiment that is felt over time and is considered a trigger for relapse for a person in recovery
(Holding onto angry or hurt feelings for a long time.)
Compulsion
A strong, usually irresistible impulse to perform an act. This can often be an act that is irrational or contrary to one's will.
(A strong feeling like you have to do something, even if you don’t want to.)
Euphoric Recall
Euphoric recall is when a person affected by a substance use disorder recalls the “good times” associated with substance use and subconsciously negates to recall of the consequences.
(Remembering only the “fun” times and forgetting the bad parts.)
Amends
Compensation for loss. In AA, the concept of making amends is about apologizing to the people an individual has hurt in the past. Additionally, it’s about taking accountability for their actions and mistakes.
(Saying “I’m sorry” and trying to fix the hurt you caused someone.)
Relapse Prevention
A cognitive-behavioral approach to relapse with the goal of identifying and preventing high-risk situations, such as substance use, for those in recovery.
(Learning how to avoid going back to drugs or alcohol.)
Clean Time
A term used to describe the amount of time a person has been continually abstinent from substances. “Clean time” is celebrated in 12 Step fellowships such as CA and NA
(How long someone has stayed away from drugs or alcohol)
Relapse
A deterioration in someone's state of health after a temporary improvement. For example, when someone engages in substance use after a period of abstinence is considered a relapse.
(When someone starts using drugs or alcohol again after stopping.)
Recovery Meetings
Meetings that are held for people in recovery by persons in addiction recovery.
(Meetings where people help each other stay healthy and sober.)
Codependence
Excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner that is to a person's detriment. This can be a partner who requires support due to illness or addiction. Codependency can manifest in many different ways in intimate relationships
(When someone depends too much on another person and forgets to take care of themselves.)
Craving
A powerful and strong desire/urge for alcohol or a substance. A symptom of the abnormal brain adaptations that result from addiction.
(A very strong want for drugs or alcohol.)
Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)
Withdrawal symptoms that continue after the initial acute withdrawal from substances. PAWS symptoms can last for months or even years in cases of chronic substance use
(Feeling bad or uncomfortable for a long time after stopping drugs or alcohol)
Carry the Message
A concept found in the 12th step of AA. The intent of the 12th step is for AA members to take what they have learned and carry the message to others in recovery.
(Sharing what helped you get better with other people who need help too.)
Surrender
To surrender in recovery is to stop trying to control people, situations, circumstances, substances and outcomes
(Letting go of trying to control everything and asking for help.)
Closed Meetings
NA/AA meetings that are only open to members, or those who desire to quit their alcohol use.
(Meetings only for people who want to stop doing drugs or alcohol.)
Spirituality
The broad concept of a belief in something beyond the self. Spirituality is a concept and way of life that has proven effective in treating addiction
(Believing in something bigger than yourself and trying to live with purpose.)