Frequently Asked Questions
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Whether you're exploring treatment for yourself, supporting a loved one, or researching your options — you deserve clear, direct information. Browse by topic below.
Mental Health Substance Use Medical / Pharmacology Treatment / Recovery
A
Abstinence Treatment
The practice of refraining from the use of alcohol or drugs, often as the primary goal of addiction treatment.
Addiction Substance Use
A chronic, relapsing brain disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences. It involves changes in brain structure and function and is recognized as a medical condition.
Adverse Reaction Medical
An unexpected or harmful response to a drug or substance, beyond its typical side effects.
Agonist Medical
A substance that binds to a receptor and activates it, producing a biological response. Many addictive drugs act as agonists on opioid or dopamine receptors.
Amphetamine Substance Use
A class of powerful central nervous system stimulants used medically to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, but frequently misused for their euphoric and performance-enhancing effects.
Antagonist Medical
A substance that blocks a receptor without activating it, counteracting the effect of an agonist. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to reverse overdose.
Anxiety Disorder Mental Health
A group of mental health conditions characterized by persistent, excessive worry or fear. Includes generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety, and phobias. Anxiety disorders frequently co-occur with substance use disorders.
ASAM Criteria Treatment
The American Society of Addiction Medicine's multidimensional assessment criteria used to determine the appropriate level of care for substance use and co-occurring disorder treatment.
B
Barbiturate Medical
A class of CNS depressants derived from barbituric acid, used historically as sedatives and anti-anxiety agents. High potential for dependence and overdose risk.
Behavioral Health Mental Health
An umbrella term encompassing mental health and substance use disorders, and the connection between behaviors and overall health and wellness.
Benzodiazepine Medical
A class of CNS depressants (e.g., Xanax, Valium, Klonopin) prescribed for anxiety, seizures, and insomnia. Benzodiazepines carry a high risk of physical dependence and are among the most dangerous substances to withdraw from without medical supervision.
Biofeedback Treatment
A therapeutic technique that trains individuals to control physiological functions (heart rate, brain activity, muscle tension) to improve health outcomes and manage stress, anxiety, and pain — often used as a complementary treatment in addiction recovery.
Bipolar Disorder Mental Health
A mental health condition characterized by alternating episodes of mania or hypomania (elevated mood, energy, and activity) and depression. Frequently co-occurs with substance use disorders.
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Medical
The concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream, expressed as a percentage. A BAC of 0.08% is the legal limit for driving in the United States.
Buprenorphine Medical
A partial opioid agonist used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. Sold under brand names including Suboxone (combined with naloxone) and Subutex. Reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing the full euphoric effect of opioids.
C
Cirrhosis Medical
Chronic liver damage resulting in scarring and eventual liver failure, commonly caused by long-term alcohol misuse or hepatitis. A serious medical consequence of sustained alcohol use disorder.
Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) Medical
A standardized clinical tool used to assess the severity of opioid withdrawal symptoms in patients undergoing detox or medication-assisted treatment.
Codependency Mental Health
A dysfunctional relationship pattern in which one person enables or prioritizes another's addiction or dysfunction at the expense of their own wellbeing. Common among family members of people with substance use disorders.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Treatment
An evidence-based psychotherapy that identifies and challenges distorted thought patterns and behaviors. One of the most widely used and researched therapies for both addiction and mental health disorders.
Compulsion Mental Health
A repetitive behavior driven by an overwhelming urge, often performed to reduce anxiety or distress. A defining feature of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and a component of addictive behavior.
Co-occurring Disorder (Dual Diagnosis) Mental Health
The simultaneous presence of a substance use disorder and one or more mental health conditions (e.g., depression, PTSD, anxiety). Treating both conditions together produces significantly better outcomes than treating them separately.
Craving Substance Use
An intense, often overwhelming desire for a substance. Cravings result from neurological changes caused by addiction and can be triggered by environmental cues, stress, or emotional states.
Crisis Intervention Treatment
Immediate, short-term support provided to individuals experiencing acute emotional, mental, or behavioral distress — including suicidal ideation, overdose, or psychiatric crisis.
Cross-Dependence Medical
The ability of one drug to suppress withdrawal symptoms caused by dependence on a different drug. For example, methadone can suppress withdrawal in people physically dependent on heroin.
Cross-Tolerance Medical
When tolerance developed for one substance results in a reduced response to another, often chemically similar, substance.
D
Denial Substance Use
A psychological defense mechanism in which a person refuses to acknowledge or accept the existence or severity of their addiction. Denial is one of the primary barriers to seeking treatment.
Depressants Medical
Substances that slow central nervous system activity, producing sedation, reduced anxiety, and impaired coordination. Includes alcohol, benzodiazepines, and barbiturates.
Depression Mental Health
A common and serious mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest, low energy, and impaired function. Major depressive disorder frequently co-occurs with substance use disorders — each can trigger or worsen the other.
Detoxification (Detox) Treatment
The medically supervised process of clearing substances from the body while managing withdrawal symptoms. Detox is typically the first phase of treatment and is not treatment in itself — it must be followed by ongoing therapeutic intervention.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Treatment
An evidence-based therapy combining cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness and acceptance strategies. Highly effective for borderline personality disorder, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and substance use disorders.
Dopamine Medical
A neurotransmitter central to the brain's reward and motivation pathways. Most addictive substances hijack the dopamine system, producing surges of pleasure that reinforce drug-seeking behavior and reshape brain function over time.
Drug Misuse Substance Use
Using a substance in a way that differs from its prescribed or intended use, or in amounts that cause harm to the user or others. Drug misuse does not always indicate addiction but can precede it.
Drug Tolerance Substance Use
A progressive state in which the body adapts to a substance, requiring increasingly higher doses to achieve the same effect. Tolerance is a key marker of developing physical dependence.
DSM-5 Mental Health
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. The standard classification reference used by mental health professionals in the United States to diagnose psychiatric conditions, including substance use disorders.
Dysphoria Mental Health
A state of profound unease, dissatisfaction, or emotional distress. The opposite of euphoria. Often experienced during withdrawal and early recovery.
E
Enabling Substance Use
Actions by family members or others that inadvertently support or sustain a person's addiction — such as providing money, covering up consequences, or making excuses — often out of love or a desire to help.
Endorphins Medical
Natural opioid-like chemicals produced by the brain that reduce pain and produce a sense of wellbeing. Exercise, laughter, and social connection stimulate endorphin release — an important factor in natural recovery support.
Evidence-Based Treatment (EBT) Treatment
Clinical interventions that have been rigorously studied and proven effective through controlled research. In addiction treatment, examples include CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
Euphoria Substance Use
An intense sense of pleasure or well-being, often produced by addictive substances. The euphoric effect of drugs reinforces continued use and drives the cycle of addiction.
F
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Medical
A spectrum of physical and developmental abnormalities in infants born to mothers who consumed alcohol during pregnancy. The leading preventable cause of intellectual disability in the United States.
G
Grief & Loss in Recovery Mental Health
The emotional process of mourning relationships, identity, time, and opportunities lost to addiction. Grief work is a recognized component of trauma-informed treatment and long-term recovery.
H
Hallucinogen Substance Use
A class of substances (e.g., LSD, psilocybin, mescaline) that produce profound distortions in perception, thought, and emotion. Can trigger lasting psychological effects including hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD).
Harm Reduction Treatment
A public health approach that seeks to reduce the negative consequences of drug use without requiring abstinence. Includes strategies such as needle exchange programs, naloxone distribution, and supervised consumption sites.
Heroin Substance Use
An illegal opioid derived from morphine with an extremely high potential for addiction and overdose. Can be injected, snorted, or smoked. Heroin use disorder is treated with medication-assisted therapy and behavioral interventions.
HIPAA Treatment
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Federal law protecting the privacy and security of patients' health information, including substance use and mental health treatment records. Substance use records carry additional protections under 42 CFR Part 2.
I
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) Treatment
A structured level of care in which patients attend treatment several days per week (typically 3–5 days, 3 hours per day) while living at home. IOP bridges the gap between residential treatment and standard outpatient care.
Intervention Treatment
A structured process in which family members and loved ones, often with the guidance of a professional interventionist, confront a person about their addiction and encourage them to seek treatment.
Intoxication Substance Use
A state of impaired functioning caused by the introduction of a substance into the body. Symptoms vary by substance and may include euphoria, sedation, impaired coordination, altered perception, and loss of judgment.
L
Levels of Care Treatment
The continuum of treatment intensity in behavioral health — from medical detox through residential, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), and standard outpatient. Level of care is determined by clinical assessment and ASAM criteria.
M
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Treatment
The use of FDA-approved medications (such as buprenorphine, naltrexone, or methadone) combined with counseling and behavioral therapy to treat substance use disorders. MAT is the gold standard for opioid use disorder treatment.
Mental Health Parity Treatment
The principle — backed by the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) — that insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatment must be equivalent to coverage for physical health conditions.
Methadone Medical
A long-acting opioid agonist used in MAT for opioid use disorder and for pain management. Administered daily at licensed clinics, methadone reduces cravings and withdrawal without producing the high of shorter-acting opioids.
Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) Treatment
An evidence-based treatment approach that integrates mindfulness meditation practices with cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention strategies to help individuals manage cravings and emotional triggers.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) Treatment
A collaborative, person-centered counseling style that strengthens a person's own motivation and commitment to change. Widely used in addiction treatment to help individuals explore and resolve ambivalence about recovery.
N
Naloxone (Narcan) Medical
An opioid antagonist used to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. Available as a nasal spray or injection, naloxone is a life-saving emergency medication widely distributed to first responders, families, and people at risk.
Naltrexone (Vivitrol) Medical
An opioid antagonist used in MAT for opioid and alcohol use disorders. Available as a daily pill or monthly injection (Vivitrol), it blocks the euphoric effects of opioids and reduces alcohol cravings.
Neurotransmitter Medical
Chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons in the brain. Many substances of abuse disrupt normal neurotransmitter activity, particularly in systems involving dopamine, serotonin, and GABA.
O
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Substance Use
A chronic medical condition defined by problematic opioid use causing clinically significant impairment. Includes dependence on prescription opioids, heroin, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Effectively treated with MAT and behavioral therapy.
Opioids Medical
A class of drugs that bind to opioid receptors to reduce pain. Includes prescription medications (oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine) and illicit substances (heroin, illicit fentanyl). Carries a high risk of physical dependence, overdose, and death.
Overdose Medical
A toxic, potentially fatal reaction to consuming too much of a substance. Opioid overdose causes respiratory depression and can be reversed with naloxone. Overdose risk is greatly increased by polysubstance use and by tolerance loss after a period of abstinence.
P
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) Treatment
A structured, intensive level of outpatient care typically involving 5–6 hours of treatment per day, 5 days per week. PHP provides comprehensive clinical services while allowing patients to return home in the evenings.
Physical Dependence Substance Use
The body's physiological adaptation to a substance, resulting in withdrawal symptoms when use is reduced or stopped. Physical dependence is distinct from addiction — it can occur with legitimate medical use of certain medications.
Polysubstance Use Substance Use
The concurrent use of more than one substance, which significantly increases the risk of overdose, adverse reactions, and treatment complexity.
Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) Medical
A set of prolonged withdrawal symptoms — including mood swings, sleep disturbances, cognitive fog, and anxiety — that persist weeks to months after acute detox. PAWS is a common cause of relapse and requires ongoing clinical support.
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) Mental Health
A mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Characterized by flashbacks, hypervigilance, avoidance, and emotional numbing. Strongly correlated with substance use disorders — many individuals use substances to self-medicate PTSD symptoms.
Psychosis Mental Health
A state of impaired reality testing characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Can be caused or triggered by substance use (substance-induced psychosis) or be a symptom of conditions such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
R
Recovery Treatment
A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. Recovery is not a single event but an ongoing journey that extends well beyond formal treatment.
Relapse Treatment
A return to substance use after a period of abstinence. Relapse is a common component of the recovery process — not a treatment failure — and is best understood as a signal that treatment or recovery support needs adjustment.
Relapse Prevention Plan Treatment
A personalized clinical plan developed in treatment that identifies a patient's triggers, warning signs, and specific coping strategies to reduce the risk of returning to substance use after discharge.
Residential Treatment (RTC) Treatment
A level of care in which patients live on-site at a treatment facility and receive around-the-clock clinical support. Residential treatment typically lasts 28–90 days and is recommended for individuals with severe addiction, unstable living situations, or co-occurring disorders.
S
Schizophrenia Mental Health
A serious, chronic mental health disorder involving disruptions in thought, perception, emotion, and behavior. People with schizophrenia have significantly elevated rates of substance use disorders.
Self-Medication Substance Use
Using substances to manage emotional pain, anxiety, trauma symptoms, or other mental health symptoms without professional guidance. Self-medication is a common pathway into addiction, particularly among people with undiagnosed mental health conditions.
Stimulants Medical
Substances that increase CNS activity, producing alertness, energy, and euphoria. Includes cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription stimulants (Adderall, Ritalin). High potential for misuse and dependence.
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Substance Use
The clinical term for addiction — a diagnosable condition in which a person's use of alcohol or drugs causes significant impairment or distress. SUDs range from mild to severe and are defined by specific criteria in the DSM-5.
Suicidal Ideation Mental Health
Thoughts about, consideration of, or planning for suicide. Suicidal ideation is significantly more common among people with substance use disorders and must always be assessed and addressed in behavioral health treatment.
T
Therapeutic Community Treatment
A treatment model in which individuals in recovery form a structured community that supports one another's healing. Peer relationships, shared accountability, and communal living or participation are central elements.
Trauma-Informed Care Treatment
A clinical framework that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and integrates that knowledge into treatment. Trauma-informed care prioritizes safety, trust, transparency, and avoiding re-traumatization in all patient interactions.
Trigger Substance Use
A person, place, emotion, situation, or sensory cue that provokes cravings or the urge to use substances. Identifying and managing triggers is a core component of relapse prevention work.
12-Step Programs Treatment
Peer-support programs (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous) structured around a twelve-step framework that includes admitting powerlessness over addiction, making amends, and ongoing peer accountability. Widely used as a complement to formal clinical treatment.
U
Urge Surfing Treatment
A mindfulness-based technique for managing cravings by observing the urge as a wave that rises and falls, rather than acting on it. An evidence-based component of relapse prevention.
Utilization Review Treatment
A process conducted by insurance companies to evaluate whether the level and duration of treatment being provided is medically necessary. Utilization review decisions can affect insurance coverage during treatment.
W
Withdrawal Medical
The physical and psychological symptoms that occur when a person who is physically dependent on a substance abruptly reduces or stops use. Withdrawal symptoms vary by substance — alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can be life-threatening and require medical supervision.
Withdrawal Syndrome Medical
The combined cluster of symptoms that emerge following cessation of a substance in a dependent individual. Severity depends on the substance, duration of use, and individual physiology.
Street Names & Drug Slang
Recognizing the Language of Drug Use
If you're concerned about a loved one, knowing common drug slang can help you identify a problem earlier. Slang terms alone aren't enough to confirm addiction — look for them alongside behavioral and physical changes. If you're worried, let us help.
Amphetamines
CNS stimulants; includes Adderall & prescription ADHD medications
Cocaine
Powerful stimulant; typically snorted as a white powder
Crack Cocaine
Smokable form of cocaine; extremely addictive
Fentanyl
Synthetic opioid; 100× more potent than morphine. Extreme overdose risk.
Heroin
Illegal opioid derived from morphine; injected, smoked, or snorted
LSD
Powerful hallucinogen; alters perception and reality
Marijuana / Cannabis
Most commonly used illicit drug; smoked or ingested
MDMA
Club drug; causes euphoria, increased energy, distorted perception
Methamphetamine
Highly addictive CNS stimulant; smoked, snorted, or injected
Xanax / Benzodiazepines
Prescription anxiety medication; highly addictive, dangerous to withdraw from
Cough Medicine (DXM)
OTC medicines misused for psychoactive effects; common among teens
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