It is not difficult to see people ruining their lives by using drugs. Many choose to take drugs, regretting it, but it is not certain that you will also take this path. If you've already developed an addiction, know that you can get rid of it.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Resist the Temptation to Try Drugs
Step 1. Set yourself goals
According to some studies, those who set goals in their lives (and strive to achieve them) are less likely to use drugs. It is very plausible because this perspective encourages you to consider what you want in the future and what you will do to get it. On the contrary, drug use involves a narrow view of what is "rewarding" in the present, regardless of the consequences.
- If you're tempted to try a drug, even just once, consider how it might affect your future plans. How likely are you to achieve your goals if you develop an addiction to an expensive and / or illegal substance, go to jail, or find yourself on a criminal record for making reckless choices?
- Setting goals can also help you build self-confidence. If you have strong self-esteem and feel capable of achieving what you set out to do, you will not be willing to take drugs.
- Setting and achieving goals is also essential to detoxify. With this strategy you can carry out any project you have planned, including the one to stop drug use.
Step 2. Seek the company of the people you love
Close ties with family and loved ones are a protective factor against drug use. In other words, as you build relationships with friends and family, you will be less likely to give in to this kind of temptation.
If you feel motivated to use illegal substances or would like to know more about this topic, don't keep it to yourself. Talk to someone you know, trust, and respect. He may offer you advice and support, which is very important to avoid falling into the drug trap
Step 3. Talk to someone about what's going on
If you are continually urged to feel "high" from these substances, or even solicited with threats and bullying, reach out to someone with authority, such as a parent, teacher, or psychologist. You don't have to handle these pressures alone. By getting the support you need, you will be able to stay away from drugs.
Step 4. Do something else if you want to get better
If you are tempted to use drugs to feel better, distract yourself by doing something enjoyable and fun.
- For example, if you want to feel better, pursue a hobby, spend more time laughing with friends, choose a fun video game, or help others. This way, you can give your life another meaning.
- Go for a run, read a good novel, talk to family and friends, opt for a hilarious video game or try to solve your problem and abandon negative thoughts by consulting a psychologist.
- Tell your friends how you feel or do something that gives you a chance to get distracted, like going to the movies.
Step 5. Stop before starting
If you are offered an illegal substance, refuse it and walk away. If you are concerned about being solicited by your peers, keep in mind that true friends respect the decision not to use drugs and do not push you to do what you do not want. If not, find another company.
Step 6. Keep your distance
If you see a relative or friend using drugs, don't get involved or take an example from them. If you can, let an older person you trust know about the situation so that they can offer support. It is important to have a support network in order to be able to stop a drug addiction and not have relapses.
- Be aware that drug addiction problems can spread to members of the same family, so if you have a drug addict relative, you may be particularly vulnerable. Therefore, go out of your way to stay away from it.
- If it's your friends, find others. Surround yourself with people who haven't made this choice because they think sobriety is the key to a better life. Teenagers are more likely to take drugs if they have friends who use them.
Step 7. Avoid temptation
If there is a group of drug-prone kids at school, don't hang out with them. Surround yourself with friends who have more profitable interests.
- If you are at a party and find that they are running amazing, go away. Your peers may be pushing you to give in even if you think you can resist.
- Keep in mind that social conditioning is so strong that it leads to the use of illegal substances. Social networks can also increase this risk. If you are exposed to a lot of images about drug use on social media, consider blocking the sources they come from.
Step 8. Reflect on your temptations
If you want to try a substance on your own (for example, you want to see what effects the Adderall your brother takes), you can handle this curiosity. Think: "Why do I want to try it?". What reasons push you?
- If you think everyone does and don't want to miss out on this experience, remember that not everyone uses drugs. In fact, this consumption has decreased among young people. There are many, much healthier ways to connect with friends, such as cultivating a hobby or playing sports together.
- If you're feeling stressed or pressured, keep in mind that drug use may seem like a great remedy for everyday stress, but it's not healthy at all. There are better ways to manage stress, such as exercise, yoga, and meditation. If you are feeling very stressed, talking to a therapist may also help.
- Remember that decision-making skills are not fully mature during adolescence. Choosing to use illegal drugs could haunt you for the rest of your life. When you are 50, will you thank yourself for deciding to try them at an early age?
Step 9. Refuse firmly
Surely there will come a time when you will be offered some substance. Be convinced of your answer and don't hesitate. If in doubt, you leave the door open to further pressure from your peers.
- If the person who offered it to you asks why you don't accept it, you don't have to give him any explanation. Just tell him you don't use drugs. If you state your reasons, the conversation could continue and give your interlocutor more opportunities to convince you.
- Someone might try to change your mind by saying, "But how? Everyone does it" or "Just once it won't hurt you." Be firm. You could respond by arguing that, in fact, the use of illegal substances has decreased among young people, so it is not true that everyone is using them nor are you going to go against the tide. Alternatively, you can say, "No, I don't want to try even once. I don't need this in my life."
Step 10. Keep busy
Keep your mind clear and get involved with the world around you. If you are a dynamic and enterprising person, you will not have the time to estrange yourself with drugs. Because boredom can lead to drug use, you will be less inclined if you don't have a chance to get bored.
Learn a foreign language, cultivate a hobby, learn to play a musical instrument, volunteer. This way, you will enrich your life (and your resume) and stay away from illegal substances
Step 11. Find out what makes you happy
Depression and low self-esteem can lead to drug use. If you suffer from depression, you should consult a therapist to help you overcome it. Plus, by identifying everything that makes you happy and fuels your self-esteem, you won't run the risk of falling into addiction.
List the things that make you happy. Choose the things that are easier to make, like making a simple recipe or going to the movies, and keep yourself engaged in these activities
Part 2 of 4: Preventing Relapses
Step 1. Learn why people use drugs
Drug addiction arises from the belief that one can self-medicate. Then you enter a vicious circle dominated by withdrawal symptoms. To detoxify, you must first combat physical addiction by attending a specialized center where you can take part in a cessation program that relieves the severity of withdrawal symptoms, which are often dangerous, and then address the problems that lead to taking drugs that they cause addiction to mask emotional suffering.
- The drug user is neither a "bad" nor a "dishonest" person.
- Those who hire them often simply can't "cut it out". Drug addiction changes the brain by hindering - but not totally stopping - the ability to quit.
Step 2. Learn about the triggers
If you have already used drugs, consider the triggers associated with using these substances, such as what you need to prepare them, a certain group of friends, certain places, or even a song you used to listen to while taking them.
- If you spot some triggers that can make you fall into the same patterns, get rid of them. For example, remove that song from the mp3 player or throw away the maps. You will have less temptation if they disappear permanently.
- You will probably also need to avoid the places you used to go when using drugs. Staying away from it may be difficult, but it will help eliminate the addiction.
Step 3. Count on the help of a support group or your family
It is vital not only to dissuade you from using illegal substances, but also to overcome drug addiction. If you are struggling with all your might to get rid of it, a support group can help.
To find it, talk to your doctor, psychologist or other health professional, search for one on the Internet, consult religious and secular groups in the city where you live, or find out about volunteer groups that offer help to people who want to overcome an addiction
Step 4. Try the "urge surfing" technique
Urge surfing, which we could translate as "riding the wave of the stimulus", is a mindfulness exercise that recognizes the impulse and helps you "ride" it until it disappears. Imagine being a surfer riding his need like a wave until it crashes becoming easy to tame. This technique is more effective than trying to ignore or suppress a desire.
- Remember that this may not be the first time you feel this urge. When did this happen in the past, did it go away? Almost certainly yes. Don't forget that it will disappear again this time. The impulse is there, but you don't have to go along with it.
- As you think about the stimulus, notice the thoughts and feelings that go through you. For example, suppose you feel an overwhelming desire to take your favorite drug. You may start sweating, itchy, or feel restless. Recognize these reactions by reminding yourself that they are just feelings and that they have no power over you.
- Breathe deeply as you "ride your impulses". Breathe in and out slowly and steadily. This exercise will help you stay focused on the present rather than the stimulus.
Step 5. Make it a point to wait 10 minutes
If you feel an urgent need to use drugs, put it off and wait 10 minutes. Only 10, that's it. You can do it. Once you have passed, if the urge is still strong, be patient for 10 more. Keep putting it off until the urge passes. It will happen if you know how to wait.
Part 3 of 4: Keeping the Body Healthy
Step 1. Eat a healthy diet
The mind and the body are closely related because the mind is the set of higher functions of the brain, one of the largest and most complex organs in the body. This means that mental and physical health are intertwined. Since drug abuse compromises mental well-being which, as has been said, is linked to physical well-being, it is important to keep the body healthy to get out of the drug tunnel and, to do so, you need to eat healthily.
Opt for unprocessed foods, such as lean meats, nuts, fresh fruit, and vegetables. Who knows, you might even develop a passion for cooking to fuel your self-esteem and turn into a hobby that helps you stay away from drugs
Step 2. Exercise
Exercising increases endorphin production and elevates mood in a healthier way than illegal substances. Sport helps reduce stress and even fight depression in milder cases. Both stress and depression increase the risk of developing addiction, so it's important to exercise regularly to stay away from drugs.
Step 3. Avoid getting too much caffeine
Excessive caffeine intake can make you nervous and anxious, increase the perception of stress and encourage the consumption of other substances to counteract the anxiety caused by caffeine.
Step 4. Get enough sleep
Lack of sleep impairs mental health by causing fatigue, sadness and anxiety. In these cases, the risk of taking drugs to avoid getting sick is greater.
Step 5. Relax physically and mentally
Use relaxation techniques to keep yourself mentally and physically healthy. By doing this, you can decrease the impact of stress on the body by preventing the onset of negative thoughts and bodily sensations, such as muscle tension. Stress is a common reason people use drugs, so by learning how to manage it, you can avoid drug use.
- Try visualization. This technique consists in producing mental images concerning serene and relaxing situations. For example, imagine being on the beach with a calm sea and try to perceive all the sensations of that atmosphere: think of the smell, the wind and the sun on your skin. Immerse yourself completely in this scenario.
- Try relaxing by practicing yoga or tai chi.
Step 6. Try meditation
Focusing on your breathing and body awareness is a great way to manage stress. Meditate to stay calm as you deal with alcohol or drugs. Meditators tend not to relapse into addiction over time.
- Find a comfortable, quiet place to sit for 10-15 minutes.
- Focus on your breath, inhaling deeply, at a steady pace.
- As the thoughts brush your mind, let them go without making any judgments. Bring your attention back to the breath as it enters and leaves the body.
Step 7. Try progressive muscle relaxation
This technique helps you understand the difference between tight and relaxed muscles. You have to slowly contract and then relax each muscle group. In this way, you will be able to recognize which is rigid and which is relaxed and you will distance yourself from what stresses you.
Start with your toes. Squeeze them as hard as you can for 5 seconds, then stretch them out for 5 seconds. Notice the feeling of relaxation. Climb along the body, passing through the calves, thighs, buttocks, abdominals, chest, shoulders, arms, up to the neck and face
Part 4 of 4: Seeking a Treatment
Step 1. Go to therapy
Those embarking on a path to recovery from drug addiction need guidance and treatment. Psychotherapy can provide you with the support you need to avoid falling back into the drug tunnel once you have decided to detox.
- In these cases, cognitive-behavioral therapy is a very effective treatment modality. Help addicts manage their urges and stop drug use.
- Family therapy can also be helpful, particularly if family dysfunction contributes to substance abuse.
- Contingency management is an approach that uses positive reinforcement, or rewards, to stay away from drugs.
Step 2. Consider going to a drug rehabilitation community
There are advantages and disadvantages associated with this choice. These are structures that provide for close control of the subject, minimize the risk of relapse and have a fairly tight detoxification process. However, they can be quite expensive and limit other aspects of daily life, such as work. SERTs (National Health System Drug Addiction Services) provide free services and affect the life of the individual wishing to detoxify less, but they are not necessarily as effective because the risk of accessing drugs is greater due to the fact that they do not you live 24 hours 24 in a controlled building. The advantage of this option is that it does not noticeably invade the patient's life and is less expensive. The best choice depends on a number of factors, including the substance being abused, the degree of addiction, the duration of the addiction, the patient's age, and concomitant medical and / or psychiatric conditions.
- To find a recovery community, click on the Department of Drug Policy website.
- Anyone with severe substance abuse problems, a longtime drug addict, a series of criminal offenses, or having difficulty living a normal life due to drugs are advised to opt for a rehabilitation community.
Step 3. Find a sponsor
Many support groups assign a sponsor to a new member. This is a recovering addict who guides you through the various stages of the detox program. An efficient sponsor::
- Helps you grow and become more productive, based on your standards;
- It helps you to become more autonomous, more thoughtful with yourself, more enthusiastic, less influential, more attentive to setting limits in life;
- It is not a lifesaver nor is it always by your side if you don't make any progress.
Advice
- If drugs are a strong attraction, talk to people you trust about it. They will understand and help you avoid them.
- If you have drug addiction problems, talk to a psychologist or join a support group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Alateen, or Narcotics Anonymous.
- Don't abuse drugs. They allow you to heal from diseases, but you shouldn't use them improperly.
- Be brave and don't be afraid to say "NO" when you are offered drugs or alcohol.
- Get informed. If you know the consequences, you are already well under way. Find out what substances are in circulation and what effects they can have on the body.
