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.

 

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 Services (Detox):   Services provided to assist participants, during the process in which alcohol and/or drugs are metabolized in the body to eliminate their toxic effects in either a medical or non-medical setting.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.