Substance use recovery / SUR-A11-1
Refusal with an Exit — Concept brief
Understand the idea behind refusal with an exit and consider whether it fits your context.
8 minutes · Handout · Adults; supported use as appropriate
Fictional example: Jordan is invited to an event where returning to use feels more likely.
Use an ordinary or fictional example, with a clinician when appropriate. A refusal works best when it includes a realistic way to leave or get support.
The idea
A refusal works best when it includes a realistic way to leave or get support.
An ordinary example
Jordan is invited to an event where returning to use feels more likely.
What this can look like
Rehearse a brief decline, an exit line, and an alternative plan for a low-stakes invitation.
Check the fit
What makes leaving feasible rather than just a sentence on paper? You may disagree with the framing, use fiction, or decide that this approach is not useful today.
A useful distinction
A return to use is information for reassessing care and support, not a verdict on personal worth.
Prompts for this resource
- What part of this idea makes sense to me?
- What makes leaving feasible rather than just a sentence on paper?
Conceptual background
Substance Use Disorders — National Institutes of Health
Background on the approach only. Original exercises and wording are by More Than Therapy with AI assistance; the source does not validate or endorse these materials.