Refusing Offers to Use Substances

Abstract

Resisting social pressures to use alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs is one of the biggest and most predictable challenges clients face in recovery. This is especially true in the early months, when clients are getting used to being sober or not smoking and are not used to refusing offers to use. Clients also experience indirect social pressures when others around them are using, such as being at a picnic, family gathering, party, athletic event, special occasion, or even watching a movie. The goals of this chapter are to learn about direct and indirect social pressures that can raise relapse risk; to learn how each social pressure affects thoughts, feelings (emotions), and behaviors; and to plan and practice how the client will cope with social pressures to use substances.