Triggers are people, places, objects, feelings, and times that  cause cravings.

Trigger       Thought    Use     Craving

For example, if every Friday night someone cashes a paycheck, goes out with friends, and uses stimulants and/or gambles, the triggers might be   Friday night   After work   Money   Friends who use   A bar or club    
Your brain associates the triggers with substance use and/or gambling. As a result of constant trigger- ing and using, one trigger can cause you to move toward substance use or gambling.   Additionally one addictive behavior can be a trigger for another.  Gambling may be a trigger for substance use just as substance use may be a trigger for gambling. The trigger–thought–craving–use cycle feels overwhelming. 
Stopping the craving process is an important part of treatment. The best way to do that is to do the following:  
1. Identify triggers. 
2. Prevent exposure to triggers whenever possible (for example, do not handle large amounts of cash). 
3. Cope with triggers differently than in the past (for example, schedule exercise and a 12-Step or mutual-help meeting for Friday nights).  
Remember, triggers affect your brain and cause cravings even though you have decid- ed to stop substance use or gambling. Your intentions to stop must translate into behavior changes, which keep you away from possible triggers.  
What are some  of the strongest triggers  for you?     
What particular  triggers  might be  a problem in the near  future?