Students will designate an item or activity to “give up” for 5 weeks of the semester in an exercise to assess the process a person with substance use/dependence issues goes through in becoming abstinent. A written reflection will be submitted on the experiences and the giving up this item or activity as it relates to the issue of “detox” or getting “clean” in the addiction world. The reflection should discuss personal feelings about giving up the item –whether you were successful or not –and how you would relate the experience to a substance use client’s attempt to stop using a substance; what stages you may have gone through, what was the most difficult, supports, barriers, etc.

Examples of these are:

Sodas/other beverages
Watching television, social media
Shopping (for shoes, hats, bags, sports equipment, etc.)
A favorite food (chocolate, chips, spicy foods, etc.)

Abstinence Reflection Rubric:

Criteria

Points

Description

Selection of an item or activity to abstain from

The student identified an item or activity that they will abstain from.

Reflection

The student submitted a thorough reflection of their 8-week journey of abstinence and referenced key elements from reading materials and other scholarly references. The reflection addresses implications for social work practice.

Total Points

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Tutor-Tone Step-by-Step Guide for Completing Your Abstinence Reflection

1. Start by Clearly Identifying Your Chosen Item or Activity

Begin your reflection with a clear statement of what you gave up for 5 weeks.
Make this specific. Examples include:

Soda or energy drinks
Social media or TV
A favorite snack or food
Online shopping
Gaming
Fast food

This section should be short (2–3 sentences), simply introducing the behavior you abstained from.

2. Describe Why You Chose This Item

Explain your personal motivation.
Ask yourself:

Why did I choose this particular item?
Does it play a big role in my daily routine?
Would abstaining from it actually challenge me?
Did I want to see how strong my habits were?

Write 4–5 sentences connecting your choice to real patterns in your life.

3. Reflect on Your Emotional and Physical Reactions

This is the heart of the paper. Discuss:

How you felt on Day 1
Emotional reactions (stress, boredom, frustration, pride, anxiety, calmness)
Physical reactions if relevant (fatigue, cravings, irritability)
Whether the craving increased or decreased over time

Be honest here—your professor wants genuine reflection, not perfection.

4. Describe Whether You Were Successful and Why

Explain:

Did you abstain fully?
Did you relapse? If so, how many times?
What triggered the lapse? Stress? Habit? Social situations?
What helped you stay on track?

Each point helps you draw parallels to real-life addiction and relapse dynamics.

5. Connect Your Experience to Stages of Change

Apply the Transtheoretical Model (if covered in your class readings). Consider the following stages and whether you experienced them:

Precontemplation: “It won’t be that hard.”
Contemplation: Realizing it might be harder than expected.
Preparation: Planning substitutes, telling others, setting reminders.
Action: Actively resisting the behavior.
Maintenance: Trying to stay consistent week after week.
Relapse (if applicable): Returning to the behavior and feeling guilt or frustration.

Explain which stages you went through and what they felt like.

6. Discuss the Biggest Challenges

Your instructor wants depth here. Consider:

Environmental triggers
Social pressure
Automatic habits
Emotional discomfort
Withdrawal-type feelings (“I NEED this!”)

Connect these challenges to what a real substance use client might experience during detox or early recovery.

7. Identify Supports That Helped You Stay Abstinent

Supports may include:

Friends or family you told
Replacing the behavior with something healthier
Setting reminders
Mindfulness
Journaling
Avoiding triggers

Then relate these supports to what clients in recovery need—structure, accountability, coping strategies.

8. Connect Your Experience to Detox and Recovery

This is where your learning becomes meaningful.
Write about:

How even giving up a simple habit was difficult
How that difficulty represents the intense struggle of detox
How cravings, irritability, or frustration mirror withdrawal
How success requires more than willpower—support, environment, and planning matter

Tie your experience to what clients feel during early recovery phases.

9. End with Implications for Social Work Practice

Briefly discuss:

How this experience builds empathy
Why understanding cravings, relapse, and triggers matters when working with clients
How social workers can better support individuals in recovery
The importance of harm reduction, compassion, and patience

This final section helps you meet the rubric requirement for “implications for social work practice.”

10. Keep Your Submission Reflective and Honest

Your professor is not grading success or perfection.
They are grading your depth of reflection, your ability to connect theory to experience, and your insight about addiction and social work practice.

If you want, I can now write:

✅ A full reflection paper (5-week or 8-week version—your prompt mentions both)
✅ A version tailored to any item you choose
✅ A more scholarly version with citations
✅ A shorter or more personal one depending on your tone

Just tell me what item you want to give up, and I’ll create the entire reflection.

Abstinence Reflection Assignment