Addiction Recovery Words and Phrases (Edition #1)
Rehab and recovery terms to familiarize yourself with

When my husband entered rehab I was told that although I couldn’t talk to him for the first 7–10 days, then only 15 minutes each week, I would be getting a weekly phone call from someone at the center with an update about him. The phone calls weren’t scheduled and no one told me who would call.

I received the first at 2:37 pm on a Tuesday while I was in a meeting. I held my phone under the conference room table to read the transcribed voicemail which went something like this:

• • •

“Hi Lauren, it’s Matt, your husband’s Peer Recovery Specialist. I’m calling with an update. He’s doing well … he’s Working the Program and completing his Step Work. This week he’ll be finishing up Step Two and is also finally participating in Group. I set up a phone call with him for you tomorrow at 7:05 if that works. Give me a call if you have a chance. Bye.”

• • •

If that voicemail makes sense to you, I would surmise you’ve had a loved one go through a rehab program or have gone through one yourself. If you, like me, hadn’t known anyone close who had been to rehab or attended Alcoholics (or other) Anonymous … you’re probably as confused as I was.

I thought: Does this person realize that we’ve never talked? It seems he’s giving me an update on things we’ve already discussed and that I understand but I have no clue what any of this means. (And, also, I guess I was expecting different information like: Has he been physically and mentally safe in the last 8 days? Is he eating? Sleeping? Hating himself less? Did he see a doctor? A therapist? Does he need anything?)

So if you’re thinking: I don’t know any, or many, of the things a recovering addict or the people around them say — you’ve come to the right place. I’m going to explain and define some of these addiction and recovery terms as I understand them in a series of articles.

The words and phrases generally fall into a few categories such as General Addiction, Recovery and Rehabilitation, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Healthcare. Here are the very first ones I came to understand:

• 12-Step Program: A structure and set of guidelines to facilitate recovery of addictions and/or compulsions. The first and most well-known are the 12-Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Other 12-step programs include Narcotics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Al-Anon/Alateen, and many more (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-step_program).
  
  

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): A “fellowship of people who come together to solve their drinking problem” (aa.org).
  
  

• Narcotics Anonymous (NA): A ”fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean” (na.org).
  
  

• Working the Program: Most often used in the context of completing the 12-steps of AA. It means learning the principles and guidelines associated with the recovery program and using and applying them to facilitate recovery. It can apply to many types of recovery programs.
  
  

• Step Work: Used in the context of “Working the Program” in AA. Doing step work involves focusing on each of the 12 steps in order. It can include completing reflections, requirements, tasks, or worksheets associated with specific steps.
  
  

• Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS): Someone who has “been successful in the recovery process who helps others experiencing similar situations” (iaprss.org). There are variations of this role with different purposes, qualifications, and certifications.
  
  

• Group Therapy (”Group”): Therapy session with multiple participants confronting similar issues in a safe space by sharing experiences, discussing emotions, providing accountability and support, and celebrating wins.
  
  

• Urine Analysis (UA): The general medical use of this is to perform testing to determine or diagnose a disease or disorder. In this context, a UA is performed (often on a regular schedule) to see if addictive substances are present.
  
  

These represent my initial crash course (with many more to come in subsequent editions). These explanations are my understanding as they have been used in the context of my experiences. I am completely open to learning more and adjusting my comprehension.

Have questions about these words and phrases or want to suggest any for the next edition? Please comment on this story and I’ll do my best!