Are you addicted to drugs? Are you the parent of a drug addict? Are you a close friend to someone who is hooked on drugs? You would have asked: is it possible to overcome addiction? YES. It’s possible to overcome drug addiction. But it is not that simple. Becuase drug addiction is chronic disease, an addict cannot just stop taking drugs for a few days and be cured. However, with help, drug addiction can be overcome. The first rung in the ladder of recovery is admitting to a problem. Then finding the determination to do something about it.
To start with, you need to understand how drug addiction happens. This will help you to understand how the body has become dependent on the substance of abuse. To let go of addiction will mean a change of lifestyle, routine, reaction to stress and sometimes, the kind of people you surround yourself with. The reason for this is to make it easy for you to stay sober as much as possible. This is because there will always be many temptations and triggers that will try to get you to use drugs again. Unfortunately, many people are not ready to make these changes in their lifestyle until they hit the rock bottom and all they have left is drugs. Don’t be like that, seek help. The earlier you seek help, the easier the recovery.
Seeking Help
In seeking help for addictions, you need to look at the different addiction therapies and see which option is best for you. Furthermore, depending on your personal needs you may want to consider inpatient treatment programs or outpatient program.
In seeking treatment however, it’s best to be open and honest with family members and close friends. Admittedly, there is often so much shame and regret that accompanies drug abuse. This makes it difficult to confide in loved ones. The journey to recovery is however faster with the love of family and friends to smoother the edges of withdrawal and relapse.
Successful Treatment
Successful treatment is combination of several steps:
- Detoxification (the process by which the body rids itself of toxic wastes).
- Behavioral Counselling
- Medication
- Evaluation and treatment of co-occurring mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
- Long-term follow-up to prevent relapse.
To conclude, remember that you don’t recover from addiction by not using. You recover by creating a new life where it is not easier to use. Recovery is your opportunity to change your life. Many people just go through the motions of life. They do not think about who they are and who they want to be.
If you use this opportunity for change, you’ll look back and think of your addiction as one of the best things that ever happened to you.
