Cravings happen to addicts in recovery at unexpected times as well as in response to what is going on around. Cravings are irrational and are often euphorically focus on the "good times" of addiction while ignoring the damages and consequences the addict has suffered. If you allow a craving to go unchallenged it gets worse and worse until eventually it becomes very hard to resist. Most people find that as they gain more time clean and sober their cravings diminish in intensity and frequency. The following strategies will help to resist the urge to drink or use:

Tell somebody
Call your sponsor, phone a friend, phone people in AA or NA. Make sure that you have list of people that you can call in the event of an emergency in case one person is not available. By choosing to tell somebody you're acknowledging the craving and deciding not to act out on it. Most people report that just talking about a craving is the most powerful tool they have in dealing with them.

Distract yourself
Consciously decide to distract yourself by doing something else. Catch up on housework, take a shower, go for a walk, go to a museum, just make sure you're doing something where there isn't booze or drugs.

Go to a meeting
Find out where and when the very next AA or NA meeting is and make sure you get to it. Remember to tell somebody you're craving.

Remember the bad times
Consciously bring to mind the misery and helplessness that came with addiction. Craving is usually focused on an unrealistically positive look at addiction so challenge this with memories of your 'icons'. Drugs and Alcohol didn't work for you before and there is no reason that they should work now. There was a reason you stopped using drugs - try to remember it now.

Stay sober minute at a time
Start doing something and set your alarm for 5 minutes. When you've been busy for those five minutes find something else to do for another 5 minutes. Those minutes will turn into hours.

Do something physical
Get some healthy exercise to get the blood pumping.

Pray
Remember your connection to your Higher Power and ask for help to stay clean and sober. Remember to say thank you for each day you're clean.

Read your recovery materials

Be thankful for the gifts of recovery
Look at how addiction recovery is helping to restore your relationships, how work is going smoother, how you are not incurring legal problems, how you feel better about yourself, how your partner is beginning to trust you, how your children are feeling more secure, and all of the other gifts that recovery is bringing you.

Sabotage your using
If you have cash in your hands spend it on something to nurture yourself. If you were getting a lift from somebody to a place that is associated with using cancel the lift. Take action to sabotage your using.

Have a quick bite to eat

Deal with your emotions
In a drug rehab or alcohol treatment facility you would have learned how to better cope with your emotions. Check if your craving was triggered by an emotion, identify it, and then find a way to deal with it appropriately.

Remember that cravings are temporary - they do go away.