Glossary of Addiction & Mental-Health Terms

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12-Step ProgramRecovery: A peer support approach, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, built around a set of guiding steps and regular meetings. Members support one another in staying substance-free.

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AbstinenceRecovery: Choosing not to use alcohol or other drugs at all. For many people in recovery it means staying completely away from the substance they struggled with.
Abstinence violation effectRecovery: The wave of guilt or hopelessness some people feel after a single slip, which can push them toward giving up. Understanding it helps a person treat a slip as a stumble, not a failure.
ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)Medical: Difficult or harmful events in childhood, such as abuse, neglect, or family instability. A higher number of them is linked to greater health and addiction risks later in life.
AddictionGeneral: A treatable health condition where a person keeps using a substance or repeating a behaviour even though it is causing harm. It affects the brain, so it is not about weak willpower or bad character.
Addiction Medicine (Addictionology)Medical: The area of medicine focused on preventing, diagnosing, and treating substance use and addiction. Doctors trained in this field understand both the physical and mental sides of addiction.
AftercarePrograms & care levels: The ongoing support and check-ins that continue after a treatment program ends. It helps people stay well and handle challenges as they return to daily life.
Al-AnonFamily & support: A peer support group for the family and friends of people with a drinking problem. Members share experience and find support for their own wellbeing.
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)Medical: The medical term for a pattern of drinking that a person cannot easily control and that causes problems in their health, work, or relationships. It can range from mild to severe.
AnhedoniaMedical: A loss of pleasure or interest in things a person used to enjoy. It is common in depression and early recovery, and it usually improves with time and support.
Anxiety disorderMedical: A mental health condition where worry or fear becomes frequent and intense enough to affect daily life. It is common and responds well to therapy, and sometimes medication.
AssessmentMedical: A fuller conversation and review with a professional to understand a person's needs, history, and goals. It guides what kind of treatment will help most.

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Behavioural addictionGeneral: A pattern of compulsively repeating an activity, such as gambling or gaming, even when it causes harm. The pull can feel similar to a substance addiction.
BenzodiazepinesSubstances: A group of prescription medicines (such as Valium, Ativan, and Xanax) used for anxiety, sleep, or seizures. They can become habit-forming, and stopping them suddenly can be dangerous, so it should be done with medical help.
BiopsychosocialMedical: A way of understanding a person by looking at biological, psychological, and social factors together. It reflects how addiction and recovery involve the whole person and their life.
Bipolar disorderMedical: A mental health condition involving big shifts in mood and energy, from very high (mania) to very low (depression). With treatment, many people manage it well.
BoundariesFamily & support: The limits a person sets to protect their own wellbeing in a relationship. Healthy boundaries are a caring way to support a loved one without losing yourself.
BuprenorphineMedical: A medicine used to treat opioid addiction by easing cravings and withdrawal with a lower overdose risk than many opioids. It is often combined with naloxone in products like Suboxone.

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CannabisSubstances: A drug from the cannabis plant, used for its calming or mind-altering effects, and legal for adults in Canada. Some people can develop a dependence, especially with heavy or early use.
Case managementPrograms & care levels: Support from a staff member who helps a person coordinate their care, appointments, and needs like housing or benefits. It keeps everything connected so nothing falls through the cracks.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)Therapy: A talk therapy that helps people notice the thoughts and patterns that lead to unhelpful behaviour, then practise new ways of thinking and coping. It is widely used for addiction, anxiety, and depression.
CocaineSubstances: A powerful stimulant drug that briefly speeds up the body and mind. It can be highly habit-forming and strains the heart.
CodependencyFamily & support: A relationship pattern where one person's sense of worth becomes tied to caring for or controlling someone who is struggling. It can leave both people stuck and is common in families affected by addiction.
Comorbidity / Co-occurring disordersMedical: When a person has two or more health conditions at once, such as addiction alongside anxiety or depression. Treating them together works best.
Complex traumaMedical: The lasting effects of repeated or ongoing traumatic experiences, often beginning in childhood. It can shape how a person handles emotions, trust, and relationships.
CompulsionGeneral: A strong, hard-to-resist urge to do something, even when a person knows it may be harmful. Compulsions are a key part of both substance and behavioural addictions.
Contingency managementTherapy: A treatment that offers small rewards or incentives for meeting goals, such as staying substance-free. It uses positive reinforcement to encourage healthy choices.
Continuum of CarePrograms & care levels: The full range of treatment options, from intensive support like detox and inpatient care through to lighter support like outpatient counselling and aftercare. People move between levels as their needs change.
CravingRecovery: A strong urge or pull to use a substance or repeat a behaviour. Cravings are a normal part of recovery, they usually pass, and there are skills to ride them out.
Crisis interventionCrisis: Immediate support to help someone through an urgent, overwhelming, or dangerous moment. The aim is to keep the person safe and connect them to further care.
Cross-addictionRecovery: When a person in recovery from one addiction develops a new one, such as switching from alcohol to gambling. Being aware of the risk helps guard against it.
Cultural competencyCultural: The skill of understanding and respecting a person's culture, background, and values when providing care. It helps people feel seen and safe rather than judged.

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DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy)Therapy: A talk therapy that teaches practical skills for managing intense emotions, handling distress, and improving relationships. It is helpful for people who feel emotions very strongly.
DependenceMedical: When the body has gotten used to a substance and needs it to feel normal, so stopping causes withdrawal. A person can be physically dependent (for example on a prescribed medicine) without having an addiction.
DepressionMedical: A mental health condition marked by lasting low mood, loss of interest, and low energy that interferes with daily life. It is treatable, and reaching out is a strong first step.
Detoxification (Detox)Programs & care levels: The process of letting a substance clear out of the body, usually the first step before further treatment. It is safest with support, since some withdrawals can be uncomfortable or medically risky.
Dual DiagnosisMedical: When a person has both a substance use problem and a mental health condition at the same time. Treating both together gives the best chance of lasting recovery.

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Elder supportCultural: Guidance and care from a respected Elder who shares cultural teachings, ceremony, and wisdom. For many Indigenous people it is an important part of healing.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)Therapy: A therapy that helps the brain process painful or traumatic memories, often using guided eye movements. It can reduce the emotional weight those memories carry.
EnablingFamily & support: When loved ones unintentionally make it easier for someone to keep using, often by shielding them from consequences. It usually comes from love, but it can delay a person getting help.

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Family systems therapyTherapy: Therapy that works with the family as a whole, since one person's struggles affect everyone. It helps improve communication and patterns that support recovery.
FentanylSubstances: A very strong synthetic opioid, about 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. It is often mixed into other street drugs, which makes overdose much more likely, sometimes without the person knowing it is there.
Fentanyl test stripsRecovery: Small strips that check whether fentanyl is present in a drug before someone uses it. They are a harm reduction tool that helps lower the risk of overdose.

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Gambling disorderGeneral: A behavioural addiction where a person cannot control the urge to gamble despite the harm it causes. It can affect finances, relationships, and mental health, and it is treatable.
Gaming disorderGeneral: A pattern of gaming that a person cannot control and that takes priority over other parts of life, causing harm. Support and treatment can help restore balance.
Grounding techniquesRecovery: Simple exercises, like naming what you see or feeling your feet on the floor, that bring you back to the present moment. They help calm strong emotions, cravings, or panic.
Group TherapyTherapy: Therapy where a small group meets with a trained facilitator to share experiences and support each other. Many people find comfort in realizing they are not alone.

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HallucinogensSubstances: Drugs such as LSD or psilocybin that change how a person sees, hears, and feels the world. Effects vary a lot and can be unpredictable.
Harm ReductionRecovery: A caring approach that focuses on keeping people safer and alive, even if they are not ready to stop using. Examples include clean supplies, naloxone, and safer-use information.
Holistic TreatmentTherapy: Care that looks at the whole person, including body, mind, relationships, and spirit, not just the substance use. It often combines medical care with things like counselling, movement, and connection.

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Inpatient TreatmentPrograms & care levels: A program where a person lives at a treatment centre and receives care around the clock. It offers a structured, supportive setting away from daily triggers.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)Programs & care levels: A treatment program with several therapy sessions each week while the person continues living at home. It offers strong support without needing to stay overnight.
InterventionFamily & support: A planned, caring conversation, often guided by a professional, where loved ones encourage someone to accept help. The goal is support, not blame or shame.

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Land-based / culturally grounded healingCultural: Healing that draws on connection to the land, traditions, and cultural practices, often central to Indigenous approaches to wellness. It treats culture and identity as part of recovery.

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MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment)Medical: Treatment that combines approved medicines with counselling and support to treat addiction, most often for opioids or alcohol. The medicine helps steady the brain so a person can focus on recovery.
Medical DetoxPrograms & care levels: Detox done under the care of medical staff who can give medicines and monitor health. It is used when withdrawal could be severe or dangerous, such as with alcohol or benzodiazepines.
MethadoneMedical: A long-acting medicine used to treat opioid addiction by easing cravings and withdrawal without the highs and lows of street opioids. It is taken under supervision as part of a treatment program.
MethamphetamineSubstances: A strong, long-lasting stimulant that affects the brain and body and can quickly become habit-forming. Heavy use can harm mental and physical health.
MI (Motivational Interviewing)Therapy: A gentle, conversation-based approach that helps a person find their own reasons and readiness to change. The counsellor guides rather than pushes.
MindfulnessTherapy: The practice of paying gentle, non-judgmental attention to the present moment. It can ease stress and help people notice cravings and feelings without being swept away by them.

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Naloxone (Narcan)Crisis: A fast-acting medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose and restore breathing. It is safe, easy to carry, and available as a nasal spray or injection.
NaltrexoneMedical: A medicine that blocks the effects of opioids and can reduce alcohol cravings. It is used to help prevent relapse as part of a treatment plan.
Nar-AnonFamily & support: A peer support group for the family and friends of people affected by drug addiction. It offers a place to share and find support, similar to Al-Anon.

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Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)Medical: The medical term for an addiction to opioids that is causing harm and is hard to control. It is treatable, often with medication combined with counselling.
OpioidsSubstances: A group of drugs used to relieve pain, including prescription medicines like oxycodone and morphine as well as heroin. They carry a high risk of dependence and overdose.
Outpatient TreatmentPrograms & care levels: Treatment where a person attends sessions during the day or evening and returns home afterward. It suits people with milder needs or strong support at home.
OverdoseCrisis: When someone takes more of a drug than the body can safely handle, which can slow or stop breathing and become life-threatening. Calling for emergency help right away can save a life.

P

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)Programs & care levels: A program offering treatment for most of the day, several days a week, while the person sleeps at home or in sober housing. It is a step between inpatient and outpatient care.
PAWS (Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome)Recovery: A set of longer-lasting symptoms, like mood swings, poor sleep, and low energy, that can linger for weeks or months after the first withdrawal passes. Knowing it is temporary can help people push through.
Peer supportFamily & support: Help and encouragement from someone who has been through similar struggles. Shared experience can build trust and hope in a way that feels different from professional care.
Polysubstance useSubstances: Using more than one substance at a time or close together, such as mixing alcohol with opioids. It raises the risk of harm and overdose.
Process addictionGeneral: Another term for behavioural addiction, where the compulsion is tied to an activity like shopping, sex, or gambling rather than a substance. It can affect mood and daily life in similar ways.
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)Medical: A condition that can develop after a frightening or deeply distressing event, causing flashbacks, anxiety, and trouble feeling safe. It is treatable with therapy and support.

R

RAAC (Rapid Access Addiction Clinic)Programs & care levels: A walk-in style clinic where people can get addiction care quickly, often the same day, without a long referral wait. Staff can start treatment, including medication, and connect people to further support.
RecoveryRecovery: The ongoing process of improving health and building a meaningful life while managing or moving past addiction. It looks different for everyone and is not a straight line.
Recovery capitalRecovery: All the resources that support a person's recovery, such as supportive relationships, housing, health, skills, and hope. The more a person has, the more stable recovery tends to be.
Recovery coachFamily & support: A trained person, often with their own recovery experience, who offers practical support and encouragement outside of formal therapy. They help with goals, resources, and staying on track.
RelapseRecovery: Returning to substance use after a period of not using. It is a common part of many people's recovery and is a sign to adjust support, not a reason for shame.
Relapse prevention planRecovery: A personal plan that lists a person's triggers, warning signs, coping tools, and people to call. Having it ready makes hard moments easier to handle.
Reward system / DopamineGeneral: The brain's built-in system, powered partly by a chemical called dopamine, that makes certain activities feel good so we repeat them. Drugs and some behaviours can flood this system, which is part of how addiction takes hold.

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ScreeningMedical: A short set of questions or tests used to check whether a person may have a substance use or mental health concern. It is a first look, not a full diagnosis.
Self-medicationGeneral: Using alcohol or drugs to cope with painful feelings, stress, or an untreated mental health condition. It can bring short-term relief but often makes things harder over time.
Set and settingGeneral: The idea that a person's mindset (set) and their surroundings (setting) shape how a drug affects them. It helps explain why the same substance can feel very different in different situations.
SMART RecoveryRecovery: A peer support program that uses practical, science-based tools to help people manage urges and change behaviour. It offers an alternative to 12-step groups.
Sober LivingPrograms & care levels: A shared, substance-free home where people in recovery live together with some structure and mutual support. It offers a stable bridge between treatment and independent living.
SobrietyRecovery: Living free from alcohol or drugs. For many people it also means building a steadier, healthier way of life.
SponsorRecovery: A person further along in a 12-step program who guides and supports someone newer to recovery. They share their own experience and are available during hard moments.
StigmaGeneral: Negative judgments and stereotypes that make people with addiction or mental illness feel shame or fear. It can stop people from asking for help, which is why compassion matters so much.
StimulantsSubstances: Drugs that speed up the body and mind, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as some prescription medicines. They can raise heart rate and become habit-forming.
SuboxoneMedical: A prescription medicine that combines buprenorphine and naloxone to treat opioid addiction by reducing cravings and withdrawal. It is a common part of medication-assisted treatment.
Substance Use Disorder (SUD)Medical: The medical term for the range of problems caused by using alcohol or drugs in a way that harms health or daily life. It can be mild, moderate, or severe.

T

Talking circleCultural: A gathering where people take turns speaking openly and are heard without interruption or judgment. It is a traditional practice that builds trust and shared healing.
ToleranceMedical: When the body gets used to a substance so that more is needed to feel the same effect. Rising tolerance can be an early sign that use is becoming a problem.
Trauma-informed careTherapy: An approach that recognizes how past trauma can affect a person and takes care not to re-hurt them. It focuses on safety, trust, and choice.
TriggerRecovery: A person, place, feeling, or situation that sets off a craving or urge to use. Learning your triggers helps you plan ahead and stay steady.
Two-Eyed Seeing (Etuaptmumk)Cultural: An approach that brings together the strengths of Indigenous knowledge and Western knowledge to support healing. Both ways of seeing are valued side by side.

W

Warm handoffPrograms & care levels: When a care provider personally connects a person to the next service, rather than just handing over a phone number. It makes it far more likely the person actually reaches help.
Wellness planRecovery: A personal plan that lays out the goals, supports, and daily habits that help someone stay well in recovery. It can be updated as needs change.
WithdrawalMedical: The physical and emotional symptoms that appear when someone cuts down or stops a substance the body has grown used to. Symptoms range from mild to severe, and some need medical care.
Wraparound servicesPrograms & care levels: Coordinated supports that surround a person and their family, covering needs like health, housing, and daily living alongside treatment. The goal is care that fits the whole life, not just one problem.

Words, made clear

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