Recovery group
Recovery Jeopardy
Cravings and coping, relapse prevention, healthy routines, support and how substances affect the brain, for an adult recovery group.
Cravings and coping
- 100A strong urge or desire to use a substanceWhat is a craving?
- 200In the self-care check HALT, H is hungry, A is angry, L is lonely and T is thisWhat is tired?
- 300Paying attention to the present moment on purpose, without judging itWhat is mindfulness?
- 400Accepting a craving as normal and temporary, and letting it crest like an ocean wave and pass, is called thisWhat is urge surfing (riding it out)?
- 500Spotting unhelpful thoughts, then questioning and changing them, is at the heart of this talking therapy known by three lettersWhat is CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy)?
Relapse prevention
- 100A person, place or thing linked to past use that can set off a cravingWhat is a trigger (a cue)?
- 200Relapse often builds over weeks or months, so recovery work focuses on spotting these early, such as poor self-care or isolatingWhat are warning signs?
- 300One model describes relapse in three stages: emotional, then mental, then this one, when use starts againWhat is physical relapse?
- 400DDNIDA compares relapse rates in substance use disorders to those of high blood pressure and this long-term breathing conditionWhat is asthma?
- 500A brief return to use after a time of not using, which is not a full relapse; you can get straight back on trackWhat is a lapse (a slip, a setback)?
Healthy routines
- 100The NHS says to eat at least this many portions of fruit and vegetables a dayWhat is five?
- 200The CDC says adults aged 18 to 60 need at least this many hours of sleep a nightWhat is seven?
- 300CDC sleep tips say to avoid this stimulant, found in coffee, tea and many energy drinks, in the afternoon or eveningWhat is caffeine?
- 400The CDC suggests turning these off at least 30 minutes before bedtimeWhat are electronic devices (screens, phones)?
- 500The CDC says adults need this many minutes of moderate activity, such as brisk walking, each weekWhat is 150?
Support
- 100In 12-step groups, the more experienced member a newcomer asks for one-to-one guidanceWho is a sponsor?
- 200SAMHSA says recovery is supported by these and allies: people who share their own experience of recovery to encourage each otherWho are peers?
- 300SAMHSA says recovery happens through many of these, because each person’s route is highly personalWhat are pathways?
- 400This mutual-support programme’s name stands for Self-Management and Recovery TrainingWhat is SMART Recovery?
- 500SAMHSA calls this “the catalyst of the recovery process”: the belief that recovery is realWhat is hope?
Substances and the brain
- 100The brain chemical that signals reward; large surges of it “teach” the brain to seek substancesWhat is dopamine?
- 200Needing a larger amount of a substance to get the same effect as beforeWhat is tolerance?
- 300Feelings like anxiety, irritability and unease that can come when someone stops or cuts down after regular useWhat is withdrawal?
- 400The part of the brain behind the forehead that powers planning, decisions and self-controlWhat is the prefrontal cortex?
- 500NIDA calls this group of structures deep in the brain a key part of the “reward circuit”; they also help form habits and routinesWhat are the basal ganglia?
Final round: A life in recovery
SAMHSA’s four dimensions of recovery are health, home, purpose and this one: relationships that give support, friendship, love and hope
What is community?