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Addiction Recovery Worksheets

A free, judgment-free library of worksheets to help you understand your patterns, ride out cravings, and build a recovery plan that fits your life.

MC Reviewed by Michael Callans, MSW·Free · Tool collection
We never store your data Free PDF download Clinician-reviewed

About this tool

Recovery from substance use is rarely a straight line, and these worksheets are built with that reality in mind. Change usually moves through stages, from not yet thinking about it, to weighing it up, to taking action and keeping it going. Most people cycle through more than once before change sticks. That is not failure. It is how change normally works, and each attempt teaches you something useful for the next.

The tools here draw on well-supported approaches: the stages of change model from Prochaska and DiClemente, motivational interviewing from Miller and Rollnick, and relapse prevention work from Marlatt. Together they help you build self-awareness without shame, get clear on what you actually want, learn to handle triggers and cravings, and prepare a plan for the moments that feel risky.

Whether your goal is full abstinence, cutting back, or simply staying safer while you figure things out, you are welcome here. These worksheets do not assume one right path. They are meant to support whatever next step feels honest and doable for you.

Everything is free, runs entirely in your browser, and produces a clean PDF. Nothing you write is stored or sent anywhere, so you can be as honest as you need to be.

  1. Prochaska JO, DiClemente CC. The Transtheoretical Approach: Crossing Traditional Boundaries of Therapy. Dow Jones-Irwin; 1984.
  2. Miller WR, Rollnick S. Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change. 3rd ed. Guilford Press; 2013.
  3. Marlatt GA, Donovan DM. Relapse Prevention: Maintenance Strategies in the Treatment of Addictive Behaviors. 2nd ed. Guilford Press; 2005.

Addiction Recovery Worksheets FAQ

What are addiction recovery worksheets?

Structured, judgment-free exercises that help you understand your relationship with a substance, weigh your options, handle triggers and cravings, and plan for risky moments. They draw on the stages of change, motivational interviewing, and relapse prevention.

Which worksheet should I start with?

If you are not sure where you stand, start with the stages of change and decisional balance. If you are already working on change, the triggers, cravings, and relapse prevention worksheets help most day to day.

Do I have to be aiming for total abstinence?

No. These tools support abstinence, cutting back, and harm reduction. There is a worksheet here for wherever you are and whatever goal feels right for you.

Are these a substitute for treatment?

They are helpful self-help tools, but not a replacement for treatment, especially with alcohol or sedatives, where stopping suddenly can be dangerous. A clinician can help you do this safely.

Is anything I write saved?

No. Everything stays in your browser and nothing is uploaded. Each PDF is generated on your own device.

Important: These worksheets are educational self-help tools, not treatment, therapy, or a diagnosis. Stopping some substances suddenly, especially alcohol and sedatives, can be medically dangerous, so please consult a professional. For free, confidential, 24/7 support, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. In an emergency, call your local emergency number or, in the US, call or text 988.