Substance Abuse Safety Plan Worksheet
By
HappierTherapy
Author bio
The Happier Therapy editorial team is made up of Masters and PhD counselling psychologists. Each worksheet is created by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The worksheet then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.
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What is the theory behind this Substance Abuse Safety Plan Worksheet?
Relapse is a common concern for individuals who have recovered from substance use. In particular, the risk for relapse increases during emotionally vulnerable moments, in the presence of identifiable triggers. This is because many individuals use substance as an escape from emotional pain. It is therefore important to make a safety plan to deal with the urge to start using drugs again. A safety plan is an evidence-based strategy to avoid relapse.
How will the worksheet help?
The worksheet utilizes self-reflection, social support, and professional support as protective against harmful substance use. Individuals can refer to this worksheet when they have a strong urge to use drugs in times of emotional distress. By working through the worksheet, they can cope with stressful situations better, evaluate the pros and cons of use, and access healthier options to deal with distress.
How to use the worksheet?
Simple take a print out of the worksheet, complete it, and review it whenever there is a strong urge to use a substance. You will need to focus on the following aspects : 1) Trigger identification 2) Reasons for quitting 3) Benefits of quitting 4) Healthy coping strategies 5) Avenues for professional help. 6) Negative consequences of substance use. Rate the urge to use substance before and after reviewing this worksheet.