Steps & Scripture

Crisis Card: Printable Wallet Card for Recovery

This crisis card is a fold-over wallet card with the numbers you need in a bad moment: call or text 988, 911 for danger, the SAMHSA helpline, and blanks for your sponsor, your person and your doctor.

In a crisis, your mind goes blank and your phone is a mess. A card in your wallet is already there. The first page is a plan for the next ten minutes, for the times you need more than a phone number.

Download free PDF

Free. No email, no sign-up. A printable PDF, letter size: a 10-minute plan, a sheet of fold-over wallet cards and a page for your numbers.

What to do in the next 10 minutes

  • If you might hurt yourself, call or text 988 now. If anyone is in danger, call 911.
  • If you've been drinking heavily and you're shaking, sweating, confused or seeing things, call 911 or go to an ER. Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous. Don't ride it out alone.
  • Put distance between you and the drink. Pour it out, leave the room, step outside.
  • Call one person on your card. Say: "I'm having a hard time. Can you stay on the phone with me for ten minutes?"
  • HALT: are you Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired? Eat something. Drink a glass of water.
  • Pray, even one line: "God, help me not drink right now."
  • Breathe: in for 4, hold for 4, out for 6. Do it five times.
  • Cravings rise and fall. Plan the next hour: a meeting, a walk, someone's company.

If someone at home is hurting or threatening you, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233.

Fill in the blanks. Cut each pair out as one strip, then fold it in the middle so it fits your wallet.

Wallet cards

  • If I'm in crisis Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24/7). In danger, call 911. SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (free, 24/7). My sponsor: ____________ My person: ____________ My doctor: ____________
  • Before I drink: HALT Am I Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired? Eat something. Call someone. Pray. Rest. Get to a meeting. This feeling will pass. I don't have to drink today, and I don't have to do this alone.

My people

Write down everyone you could call on a bad night. Put the same numbers in your phone.

WhoNamePhoneBest time to call
My sponsor
    
    

The first row is an example. The PDF has 8 blank rows to fill in.

How to use it

  1. Print on cardstock if you can. Fill in the names and numbers in pen.
  2. Cut out a pair as one strip, fold it, and put it in your wallet behind your ID.
  3. Give the extra cards to your sponsor, your spouse, or someone new at your meeting.
  4. Save the same numbers in your phone under names you'll find fast.

Safety first. If you drink heavily every day, stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Talk to a doctor before you quit.

Scripture to go with it

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1 · ESV

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 34:18 · ESV

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Psalm 56:3 · ESV

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Common questions

What is 988?

988 is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US. You can call or text it any time, day or night, and talk to a trained person.

What is the SAMHSA helpline?

1-800-662-4357 is a free, confidential US helpline, open 24/7, that can point you to local help for drinking or drug use.

What does HALT mean?

Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. Those four states make a drink look like a good idea. Fixing the simple one, like eating, often takes the edge off.

When should I see a doctor?

Before you stop if you've been drinking heavily every day, and right away if you have shaking, sweating, confusion or seizures. Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous.