April 1st, 2008 by jgold454

Addicts learn a wide variety of information in treatment centers that is intended to help them maintain addiction recovery after they leave. One of the subjects that is usually covered is the difference between urges and cravings.

Knowing how to deal with these things is a big part of being successful over the long term and not relapsing. Quality rehab programs will teach you how to minimize the occurrence of these things and avoid relapse when they do happen.A craving is a physical desire to drink alcohol or use a drug. Many situations or triggers can cause a craving to arise, from something as simple as seeing a news story about alcohol or driving past a bar to having an old friend stop by with drugs. The individual strongly wants to feel the high that they remember from their addiction. Cravings can usually be handled effectively without leading to relapse if the person has the proper skills for doing so.

An urge, on the other hand, comes after a craving. This is when the person takes some action with the purpose of drinking alcohol or using drugs, though it doesn’t necessarily mean that they follow through to the end. They are acting on the craving. Urges for substance abuse usually arise due to a stressful feeling like being frustrated, nervous, or angry. Urges can also be resisted, though it is more difficult. This is done by dealing with the feelings that caused them.

The goal is for addicts to recognize cravings and take action on them immediately to keep them from becoming urges to use drugs and alcohol. The techniques for doing this are discussed and practiced in addiction treatment centers so that patients will be able to use the skills they have learned when these things come up after they return home.