The ability to recognize and understand one’s own moods, emotions, and drives as well as their effect on others.
(1) Confidently making decisions about family issues, peer pressure and drug use. (2) Awareness of family values (3) Recognizing the effect of frequent drug use on family life, academic performance and social support.
Self-regulation
The ability to control or redirect disruptive impulses and moods or the propensity to suspend judgment in order to think before acting.
(1) Knowing when to step away during an argument with a friend, family member, and drug or alcohol user. (2) Learning to be open to making changes in life with limited drug use or methadone drug replacement or maintenance treatment. (3) Developing a sense of trust and integrity with oneself, family and newly found social support group that help deal with regulating drug use.
Motivation
A passion to work for reasons that go beyond money or status or a propensity to pursue goals with energy and persistence.
(1) Providing the best environment to reduce or cease use of drugs or disclose problems to family and support groups even in the face of numerous challenges. (2) Going beyond the call of duty even if it means trying to convince peers to cease AOD use. (3) Being optimistic even when there are low hopes of success.
Empathy
The ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people or the skills in treating people according to their emotional reactions.
(1) Being understanding and inclusive in thinking of the family’s perspective when making decisions. (2) Being compassionate when dealing with other people in your life that might provoke you to be angry or aggressive. (3) Being sensitive to other friends or family members who are emotionally and physically affected by your AOD use.
Social-skill
Proficiency in managing relationships and building networks or the ability to find common ground and build rapport.
(1) Being effective in forming bonds with family members and close friends who do not use AOD. (2) Being an effective member of a social support group and friends that help focus on curbing AOD abuse.
