Many people are introduced to the drug world by peers and friends. They soon discover that using drugs is not as special as they thought it would be, nor as fun. Some people develop addiction and have to work hard to fight it. Others fail to control their abuse and die. If you are smart enough to understand that using drugs is dangerous, this article will help you stay away from drugs altogether. While it requires a good willpower, saying no to drugs is actually quite a simple thing when you know how to do it.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Make Wise Decisions
Step 1. Choose your friends well
True friends don't put another friend's life at risk by pressuring him to use drugs. You may ask: How can I choose a good friend? Simple. Observe people and their habits before becoming friends with them. Make sure they follow good morals, appear honest, and are good people. This way, before you become friends with someone, you will already have an idea of what kind of person they are.
True friends will not make you feel distressed because you have decided not to take drugs. True friends will respect you. They want to see you happy and be successful. If one of your friends doesn't understand that drugs aren't for you, you should reevaluate their friendship
Step 2. Help your friends avoid drugs and bad decisions
Describe the simple steps they can take to avoid them, and tell them that you really care. Also remember to open up to your parents about drugs. If you can't help yourself, they can definitely do it.
Step 3. Ask questions and learn the answers
The more questions you ask about drugs, the harder it becomes to rationally justify their use. So learn about drugs, their effect on the body and how they work. Knowledge is power.
- Did you know that methamphetamine causes pain throughout the body, severe hallucinations and tooth decay?
- Did you know that 27% of HIV-positive people in America are addicted to heroin? People who inject heroin into their veins are at a much greater risk of contracting many diseases, such as AIDS.
- Did you know that after shooting or smoking cocaine, the risk of heart attack is 24 times higher?
Step 4. Remember that so-called soft drugs are drugs as well
Drugs like alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco, while more socially accepted, can still be potent drugs. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 2.5 million people die each year from alcohol. This is a lot of people, even though alcohol is legal almost everywhere for adults. The important thing to remember is that even soft drugs, or those that are socially accepted, can be dangerous.
- Soft drugs are often referred to as entry drugs. Entry drugs are drugs that, once tried, lead users to experiment and abuse other drugs as a result. Some people believe that marijuana is a gateway drug, although many people believe this to be a myth.
- An established fact is that alcohol and tobacco can lead to the abuse of other drugs. One study found that people who used alcohol and tobacco as young people were more likely to abuse opiates (heroin, prescription drugs) than those who used marijuana. Although alcohol and tobacco are legal, be careful not to consume them to the point of starting to use other drugs.
Method 2 of 3: Learn to Say No
Step 1. Learn to say no to drugs right away
Telling people you don't want to take drugs can be very difficult. You will need to be clear and not offend anyone. Spend some time thinking about how you might say "no" to someone trying to pressure you to try a drug. Here are some examples to take inspiration from:
- "No thanks. The way I am going to school, I need all the brain cells I have."
- "Actually I was just going home. My parents asked me to look after my younger sister. See you tomorrow?"
- "I'm starving. Let's go eat something at my house instead."
Step 2. Learn to say "no" without feeling guilty
Remember the reasons why you are saying no: your health is important to you; you want to have the best chance of being successful; you have more ambitious plans in mind than mundane distractions. If you remember all the reasons why drugs are not for you, it will be easier not to feel guilty for saying "no". If you don't feel guilty, it will be easier to resist peer pressure.
Step 3. Think again about the possible long-term effects of drugs and alcohol
Like it or not, your whole life could change with one decision. Often, one mistake is enough for things to start going wrong. Are you willing to bet your life that it won't be your case?
Step 4. Respect yourself
People who use drugs often disrespect themselves. They understand that they are harming their body and their family, but they can't stop, and in some cases they don't want to, because deep down, they feel they deserve their lot. (This is the reason many addicts can only overcome their addiction with the help of a psychologist.) When an addict begins to have more self-respect, they often manage to get out of the drug tunnel.
To have respect for yourself, you need to know who you are. It is an extremely liberating journey if you have not already gone through it. You will learn to love yourself from within. If you can achieve this state of mind, the most powerful drugs in the world will not be able to compete with the love you have for yourself
Method 3 of 3: Maintain an Active and Healthy Lifestyle
Step 1. Get active with sports
It is very difficult to use drugs and take a sport seriously at the same time. It's hard to run, coordinate, and team up if your body is lethargic and your mind is clouded. Staying active in sports is therefore a great way to avoid the drug world. In addition, exercising causes the release of endorphins, which make you feel better and relieve some types of stress.
- Take part in team sports. These sports include football, rugby, basketball, volleyball, water polo, etc. Team sports teach those who practice them mutual respect, the value of team play and sacrifice.
- Start practicing an individual sport. These sports include skiing, cycling, golf, wrestling, skateboarding, shooting, fencing, athletics, tennis, surfing, swimming, and others. Individual sports teach those who practice them the importance of grit, determination and commitment.
Step 2. Get out and enjoy nature
Probably the reason many people take drugs is boredom. They don't have much to do, so why not have fun and do something exciting? While there are other cures for boredom, you can avoid getting bored by going out and enjoying nature, even if you don't do any sports.
Spend time on excursions. Many urban or suburban neighborhoods are close to parks and nature reserves where you can get in touch with nature. If you can't get out of the city, go explore a safe place near your home
Step 3. Practice meditation, yoga and Pilates
You may think these three activities are more suited to your parents, or hippies, but connecting your brain and body into a single exercise can help. These three activities try to do just that. People who are more in touch with their bodies are more likely to avoid drugs.
- There are many types of meditation. Probably the simplest meditation exercise is closing your eyes, breathing deeply and trying to be aware of all parts of the body - at the same time. This technique is called mindful meditation.
- There are dozens and dozens of types of yoga. To name a few Hatha yoga, Bikram yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Vinyasa yoga. Try different methods with different teachers. Each of them has its own unique set of poses and breathing exercises.
- Pilates was invented by a German bodybuilder of the first half of the twentieth century. This is a body training program that focuses on core strength and alignment of the pubis and spine. Many practitioners report feeling much better after their workouts. When you feel good, why use drugs?
Step 4. Eat the right foods
What is the relationship between nutrition and drugs? What you eat has an effect on the functioning of your body and on the feeling of general well-being. If you always eat junk foods and treat your body without regard, you will not feel very well and will consequently be more motivated to use the drug as a crutch.
- Doctors recommend eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and lots of fiber. Such a diet will give your body the energy and nourishment it needs to make you feel happy and stay away from drugs.
- Eat healthy fats instead of unhealthy ones. Healthy fats include omega-3 fatty acids (flaxseed, salmon) and monounsaturated fats (avocado, pumpkin seeds). Harmful fats include trans fats (partially hydrogenated oils) and saturated fats (animal fats, such as lard).
- Drink unsweetened water and tea instead of sugary sodas and alcohol. It is not bad to consume a diet soda or a glass of red wine from time to time. In fact, researchers believe red wine, in moderate doses, can be good for you. But most of the liquids you take in should be in the form of water. Water will help you stay healthy and hydrated throughout the day.
Advice
- You will find many sites on the internet that can help you avoid drugs or stop using them. Do a search and you will find many useful results. Keep in mind that the failure rate of all methods used to overcome an addiction is very high and there is no one method that works for everyone. In some cases the solution is to learn how to control oneself, not how to abstain.
- Remember that a choice can ruin or save your life.
- If you know someone is using drugs, the best thing you can do is talk about them openly. Telling someone what you know is a bad idea, because you risk getting this person in trouble. You will need to carefully weigh the severity of his addiction and balance it with the consequences of your revelations. If it is a person who only uses drugs occasionally, you should avoid making drastic decisions. Remember that there is a difference between drug use and abuse.
Warnings
- Don't give in to peer pressure. If someone tries to force you to use drugs or makes fun of you for not doing it, they are not your friend.
- Remember that using drugs can ruin your life. It can lead you down a bad path. Tell yourself that drugs are not something you need.
