CBT for Substance Use: By Substance

Important: Addiction care may require medical supervision (e.g., withdrawal), medications for addiction treatment (MAT), and specialized programs. This page is educational and complements CBT for Substance Use (Adjunctive). See our Medical Disclaimer.

Alcohol

High‑risk times/contexts; stimulus control; urge surfing; alternative rewards; consider medications (per clinician).

Opioids

Overdose risk; MAT is standard of care; CBT focuses on triggers, routines, and support activation.

Stimulants

Craving cycles; sleep restoration; cue management; values‑based scheduling; support networks.

Cannabis

Habit loops; sleep/anxiety interactions; graded reductions; replacement activities; coping plans.

Nicotine

Pharmacotherapy options; cue mapping; delay and distract; routine redesign; reward tracking.

Journaling prompts

Substance, trigger, urge (0–100), coping used, outcome.
Alternative reward I used within 15 minutes of craving.
One boundary or environmental tweak that reduced exposure to cues.

Use alongside your care plan; see How to Journal.