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Metacognitive Training

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  1. Introduction
    Identify your fire
  2. Choose your own adventure
  3. Self-Esteem & Stigma
    Introduction
  4. What are self-esteem and stigma?
  5. Self-esteem, stigma and substance use
  6. Activity 1- Communication tools
  7. Activity 2- Creating a positive self-concept
  8. Activity 3- Focusing on your strengths
  9. Summary
  10. Quiz
  11. Explaining Situations
    Introduction
  12. What are attributions?
  13. Attributional styles and substance use
  14. Activity 1- Balanced explanations Part 1
  15. Activity 2- Balanced explanations Part 2
  16. Activity 3- Practicing explanations
  17. Summary
  18. Quiz
  19. Worrying & Coping
    Introduction
  20. What is rumination?
  21. Worrying and substance use
  22. Activity 1- Observe your thoughts
  23. Activity 2- Postpone rumination
  24. Activity 3- Shift your attention
  25. Activity 4- Sensory grounding
  26. Activity 5- Relaxed breathing
  27. Summary
  28. Quiz
  29. Attention & thinking
    Introduction
  30. Terms are related to thinking and memory
  31. Attention and substance use
  32. Activity 1- Card games
  33. Activity 2
  34. Activity 3- Problem Solving
  35. Summary
  36. Quiz
  37. Relapse
    Introduction
  38. What is relapse?
  39. Cravings, triggers, and relapse
  40. Activity 1- Managing triggers
  41. Activity 2- Alternative strategies
  42. Activity 3- Emergency plan
  43. Activity 4- Learning from each relapse
  44. Summary
  45. Quiz
Metacognitive Training Attention and substance use
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Lesson 31 of 45
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Attention and substance use

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How do attentional bias, being impulsive, inhibition and executive function all relate to substance use?

Specific attentional biases develop due to frequent substance use: 

  • Why is attention changed by substance use? The brain has made shortcuts between the cues and the substance after repeated use, so that when you see the substance, your brain goes straight to thinking about its effects. When the substance interacts with the brain, powerful chemicals are released to make you feel good, which further enforces this association.  
  • It is important to remember that these shortcuts are not permanent and can be changed. Substance use comes from a learned behaviour that became a habit over time. When facing a trigger, having cravings can often feel “automated”. However, just like how you learned to use substances, it can be unlearned! Your brain will adapt to not having the substance present, but this will take some time.You can go to the Risk Management Module to learn more about changing substance use habits.

Impulsivity, Inhibition and Substance Use:  

  • The brain can make shortcuts when exposed to automatic and rewarding cues. This can lead to substance use or drug cravings when you are exposed to your personal drug cues.
  • You might feel a big impulse to use drugs when exposed to a drug cue, and you might find it very hard to inhibit this impulse.

Executive Functioning and Substance Use:  

  • Drug cues can often be distracting and can prevent you from focusing on other things that are important to you, or things in your environment.
  • However, it is important to remember that these brain patterns that impact attention and thinking are not permanent and they can be changed when drug use is reduced or eliminated.

Try some of the following exercises and tips to find your triggers and control your own shortcuts