Numerous studies have shown the positive effects of gratitude on well-being where grateful people were found to be healthier, happier and more helpful. However, not much has been said as to whether gratitude can also have a positive impact on self destructive behaviours such as substance use. We believe that gratitude has benefits beyond simply improving well-being and thus, we investigate the relationship between gratitude and substance use. In a series of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, involving samples of both undergraduate students and drug offenders, we found that gratitude was negatively related to past substance use. More importantly, gratitude also negatively predicted for future substance use, in the form of substance use relapse. Mediation analysis also revealed that adaptive coping was a mediator for the relationship between gratitude and substance use. Overall, results suggest that gratitude has the potential to help address negative substance use and could potentially be beneficial to substance users.