Addicted to Heroin?
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Drug addiction or substance dependence is the compulsive use of psychoactive drugs, to the point where the user has no effective choice but to continue use. Many of these addictions lead to heroin addiction. Yet all of these can be overcome.
Nobody is safe from addiction. However, certain people are at a higher risk for addiction, as factors such as environmental factors and genetics make them susceptible. There are, however, proven ways to prevent drug addiction
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Get busy and find things in your life you love
Find something that you love and passionate about, and motivates you to stay healthy, and mentally and emotionally in shape. It could be a sport, artistic endeavor, traveling, or personal relationship.
Boredom or feeling bored is a dangerous emotion for people. It can lead to feelings of anger, depression, irritability and unhealthy behaviors such as drinking and smoking.
Hobbies are a good way to unwind and relax. The dangers of stress are well documented and hobbies are an effective outlet for this. Finding interesting things to do is a wonderful way to give life a purpose. If you deeply care about the things you love and gives your life a sense of purpose, you are less likely to sabotage them by experimenting with illicit drugs
Abstinence
Abstinence is a term used in the addictions field to describe the process of abstaining (meaning avoiding, or not engaging in) certain potentially addictive substances or behaviors. Complete abstinence requires a lot of discipline, self-control, and willpower. For some people, it is really easy to never touch drugs. However, for others, it can be extremely difficult, especially for people under peer pressure, come from a family of drug addicts or who are in chronic physical or emotional pain.
Stay away from peer pressure
Research has shown that teenagers and young adults are a group of people that easily influenced by friends and peers into drug and alcohol abuse. Peer pressure can play a significant as these group of people believes that experimenting with illicit drugs or consuming alcohol will make them more popular and appear confident among their peers. As people get older, the influence of peer pressure lessens, but it can still have a negative impact on people’s behavior.
Positive peer pressure can also be a force for positive change. If an individual belongs to a group that encourages and supports recovery from illegal drugs and alcohol addiction, then it can encourage them to make positive changes in their lives.
Maintain a healthy Lifestyle that Makes you Happy
Chronic stress is a well-established link in the development of drug addiction and in addiction relapse vulnerability. Being active and healthy makes it easier for people to cope with stress. This, in turn, reduces the temptation to rely on drugs and alcohol to deal with stress.
A healthy lifestyle includes eating healthy food, an active social life, regular exercise and productive mental activities.
A well-balanced and healthy lifestyle also decreases the risk of developing many non-communicable diseases, including high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases (like stroke and heart attacks), cancer and diabetes.
Engage in Mindfulness Activities.
Mindfulness activities such as yoga and meditation can help reduce the body’s stress response, which helps reduce cortisol levels and feelings of depression and anxiety. Yoga can also help lower blood pressure and heart rate.
Mindfulness meditation is a wonderful way for people to learn how to keep negative emotions under check and also to deal with stress. Mindfulness also teaches that cravings for drugs or alcohol are just negative thoughts and they are not under any obligations to act on them
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Seek Help and Counseling.
Living a life free from addiction is a personal journey that sometimes requires seeking timely therapy or counseling. When a person feels overwhelmed by psychological issues or negative emotions such as depression, talking to a counselor can help them overcome and manage the situation rather than turning to drugs as a coping mechanism. Behavioral therapies are most commonly used, as it enables people to recognize feelings, thoughts, and situations that cause drug cravings. Your counselor can guide on how to avoid these triggers and replace negative thoughts and feelings with ones that are healthier.
Develop quality time with friends and families
The love and support provided by family and friends often play a critical role in drug addiction. Numerous studies show that people who share a close relationship with their families are less likely to become drug addicts.
Spending time, or being around friends who engage in reckless activities and abuse drugs will increase your risk of also abusing drugs. Conversely, surrounding yourself with people who constantly make you feel worthless or less confident will facilitate negative feelings and emotions that could cause you to engage in drugs and alcohol in order to feel good, which can, in turn, lead to addiction and other problems. Education about drug abuse is an important part of helping individuals understand the many aspects of this topic.
Education
There is a general consensus that “the more you know, the better you do”. Many people have no clue as to why or how other people become addicted to drugs. Education about substance abuse is very crucial in helping individuals understand the many aspects of this topic. This public education can include factual data about what drug abuse is; warning signs of drug addiction; information about how alcohol and specific drugs affect the mind and body; the dangers that addiction can have on one’s physical and mental health, family, relationships, and how and why substances are abused.
Use Medication only as Prescribed by your Doctor
Prescription drug abuse is considered one of the biggest public health threats. Many patients are misusing drugs to “self-medicate” their pain. Many people who become addicted to opioid pain medication find themselves turning to heroin because it provides a similar high but is often easier and cheaper to obtain.
Be aware of family History and other Risk Factors
The tendency to drug addiction is linked to certain risk factors such as the history of substance abuse in the family, access to an addictive substance, sexual or emotional abuse or trauma. If you are able to identify this risk factors you possess, you are more likely to overcome drug addiction.
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References
Kann, I., Lundqvist, C., & Lurås, H. (2014). Prescription of Addictive and Non-Addictive Drugs to Home-Dwelling Elderly. Drugs & Aging, 31(6), 453-459. doi: 10.1007/s40266-014-0169-1
Kirkcaldy, R. (2003). Drugs and Addictive Behaviour: A Guide to Treatment, 3rded. Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment, 2(4), 164-165. doi: 10.1097/00132576-200302040-00011
McCabe, S., & Boyd, C. (2005). Sources of prescription drugs for illicit use. Addictive Behaviors, 30(7), 1342-1350. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2005.01.012
