Definition of Terms

Vocabulary Used in Recovery and Substance Abuse Treatment

 

 

AA / Alcoholics Anonymous: A self-help support group for people with a desire to stop drinking, based on a twelve step philosophy.

 

Addiction: A physical and / or psychological need to continue to use a substance (alcohol, drugs, gambling, credit cards, etc.).

 

Abstinence: Maintaining a drug free life.  No use of any drug of abuse or alcohol. This may also mean non-participation drug compulsive behaviors that have been part of one’s addictive pattern.

 

Admission: The participant meets the program criteria and signs a consent to begin treatment.

 

Alanon: 12-step based fellowship of family, friends, and others affected by alcoholism and addiction (see self-help support group).

 

Alcoholism: A condition where the consumption of alcohol has caused disruption in one or many areas of a person’s life including family, employment, psychological state, health, spirituality, or other areas important to the individual.

 

Alcohol & Drug Free: Free of the use of all alcohol or drugs.

 

Alcohol & Drug Free Environment: An environment free of the use of alcohol and/or drugs, such as a sober living home.

 

Alcohol & Other Drug Dependence (AODD): The clinical abbreviation used to indicate addiction to all drugs of dependence.

 

Alcohol & Other Drug Problems: The problems of individuals, families and communities which are related to inappropriate alcohol and/or drug use and include conditions usually associated with the terms alcoholism, addiction, alcohol abuse and illicit use of drugs.

 

Alcohol & Other Drug Service: A service that is specifically designed to alleviate or preclude alcohol and/or other drug problems in the individual, his or her family, or the community.

 

Alcohol or other drug program: A collection of residential or nonresidential alcohol or other drug services that are coordinated to achieve specified objectives, such as abstinence.

 

Assessment: An in-depth review including level of care assessment and participant strengths and needs.

 

Attempts to Control: Persistent desire or efforts to cut down or control drinking/use of a substance including making rules for self about when, where, what to drink/use, etc.

 

Bath Salts:  The drug is made of either methylenedioxypyrovalerone, more commonly known as MDPV, or mephedrone. They both are derivatives of amphetamines. Bath salts give the user an initial quick high, accompanied by increased energy, alertness and libido. However, this high quickly fades, only to be replaced with medical and psychiatric complications.

 

Chronic Pain: Chronic pain sometimes seems like it never ends – and sometimes there is NO known cure. Chronic pain lasts more than 6 months, is experienced within a range – mild, moderate, severe, occasional or constant. We notice it in our bodies through the experience of low back pain, cancer, arthritis, nerve pain, psychogenic pain , headaches, diabetes neuropathy, stress and anxiety. Pain is individualized and we are the judge of our pain.

 

Chronic Pain and Addiction Recovery: Chronic Pain Recovery is an effective pain treatment program that reduces pain and increases function, thus improving the quality of life--all without opioid pain medications and other habit-forming medications.

Counseling: Participant and counselor in a face to face interaction for the purpose of identifying the participants problems and needs, setting goals and interventions and practicing new behaviors.

 

Codependent: Coined originally to describe the relationship between an alcoholic and their partner.  Now used more loosely to describe actions of enabling, lack of self-esteem, and an unhealthy need to fix another person and abandon one’s own needs/identity.

 

Day Treatment:  A nonresidential alcohol or other drug service that is provided to participants at least three hours per day and at least three days per week.  It is designed to provide an alcohol and drug free environment with structure and supervision to further a participants’ ability to improve functioning.

 

Dependence:  Commonly used to describe the physical aspect of addiction after chemical changes have caused the mind or body to feel discomfort when the substance is not present, such as withdrawal.

 

Detoxification: Drug detoxification (often shortened to "detox") is a collective of interventions directed at controlling acute alcohol or drug intoxication and alcohol or drug withdrawal. It refers to a purging from the body of the substances to which a patient is addicted and acutely under the influence. The process of detoxification aims at lessening the physical effects caused by the addictive substances.

 

Detoxification Services: If a client is experiencing withdrawal symptoms, he/she may require a medical detoxification. Lasting Recovery works closely with a number of certified detoxification specialists and facilities in the local San Diego area to ensure a safe withdrawal from most addictive substances including alcohol, opiates, benzodiazepines and marijuana.

 

Group Session:  A face to face interaction  in a group setting between the participant and program staff designed to support and encourage positive changes in the participants' lives and reduce or improve the problems associated with alcohol and drug use and promote recovery.

 

Individual Session: A face to face interaction between a participant and program staff designed to implement specific objectives in the treatment recovery plan. To support, facilitate and encourage changes within the participants life which result in improved outcomes and reduced needs and reduce or improve the problems associated with alcohol and/or drug use and to promote recovery.

 

Intake:The process by which a program coordinator obtains information about an individual seeking admission for alcohol/drug services and explains program offerings.

 

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP):  Commonly the next step for people leaving inpatient treatment or may be a non-residential alternative for alcohol and drug abuse treatment.

 

Loss of control: Drinking/using more or for longer than intended.

 

Opana: (oxymorphone) is an opioid pain reliever. It is similar to morphine. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic. Opana is used to treat moderate to severe pain. The extended-release form of this medication is for around-the-clock treatment of pain.

 

Program objective: A statement of the intended impact of program activities that includes descriptions of process (the planned course of action) and outcome objectives (the expected results) which are stated in measurable and time-limited terms.

 

Psychogenic pain: Psychogenic pain is experienced as physical pain that is caused, increased or prolonged by mental, emotional, or behavioral factors.

 

Recovery:Changing from a lifestyle of addiction and other self – destructive, dishonest behavior to one of abstinence and honesty.

 

Self-help Support Group:  A meeting where people with similar issues gather  for group support, information, and resources.

 

Sobriety:A term usually used in treatment or 12 step programs meaning the same as abstinence.  However, because it can mean not getting high or drunk, some use it to mislead. They tell themselves that even though they used or drank, it wasn’t enough to get them high or drunk, so they were still sober.

 

Substance abuse: Any pattern of substance use that results in repeated adverse social consequences related to alcohol or drug-taking—for example, interpersonal conflicts, failure to meet work, family, or school obligations, or legal problems.

 

Substance dependence: Commonly known as addiction, is substance dependence is characterized by physiological and behavioral symptoms related to substance use. These symptoms include the need for increasing amounts of the substance to maintain desired effects, withdrawal if drug-taking ceases, and a great deal of time spent in activities related to substance use.

 

Synthetic or Designer Drugs:  are drugs that are created to avoid the provisions of existing drug laws, usually by preparing derivatives of existing drugs by modifying their chemical structure to varying degrees, that produce similar subjective effects to illegal recreational drugs; they are usually sold on the grey market because there are little to no regulations when it comes to these substances.

 

Synthetic marijuana: (often known as “K2” or “Spice”) is often sold in legal retail outlets as “herbal incense” and “plant food,” respectively, and labeled “not for human consumption” to mask its intended purpose and avoid FDA regulatory oversight of the manufacturing process. K2 or Spice is typically sold in small amounts of dried leaves and marketed as incense that can be smoked.

 

Tolerance: Needing to drink or use more alcohol or drugs to get the same effect, or getting a diminished effect with the same amount.

 

Treatment Plan: A statement of problems, objectives, action steps and a target date for completion. 

 

Withdrawal: Physical/emotional withdrawal symptoms, or drinking / using more to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms. Physically/emotionally uncomfortable or painful symptoms occurring after ceasing frequent use of a mood-altering substance.

 

Lasting Recovery is an excellent program with wonderful staff members who care & support you. I am so grateful to all who have helped me on my journey of life & recovery. 
- Ali A.