L1T2 — What Makes Me Want to Drink

Triggers for alcohol use are different for everyone. Common categories patients describe:

Internal Triggers

Internal Trigger	Example
Stress and feeling overwhelmed	Work pressure, financial worries, family responsibilities
Negative emotions	Anxiety, sadness, anger, frustration, guilt, shame, loneliness
Cravings and thoughts about using	Strong urges, thinking about past substance use, fantasizing about using
Physical discomfort	Fatigue, poor sleep, pain, hunger, illness
Boredom or emotional emptiness	Feeling restless, unoccupied, or emotionally numb
Overconfidence	Thinking, “I can handle just one this time.”
Positive emotions	Wanting to celebrate, reward oneself, or enhance a good mood

HALT before you act. When you notice cravings, ask yourself:

• Am I Hungry?
• Am I Angry?
• Am I Lonely?
• Am I Tired?

External Triggers

People	Places	Things	Time Period
Drug Dealers	Bars, place where he smokes. Drinks	Movies with drug use	Pay days
Friends using substance	Parties, festivals celebrations	Drug paraphernalia	Holidays
	Drug using friend’s house	Drugs, Money	Periods of idle time, after work
	Places where drug is sold/available		Job stress

Reflect