A
Abstinence — The deliberate choice to stop using or completely avoid all mind- or body-altering substances. Widely considered a cornerstone of a healthy recovery lifestyle.
Aftercare — Also called continuing care, refers to ongoing support services after completing an intensive treatment program. Designed to reduce the risk of relapse during the critical post-treatment period.
Al-Anon / Alateen — Al-Anon is an international fellowship offering support to family members affected by a loved one’s alcoholism. Alateen is its program specifically for younger people, typically ages 13–19.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) — A worldwide peer fellowship founded in 1935 supporting individuals seeking to achieve and maintain sobriety from alcohol, based on a 12-Step framework.
Alcoholism — A chronic, primary disease influenced by genetic, psychological, and environmental factors, characterized by an inability to control drinking and continued use despite negative consequences.
Alumni Program — An organized network connecting individuals who have completed addiction treatment, offering ongoing community, accountability, and support in long-term recovery.
B
Biofeedback Therapy — A technique teaching individuals to voluntarily control physiological functions — such as heart rate or muscle tension — using real-time data. Used in addiction treatment to manage stress and reduce cravings.
Buprenorphine — A partial opioid agonist used as a first-line medication for treating opioid use disorder. Reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms with a lower ceiling of euphoria than full agonists. Sold under brand names including Suboxone and Subutex.
C
Campral (Acamprosate) — An FDA-approved oral medication supporting abstinence in people recovering from alcohol use disorder. Reduces the anxiety, restlessness, and dysphoria that often drive relapse in early sobriety.
CARF — The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, an independent nonprofit organization that sets and monitors quality standards for health and human services programs.
Case Management — A coordinated healthcare approach in which a professional helps patients navigate treatment options, access community resources, and maintain continuity of care.
Co-Dependency — A relational pattern in which a person becomes excessively focused on managing or enabling another person’s addiction, often at the expense of their own well-being.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — An evidence-based psychotherapy helping individuals identify and change harmful thought patterns. Teaches patients to recognize triggers, challenge distorted thinking, and develop coping strategies.
Contingency Management — An evidence-based behavioral therapy using small, tangible rewards to reinforce positive behaviors like maintaining sobriety. One of the most effective approaches for reducing stimulant and opioid use.
CSAP (Center for Substance Abuse Prevention) — A division of SAMHSA responsible for leading federal efforts to prevent substance misuse, funding community-based prevention programs.
CSAT (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment) — A division of SAMHSA that promotes the availability and quality of community-based treatment services for individuals with substance use disorders.
D
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) — An evidence-based psychotherapy balancing acceptance with change. Particularly effective for individuals with emotional dysregulation or co-occurring trauma, teaching distress tolerance and mindfulness.
Dissemination — The intentional, targeted distribution of evidence-based practices to practitioners and communities to increase their adoption and ensure proven therapies reach patients.
Dual Diagnosis — Also called co-occurring disorders, describes the simultaneous presence of a substance use disorder and one or more mental health conditions. Effective treatment must address both conditions together.
E
Evidence-Based Treatment — Clinical interventions whose safety and effectiveness have been rigorously tested through scientific research. Includes CBT, MAT, and motivational interviewing.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) — A structured psychotherapy using guided bilateral stimulation to help the brain process traumatic memories. Used in addiction treatment when substance use is tied to unresolved trauma.
F
Family Therapy — A form of psychotherapy that treats the family unit as an interconnected system, aiming to repair communication, establish healthy boundaries, and create a home environment supporting recovery.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) — A serious birth condition caused by alcohol exposure during pregnancy. May cause distinctive facial features, growth deficiencies, and lasting cognitive and behavioral impairments. Entirely preventable.
Fetal Drug Syndrome (FDS) — The range of developmental complications that can occur in newborns whose mothers used drugs during pregnancy, including low birth weight, physical abnormalities, and neonatal withdrawal symptoms.
Fidelity — The degree to which an intervention is implemented exactly as it was designed and tested. High fidelity is essential for achieving the outcomes demonstrated in research.
G
Group Therapy — A therapeutic format in which several individuals meet with trained therapists to address shared challenges related to addiction. Reduces isolation and provides peer accountability.
H
Hallucinogen — A class of psychoactive substances — including LSD, psilocybin, PCP, and mescaline — that alter perception, thought, and emotion by disrupting the brain’s normal communication patterns.
Hepatitis — Inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by viral infection. Among people who inject drugs, hepatitis C is especially prevalent due to shared needles.
HIV — Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the virus that causes AIDS. People who inject drugs are at significantly elevated risk of HIV transmission through shared needles.
Holistic Therapies — Complementary treatment approaches addressing the whole person — body, mind, and spirit. Examples include yoga, mindfulness meditation, acupuncture, and art therapy.
I
Implementation — The deliberate process of putting a specific program or evidence-based practice into action within a real-world setting, requiring training, infrastructure, and quality monitoring.
Individualized Treatment — A patient-centered approach in which the care plan is specifically tailored to a person’s unique history, needs, co-occurring conditions, and recovery goals.
Inpatient Rehab — A highly structured, 24-hour residential treatment program under continuous medical and clinical supervision. The most intensive level of addiction care.
Integration — The systematic coordination of general medical care and mental health or substance use treatment within a unified system to provide whole-person treatment.
Intervention — A planned, structured process in which family members or a professional interventionist confront a loved one about the impact of their substance use and urge them to accept help.
L
Learning Health Care System — A system that continuously captures data from patient care and feeds it back into clinical practice to drive ongoing improvements in addiction treatment outcomes.
M
Maintenance Medications — Drugs prescribed for long-term use to manage a chronic condition. In addiction medicine, medications such as buprenorphine and methadone stabilize patients with opioid use disorder and prevent relapse.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) — An evidence-based approach combining FDA-approved medications — such as buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone — with counseling and behavioral therapies. Reduces cravings, prevents withdrawal, and lowers overdose risk.
Methadone — A long-acting synthetic opioid used for managing chronic pain and treating opioid use disorder. As a full opioid agonist, it eliminates withdrawal symptoms and cravings when taken as prescribed.
Methamphetamine — A highly addictive central nervous system stimulant. Chronic use causes severe neurological damage, psychosis, cardiovascular harm, and profound physical deterioration.
Motivational Interviewing — A collaborative, person-centered counseling technique using empathy and open-ended questions to strengthen an individual’s own motivation for change and commitment to recovery.
N
Naloxone (Narcan) — An opioid antagonist medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose by blocking opioids from their receptors. Available as a nasal spray or injectable; widely distributed to first responders and families.
Naltrexone (Revia / Vivitrol) — An opioid antagonist that blocks the euphoric effects of opioids and reduces alcohol cravings. Available as a daily oral pill (Revia) or once-monthly injectable (Vivitrol).
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) — A global, nonprofit 12-Step fellowship for individuals recovering from addiction to any substance. Founded in the 1950s, NA provides peer-support centered on shared experience and regular meetings.
Neurobiology — The scientific study of the structure, function, and disorders of the brain and nervous system. Examines how substances alter brain chemistry and why certain individuals are biologically susceptible to addiction.
O
Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) — A SAMHSA-certified facility providing comprehensive, supervised treatment for opioid use disorder using FDA-approved medications such as methadone or buprenorphine.
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) — A chronic medical condition characterized by the compulsive use of opioids despite significant negative consequences. Associated with changes in brain structure and function.
P
Pharmacotherapy — The use of medications as a primary component of treating a medical condition. In addiction treatment, includes medications for opioid, alcohol, and tobacco use disorders.
Pink Cloud — An informal term for the euphoric emotional state some people experience in early sobriety. While positive, it can be dangerous if it leads to overconfidence about the recovery process.
Placebo — A treatment with no active pharmacological properties used in clinical trials as a comparison point. The placebo effect must be accounted for in research to accurately assess a drug’s effectiveness.
Polysubstance Abuse — The simultaneous or sequential use of two or more different substances, which significantly amplifies health risks and complicates withdrawal management.
Prevention — Evidence-based strategies designed to reduce the likelihood that individuals will develop substance use disorders, operating at universal, selective, and indicated levels.
Protective Factors — Individual, family, and community characteristics that reduce a person’s likelihood of developing a substance use disorder. Examples include strong family bonds, quality education, and positive peer influences.
Psychedelic — A class of psychoactive substances — including LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline — that alter perception and consciousness. Not traditionally considered addictive but carry psychological risks.
Psychoeducation — A structured therapeutic process providing individuals and their families with clear, factual information about their condition, its causes, and available treatment options.
Psychological Dependence — A compulsive need to use a substance to feel emotionally normal or cope with stress. Can persist long after the body has physically detoxed, making it a primary target of behavioral therapy.
Psychopharmacology — The scientific study of how drugs affect mood, cognition, and behavior. Informs the selection of medications that reduce cravings, manage withdrawal, and treat co-occurring conditions.
Public Health System — All public, private, and nonprofit entities working together to protect and improve the health of a population. Addressing the addiction crisis is a central challenge across all levels.
R
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) — A form of CBT developed by Albert Ellis that helps individuals identify and challenge irrational beliefs driving negative emotions and self-destructive behaviors.
Receptor — A specialized protein molecule that binds to specific chemicals and triggers a response. Opioid receptors respond both to natural endorphins and to exogenous opioids.
Recidivism — A return to substance use after a period of abstinence. Because addiction is a chronic condition, return to use is often part of the recovery process rather than a sign of treatment failure.
Recovery — A voluntary, ongoing process of change through which individuals work to improve their health, build stable lives, and pursue meaningful goals. Not defined solely by abstinence.
Relapse Prevention — A therapeutic strategy helping individuals identify specific thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that increase their risk of returning to substance use.
Relapse / Return to Use — Resuming substance use after a period of abstinence. Widely understood as a common feature of chronic addiction rather than a moral failure. Many clinicians prefer the term ‘return to use.’
Remission — A period during which the major criteria for a substance use disorder diagnosis are no longer met. May be described as early (less than one year) or sustained (one year or more).
Residential Rehab — A live-in treatment program where individuals reside at the treatment facility while receiving intensive therapy, skills training, and peer community support around the clock.
Risk Factors — Biological, psychological, social, and environmental characteristics that increase the probability that an individual will develop a substance use disorder.
Route of Administration — The method by which a substance enters the body. Intravenous and smoked routes typically produce the fastest, most intense effects and carry the highest addiction potential.
S
SAMHSA — The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a federal agency leading public health efforts to reduce the impact of substance use and mental illness.
Second Offender Aftercare (SOA) — An intervention program for individuals convicted of drunk driving for a second time, combining substance use assessment, education, and ongoing support.
Seeking Safety — An evidence-based, integrated treatment model designed for individuals with co-occurring trauma and substance use disorders, emphasizing coping skills, safety, and stabilization.
Self-Help (Twelve Step) Group — A peer-led mutual aid organization in which individuals with shared addiction experiences meet regularly to support one another’s recovery. AA and NA are the most widely utilized globally.
Serotonin — A neurotransmitter regulating mood, sleep, and appetite. Many substances affect serotonin levels, and disruptions are frequently seen in individuals with co-occurring depression or anxiety.
SMART Recovery — A secular, science-based alternative to 12-Step programs focused on four key areas: building motivation, managing urges, handling emotions, and creating a balanced lifestyle.
Sober Living — Structured, alcohol- and drug-free residential homes providing a safe transitional environment for individuals completing addiction treatment. Residents must remain abstinent and participate in ongoing recovery activities.
Specialized Treatment — Addiction care programs tailored to the distinct needs of specific populations, such as veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, pregnant women, or adolescents.
Standard Drink — A unit of measurement defined as any beverage containing 14 grams of pure alcohol, equivalent to 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.
12-Step Facilitation Therapy — A structured clinical approach that encourages patients to actively engage with peer-based 12-Step programs as part of their addiction treatment, delivered by a counselor.
12-Step Program — A peer-support fellowship built around guiding principles for long-term abstinence. Members work through sequential steps and rely on mutual accountability. Alcoholics Anonymous, founded in 1935, was the original model.
Stigma — Negative social judgments, stereotypes, and discrimination directed at individuals with substance use disorders. A major barrier to treatment-seeking. Person-first language helps reduce stigma.
Suboxone — A brand-name prescription medication combining buprenorphine and naloxone used to treat opioid use disorder. The naloxone component discourages misuse by triggering withdrawal if injected.
T
Telehealth — The delivery of healthcare services using digital communication technologies. In addiction treatment, telehealth expands access to therapy, medication management, and peer support.
Telemedicine — A subset of telehealth involving real-time, two-way communication between a patient and a licensed healthcare professional for clinical purposes, including remote initiation of MAT.
Telepsychiatry — The delivery of psychiatric evaluation and treatment services through secure video conferencing. Vital for expanding mental health and addiction care access in underserved communities.
Therapeutic Community — An intensive residential treatment model in which individuals live together in a structured, peer-centered environment that serves as the primary agent of change.
Trigger — Any internal or external cue — such as a person, location, emotion, or sensory stimulus — that activates cravings and increases the risk of returning to substance use.
TSS (Transitional Support Services) — Provides short-term residential placement — typically three to five weeks — for individuals who have completed acute treatment and need a structured environment before longer-term sober living.
V
Virtual Support Meetings — Peer recovery support gatherings — such as AA, NA, or SMART Recovery meetings — conducted online via video or audio conferencing, expanding access for those with geographic or scheduling barriers.
Vivitrol — The brand name for extended-release injectable naltrexone, given as a once-monthly intramuscular injection. Eliminates the euphoric effects of opioids for approximately 30 days.
W
Wrap-Around Services — Non-clinical support services — such as assistance with housing, transportation, childcare, and employment — provided alongside addiction treatment to address practical barriers to recovery.