How to Help
When an individual starts using drugs, it is typically because they are experimenting with them or their peers have pressured them into trying them. No single individual uses a substance for the first time with the intention of abusing it or becoming dependent upon it. If you become aware of the reasons behind drug abuse, addiction, and dependency, it is easier to understand drug abuse prevention and be successful at it.
The following 5 ways are excellent suggestions for preventing drug abuse and not getting addicted to or dependent upon any substance:
Dealing with the pressures of everyday life – life is not easy. That’s a given. Many people have started abusing alcohol and drugs as a result of the stress they undergo at home and on the job. As a result, we feel overwhelmed and overworked while feeling that deserve a break from this. So we start enjoying a way to escape these pressures by getting high off a particular substance.
Determining risk factors – there are risk factors in life that will oftentimes lead to drug abuse. They are categorized as biological, environmental, and physical in nature and if you are aware of ones in your life, then you may be more likely to overcome so you do not start abusing any substance. Consider the following factors:
Getting help for mental health problems – drug abuse and mental illness typically occur together. Although it is still unclear as to whether the drug abuse causes the mental illness or it is the reverse order, you should still get professional help for your psychological issues before any drug abuse occurs. Getting the help of a licensed professional could make a huge difference in your life and the future.
Handling peer pressure – as was mentioned above, your peers can be a powerful force when it comes to talking you into using drugs for the first time. Our advice is to stop hanging around with these types of individuals immediately. This not only protects you from being influenced by them, it could prevent you from enduring years of pain if you get hooked on a particular drug.
Keeping your life balanced – when something in a person’s life is not working or an individual has encountered an overly traumatic experience such as a death or spousal abuse, this could easily lead to them using drugs to escape the pain from that set of circumstances. Additionally, if you are suffering with self esteem issues or unhappy in your life for a number of reasons, the temptation to escape the pain by using drugs become even greater.
To better understand drug abuse prevention, call the Freedom Center today and speak with one of our professional staff members to answer your questions or provide you with information regarding our facility and our programs. Call the toll-free phone number listed above for assistance.
