You can do your best to minimize your exposure to those things, places and people that trigger drug cravings, but you will never eliminate cravings entirely. Learning to manage and overcome drug or alcohol craving is therefore an essential skill in any journey of recovery. Addiction treatment programs teach those in recovery skills that when practiced and used in real world situations of temptation, can prolong recovery for yet another day; day by day. Here is a brief overview of some of the methods taught to help manage drug or alcohol cravings, as recommended by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Distraction Getting out of a situation of craving and distracting yourself with another activity is an excellent way to avoid succumbing to temptation. Experts recommend that you make a list of activities that can distract you from a craving should the need arise (going bowling, taking the dog for a walk, doing the groceries etc.). Many people attempt to manage cravings