Choosing to live a sober and clean life free from drug abuse is a lifetime choice and it’s a way of life and a goal capable of being achieved by anyone regardless of their level of addiction. The idea of living while clean and sober might seem easy to anyone who has never experienced alcohol or drug dependency, but for an addict, this reality may seem almost unattainable. Regardless, anyone can eliminate addiction from his or her life along with the damage it causes all with the assistance of addiction treatment programs and centers available.

If you want to live a life without alcohol or drug abuse, you first need to make the choice that you want to live a clean and sober lifestyle. After making this choice, you have to resolve not to return to your previous alcohol or drug dependent lifestyle. It is crucial that you put your drug-dependent past behind you as it was an unhealthy way to live and it was detrimental to your life and your future. There is nothing associated with drug or alcohol abuse that is worth you messing up your life for or even reminiscing about.

The next step in the journey towards a life without drug or alcohol abuse is to become sober. After making the choice to change your life, it is crucial that you look for a rehabilitation center for alcohol and drugs to help you achieve sobriety and maintain this state. Facilities you will gain access to while in rehabilitation include professional therapy, counseling, and treatment. This will form the foundation for your life without drug or alcohol abuse. Anyone addict who only undergoes the process of physical detoxification has a chance of suffering from a relapse back into alcohol or drugs. Your rehabilitation program must offer treatment for substance abuse while equally catering to your personal needs. Rehabilitation facilities for drugs and alcohol that offer free residential environments are ideal for preparing recovering addicts for an independent life of sober living. Such facilities not only treat the addiction but they also teach recovering addicts on ways to make healthy positive choices as they go through their day-to-day lives. They offer the recovering individuals the inner discipline and life skills required to live their lives devoid of drugs or alcohol.

Addiction recovery in rehabilitation centers for the long-term can be aided by meeting and interacting with other individuals with a similar experience as yours who have succeeded and are living clean and sober lives. Your loved ones are essential to the recovery process as they will offer you love, care, and support throughout enabling you to come out a better person. They will need to gain insight on how alcohol and drugs have had a negative effect on your life. They will also be asked to respect any of your needs all through the addiction recovery process.

The individual should try to make strides towards meeting new people and interacting with people looking to achieve and maintain a clean and sober lifestyle. It can be especially challenging to avoid drugs or alcohol when you just want to hang out or have fun. However, if you are hanging around a sober circle of friends, then you will not have to worry about drugs or alcohol being in the equation. Having a strong support system is the most important parts of the recovery process in helping you avoid a relapse more so when the temptation strikes or when things get tough.

Furthermore, completing the addiction treatment program does not translate into being cured of drug or alcohol addiction. You will have to make determined and conscious efforts towards maintaining a clean and sober lifestyle for the rest of your life. You will have the added advantage of possessing the necessary skills to achieve this life.

Tips for Avoiding Relapse

Living a healthy life without drug or alcohol abuse is beneficial for your well being. Alcohol and drug abuse has dangerous effects not to mention it can take its toll on your overall health and the state of your body. Drugs and alcohol can also wreak devastating havoc on your emotional well being and the fact that these substances can affect your mind, body, and soul should be enough to make you want to reconsider your life choices.

After completing any rehabilitation process for alcohol or drug addiction, a recovery addict might feel an instilled sense of accomplishment not to mention a refreshed spirit, and a connection to fellow rehab attendees. After completing rehabilitation recently, you should take some time to acknowledge your efforts in showing willingness to change your way of life and face you deep-seeded personal issues. You should also acknowledge all the hard work you have dedicated towards your recovery from addiction to alcohol or drugs. Your decision to eliminate drugs and alcohol as an option from your life is an indication that you have made a significant life change for the better. Change is hard, very hard to accept and maintain. Trying to change the course of your life by eliminating your bad habits and altering your behavior takes significant perseverance and hard work in order to maintain these changes.

Drug or alcohol addiction is essentially a disease and so making the choice to stop using these substances after the development of an addiction is very challenging. It requires practice, patience, and most importantly, time. Just as is the case with other diseases like hypertension, the possibility of relapsing is a very real one. Addiction treatment programs are tailored in a way that provides the addicts with the support they require to get rid of old coping mechanisms and unhealthy habits to establish a new way of life through healthy new habits.

There are daily schedules developed to keep them occupied, active, and focused on all it takes to recover. Another crucial part of the rehabilitation program involves preparing the recovery addicts for a life outside the treatment program. There is a considerable increase in the chances of an addict relapsing without the proper support and structure in his or her life. Relapsing does not mean the treatment and rehabilitation process was a failure or did not work, it only means the disease symptoms have reappeared. This means that the treatment model employed will need to be adjusted in the following ways.

How to Avoid Relapse

Changing Your Friends

After making the choice to eliminate drugs and alcohol from your life, you need to change everything associated with your life and your routines in the past. The first step in this process may include changing your circle of friends and choosing new sober ones. If you are looking to keep away from the temptations of alcohol and drug abuse, you will have to cut off any people who use drugs from your life or avoid spending time with them.

Triggers hold a significant impact on an addict’s life. The term ‘trigger’ is often used in rehabilitation to describe specific events or patterns that can lead an addict back towards a relapse. You may end up remembering a celebration with close friends over some harmful substances or drinks and in this moment of weakness, you may end up craving that feeling of enjoyment or euphoria. You may even find it difficult to be in the company of a particular group of friends without alcohol or drugs, particularly if these are the only things you have in common. As a recovering addict, you need to be able to pinpoint the risky situations you are supposed to avoid in advance and by all means. This includes old haunts, which are specific places associated with a culture of drug use. Examples of such places include homes of drug-using friends, specific areas of college campuses, dance clubs, bars, and raves.

If you are serious about a living a life that is free from drug or alcohol abuse, you should avoid such locations regardless of whether you have emotional ties to these places. If for example, any of these locations is on your way home, to work, or to school, you may have to consider looking for alternative routes. Being in proximity of old memories or old haunts, going to dubious locations, or spending too much time with the wrong crowd can cause trouble for an addict. Alternatively, look for new hobbies, people, and places that coordinate with your new, clean, and sober lifestyle. How you handle stress will determine whether or not you relapse. You can find plenty of options such as volunteering, book clubs, or hiking to help you develop a regular routine that supports your recovery.

A Sober Living Home

This is another method that has been proven to successfully increase the chances of avoiding relapse. It describes a private residence that is solely under occupation by people who are in recovery from alcohol or drug abuse. Living with other individuals who know how important it is to remain sober can help to give you encouragement and support whenever you feel stressed or tempted. There are a few general requirements for staying in a sober living home:

– You will have to pay rent
– You will have to do what is required of you in terms of household chores
– You are not to use alcohol or drugs
– You are to attend support meetings either conducted at facilities nearby or in the home

A sober living home usually has a method of governing everything and in-house rules. It is important that you check out several of these sober living homes before you decide on a temporary or permanent residence. This ensures that you can mesh with the personalities present and that you can cope with the living structure offered by the home.

Devise a Plan to Help You Avoid Relapse

Addiction, as mentioned before, is a disease and it comes with cravings for alcohol or drugs. Even though most people in recovery report that their cravings have reduced as they maintained sobriety, at times your body will remember the substances it used to get and it will crave more. Such cravings can lead to a relapse if you have not established a plan to handle them once they occur. Recovery programs such as Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous encourage their participants to get a sponsor. A sponsor is a person who acts as your lifeline in talking you through these cravings to help you avoid a relapse. You do not have to be a member of the above-mentioned organizations in order to take advantage of this process to get through challenging periods. You can discuss what you are going through with supportive family members or friends. Establish a network of available people you can contact in the event of an emergency.

Cravings can occur at very inconvenient times like in the middle of a family dinner or in the wee morning hours. When you are talking about your wishes and needs with your support network, ensure it will be possible to call them any time. After receiving the approval from your support group, make use of it and do not be shy to contact someone because you are afraid it will inconvenience or disturb him or her. If the person has talked with you about your need for a possible emergency support system, this means that he or she genuinely wanted you to call them regardless of the day or hour. This will be a moment of crisis during which your needs will come above anything else they could be doing at the time.

Keep Rehab in Mind

A few rehab facilities provide refresher courses free of charge if not for a very small fee. If you feel your temptation to abuse alcohol drugs growing significantly stronger, you may want to go back to rehabilitation for several days to conquer these increased cravings. After going back to a normal life and setting up new habits and a new routine, you might be hesitant to leave it again. Going back to rehab for several days will not ruin all your efforts and it will save you from the damage that could happen if you ignore the temptation and relapse. If you end up relapsing and going back to your former drug/alcohol abusing habits, you could ruin your life and lose everything that you have worked so hard to rebuild. Your life is worth more than anything else is and you need to commit yourself to an atmosphere that will facilitate healing.

Talk about Your Addiction with Your Employer

When you are on the job, stress is an unavoidable factor. You have the option of asking your employer to make things less stressful for you depending on your specific line of work. The most important thing you can do is inform your employer about your addiction illness and the effects it could have on your work schedule. Try arranging an adjusted work schedule together with your employer if you will require thirty minutes over lunch hour to attend a meeting with your support group. You can try staying thirty minutes late or coming in half an hour early daily to compensate for lost time. Rushing in between work and meetings can jeopardize your recovery by increasing your stress levels. Your employer will see that it is beneficial to help you live a healthy life because it will influence your work performance, productivity, and job satisfaction.

Take Medication

Almost half of all recovering addicts are suffering from a dual diagnosis so if you are in this category, it is crucial that you always take your medication regardless of whether you feel well. Psychological health conditions such as depression or anxiety disorders contribute to alcohol and drug abuse. Symptoms of such disorders can be controlled successfully with medication in most cases. The bad news is that these medications can be so effective that the symptoms can completely disappear sometimes and this could mislead the recovering addict into thinking he or she is cured. These kinds of mental illnesses do not have a cure and the only way to curb the symptoms is to regularly take the medication. Stopping the medication will cause the symptoms to reappear and trigger the same self-destructive behavior that led to the substance abuse in the first place.

Establish a Day-to Day Routine

If you want to live an alcohol and drug-free life, you will need to be practice and put in the necessary effort. An excellent way to set up a healthy structure similar to the one you had while in rehabilitation is to come up with a daily schedule supporting your new-found lifestyle. Ensure you write it somewhere you can see it. When you are planning the starting hours of your day, include a form of reflection prior to embarking on your day-to-day tasks to help you significantly. Ensure you also make some time for your meetings, daily walks, and physical activity. If you are finding it hard to remain organized and follow the schedule, consider installing a mobile app to remind you frequently of what you need to do.

Make Use of Your Willpower

Willpower is often viewed as a muscle that needs to be exercised everyday just as you would with any other muscle. You can train your willpower through taking small steps demonstrating that you are committed to remaining clean and sober.

Prioritize Sleep and Healthy Eating

Adequate sleep and healthy eating are crucial to any recovering addict. Sleep deprivation has been connected to several physical conditions including reduced productivity, foul moods, and reduced cognitive function. Ensure you have an established bedtime that you stick to and also make a habit out of preparing healthy meals to eat. You can try to learn some healthy new recipes by taking a cooking class or frequenting the local farmers market. Your diet will make a significant difference in your overall well being.

Concentrate on the Positive Things

Addiction thrives on all things negative as well as isolation since it is a disease. This is why it is essential that you mentally focus on the positive things always and concentrate on seeing the glass as half-full.

Be Patient

Transitioning to a life without alcohol and drug abuse after living with addiction is difficult, as we have established, therefore, it will not happen overnight. It will not happen in a week, a month, or even a year but every step you take towards bettering yourself is a start. One of addiction’s hallmarks includes instant gratification and impatience and making changes to your life will take some time so you need to practice patience. Try taking each day as it comes and living in the moment while keeping in mind that recovery is not a destination but a journey.

Living in the Moment

You cannot change your past and most addicts say that replaying negative events, going over past mistakes, or dwelling on the past often leads to negative thoughts that can gradually set you up for a relapse. It is best to remain in the present as much as you can and avoid ruminating over the past. Establish a strategy to help you deal with negative emotions, feelings, and thoughts whenever they come up.

Keep on with Individual Therapy

When talking about addiction recovery, individual therapy is a vital element of the process. Your therapist is there to advocate for your recovery and health openly while being a committed listener for all your issues. Most people think that talking about their problems with a good friend is as good as getting therapy. An experienced therapist is a professional in mental health that has undergone years of training to recognize all the signs of your struggle and help you establish your new life.

Engage in Group Meetings

One of the most ideal ways to make sure you do not relapse is to be fully participative in your 12-step meetings while sharing your recovery. The best way to keep you grateful for your earned sobriety and on your toes is to work with other addicts. These group meetings and 12-step meetings allow you to release all you problems by feeling free to share them in a supportive and caring environment.

In the event that you relapse, do not feel about it because many people who have completed their addiction treatment programs relapse. Get the help and be proactive about it by calling a professional, your sponsor, someone in your support network, or an addiction treatment specialist. This will help you get back on track with recovery as soon as possible.

What is an addiction? It is a condition in which a person engages in the use of a substance or behavior which provides an incentive to continuously repeat the behavior despite the end result being negative to the person. There are various forms of addiction and the list seems to grow with every passing day. Addiction can be psychological or even behavioral. The types range from drugs like cocaine and alcohol to behavior like stealing and gambling. They are majorly characterized by cravings, compulsions and even lifestyle dysfunction due to drug use. As much as they harm the user they have an overall negative effect on the surrounding people as well.

Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol is the most socially accepted drug in the world social Alcoholism is the oldest and most well-known form of addiction. Alcoholism is a very serious medical disease with signs and symptoms that vary with the level of consumption of the individual. Some of the physical signs of excessive alcohol consumption are; poor balance and clumsiness, slurred speech, redness of the face during or after periods of consumption among many others. It is possible for someone to reach a life-threatening level of intoxication/ alcohol poisoning where the person will stop breathing due to the respiratory system becoming depressed.

Effects of Alcohol

Progressive increase in the amount of alcohol consumed by the abuser often leads to more serious medical symptoms. The abuser often thrives and tries to maintain an environment where there is least or no regulation, hence, a higher chance of over-consumption. The over-consumption of alcohol has both short term and long term effects on the user.

Once consumed the first effects are relaxation and reduced inhibitions.They then progress to lowered concentration and reflex, all as a result of the slowing down of the brain activity. Some of the other effects include; slurring of speech, drowsiness, emotional changes, nausea and vomiting, loss of bladder and bowel control, temporary loss of consciousness and the occasional blackout where the user fails to remember the details of the time at which he/she was drinking.

The long-term consumption of alcohol in a non-regulated manner causes the death of brain cells that may lead to a lower level of mental function and increases the chances of acquiring a variety of medical disorders. For instance, it increases the risk of liver damage, cancer and even depression of the immune system. The overconsumption of alcohol may lead to pancreatitis, which is the inflammation of the pancreas and may cause nerve damage. In some advanced states, it leads to reduced sexual performance that may cause the victim to fall into depression as well.

Alcoholism

It is also referred to as alcohol dependence and occurs when the body cannot function without alcohol. It affects neurotransmitters such that the brain cannot send proper signals to the rest of the body without the presence of alcohol in the system. Scientists have not been able to determine the cause of alcoholism but have been able to find several factors that contribute to this state. The leading risk factors were found to be genetic predisposition, environment, and mental health.

Treatment for Alcoholism

The treatment of alcohol dependence is known as detoxification. If a user attempts to stop alcohol consumption without proper medical advice and supervision it may lead to a variety of complications. Some of these complications are; tremors or uncontrolled shaking of the hands, profuse sweating even in cool temperatures, extreme agitation, nausea, seizures, hallucinations and even persistent insomnia. After detoxification, inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation treatment and therapy are required to help patients cope and avoid future abuse. There are usually residential treatment programs that are available at rehab centers where patients can focus on recovery.

Nicotine Abuse

Nicotine addiction is associated mainly with tobacco products and is responsible for their addictive nature. It is usually a colorless or in some cases a type of yellow liquid. It is crucial to note that nicotine is both a stimulant and a sedative. As much as it causes a stimulating effect it also relaxes the body providing a certain state of euphoria which makes it addictive. The higher the concentrations of nicotine are the greater the sense of euphoria will be. It activates the part of the brain responsible for rewarding the body. This reward center provides the motivation that regular users feel to be a reward after the completion of a difficult task or tiresome day. Many users tend to think it relaxes them but in actual sense it makes them feel as if they are being rewarded by having that cigarette which leads to severe addiction.

According to a research done by CDC, it was found that 90% of cigarette smokers try their first smoke by the age of 18 and 99% by the age of 26. Nicotine at high doses is toxic and may interfere with the functioning of the nerves and skeletal muscle cells. It possesses mood altering capabilities giving the user a short-lived high. The rate of addiction depends on the method of use applied where smoking or vaping is the quickest forms. They take approximately ten seconds to get into the blood stream and the brain. When it reaches the brain it produces adrenaline immediately giving the body a pleasurable feeling of high. Sadly, it does not last long and cause the user to feel tired and down, wanting that sensational high again.

Nicotine Addiction

Nicotine has both physical and psychological forms of addiction. Every time a person smokes nicotine enters the brain and the receptors absorb the substance. After it has been absorbed dopamine is released, resulting in a feeling of happiness and calm. This is the starting point of the physical addiction and as the intake of nicotine progresses, so does the number of receptors in the brain. As the body gets accustomed to the constant flow of nicotine, symptoms such as anxiety begin to manifest when a smoke break is missed and this is where the physical addiction begins. The psychological form is where the user may find themselves eliciting a feeling of love, relaxation or peace if they are used to light up during certain situations or around a given group of people. The feeling may get engrained in a way that its use is no longer a conscious choice.

The human body naturally tolerates nicotine but as you continue to take it for a while the body requires a higher amount for it to get the same amount of high. This repeated cycle of craving leads to addiction. The use of nicotine causes a change in the amount of hormones produced in the body and once you stop consuming it the body has to readjust again. This causes a hormone imbalance and the state of the body is said to be in withdrawal. In order to try and break the addiction, there are several factors that must be taken into accounts such as the current state of mind, the build of the abuser and even the environment in which the user is.

Nicotine Effects

It affects many organs in the body the most crucial one being the heart. The body reacts to the introduction of the substance by increasing the heart rate. The heart needs to keep a certain rhythm to remain healthy but it becomes unhealthy when it increases yet you are inactive which is the case for most people when they smoke. This may cause heart problems such as cardiac infarction among other heart diseases. An increase in blood pressure is also common among nicotine users and may put the heart at risk. Nicotine also stimulates the respiratory and vascular system. A person craving nicotine may have irregular high breathing caused by anxiety and nervousness which may limit their physical abilities.

Treatment of Nicotine Addiction

Physical addiction can be treated using prescription medication and relaxation techniques which help ward off cravings. Mental addiction can be harder to shake as the user may not even realize why they are craving a cigarette. The user may find him /herself lighting one up without even realizing it. Counseling has been found to be highly effective as it helps the user talk through their feelings. It can also help work through tough and stressful situations in which they would normally turn to cigarettes. Nicotine replacement theory has also been found to be effective for heavy smokers who smoke who smoke about half a pack of cigarettes or more every day. This type of therapy provides products that give the user a low dose of nicotine to help reduce the craving and even ease the symptoms when the user stops. They come in various forms such as a skin patch, inhalers, nasal spray and even gum.

Heroin Abuse

Heroin, scientifically known as diacetylmorphine was first synthesized in 1874 in London. Heroin was initially used as a cough suppressant, anti diarrheal and even as a non-addictive substitute for morphine. However, later on, the addictive and harmful effects were realized. It is a powerful pain killer and is available by prescription in some countries such as the United Kingdom. It is also used for palliative care as well. In the Netherlands, it is prescribed for recovering addicts when methadone treatment has failed. Heroin can be taken into the body in various ways such as; injection, smoking, ingestion and even snort. Research shows that heroin euphoria is highest when injected and lowest when ingested. It has also been found that the faster it enters the bloodstream, the greater the chances of addiction, making injections the most addictive form of heroin use.

Heroin Effects

Heroin is a type of opioid hence once consumed it attaches itself to the opioid receptors of the brain. When the opioid receptors interact with the opioid drugs it leads to the activation of the brain’s reward system temporarily feeling the user with a sense of euphoria. The more it is ingested the body tends to build a tolerance and with time it grows into an addiction. The short-term effect may last a few hours after ingestion but the intensity and duration of the effects may vary. Some of the factors that may cause the variation are the method used and even the person using. Apart from the rush there are other short-term effects such as dry mouth, mental confusion, constricted pupils, nausea, vomiting, slowed heart rate, slowed breathing and even possible respiratory failure among others.

The long-term effects of prolonged heroin use may cause the user to develop some of the following conditions; neuronal and hormonal imbalance, abscesses, vomiting, insomnia, chills, collapsed veins, heart lining and valve infection, liver disease, brain white matter deterioration, decreased ability to respond to stressful situations and the user can also find him/ herself at a high risk of contracting HIV among other blood-borne pathogens

Heroin Recovery Steps

It all begins with a qualified medically assisted detoxification. Medically assisted detox practitioners use formulated therapies that mimic some of the effects of heroin and provide the recovering user with medication that replaces the feeling of being high with that of being healthy, focused and strong. Medication used in these detox programs are provided on a tapering schedule. This typically means that the user is provided with an equivalent amount of replacement medication and then slowly the medication is tapered until they are no longer taking replacement medication at all.

This means that it might take a while to reach sobriety. A study carried out on recovering heroin addicts showed that recovering addicts want to get sober as quick as possible and some tend to amend their medication dose to get sober faster. This meant that some were at high risk of relapse due to recurring cravings. Hence use of the medication properly with the guidance of a medical treatment team is a vital part of the recovery process. People in these programs have a lot of control and can tell their teams when the drugs seem to make them feel slow or sedated. They can point out signs of sedation indicating the drugs are too strong. After a successful detox, therapy is recommended which could be either group or private depending on the preference of the recovering user. Private therapy is usually a coaching session where they are given insight and personalized help that they may require to recover. Group therapy tends to tap into the human need to belong. In group sessions, they are enticed to share and connect among themselves free from any sort of judgment. It helps build confidence and helps them emerge feeling a lot less isolated.

Cocaine Abuse

Cocaine is a stimulant drug that is made from the leaves of the South American coca plant. It was originally used by the indigenous people in the Amazon rainforest to get an energetic high. European scientists first isolated cocaine from the coca leaves in the 1850s. Cocaine is now scientifically described as a drug whose function is to increase the availability of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is responsible for euphoric emotions as well as regulation of movement and the processing of reward cues. It is found to be suitable as a recreational drug due to it’s perceived positive effects on mood, motivation, and energy. The users of this drug consume it in various ways such as smoking, snorting or injecting it into their system. Users who use it recreationally also are at risk of neurological changes which are associated with the inability to control and regulate one,s behavior.

Cocaine Effects

The typical signs that can be used to identify a current user of this substance are; disinhibition, increased agitation, changes in concentration and focus, signs of involuntary movement, effusive enthusiasm and increased agitation among other symptoms. One of the more serious effects of cocaine is the damage it causes to the heart muscles. It is caused by inducing cell death in the muscles of the heart. Intravenous cocaine use may lead to the inflammation of the inner tissues of the organ. These among other cellular effects of cocaine may cumulate into serious conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias and heart attack both of which are very fatal. Cocaine-induced heart failure may result in brain damage or a stroke as a result of the interruption of blood flow to the brain. Long-term use of this substance leads to a deficit in cognitive performance, attention and decision-making abilities. Other harmful effects can be found to originate from bloodborne conditions such as HIV.

Cocaine Treatment and Recovery

There are various treatment options available for recovering users, which can actually be delivered on an inpatient or outpatient facility. An inpatient facility tends to accommodate the user for the duration of their therapy. The nature of the treatment may be behavioral and pharmacological. Behavioral therapy tends to address the reasons and motivations associated with a person’s substance abuse. Researchers have found the technique to be very effective, especially among recovering users and an example is the contingency management. During this treatment, the use of incentives is the basis on which the rehabilitation is carried out.

Pharmacological or drug-based therapy refers to the use of medications to treat the dependence by physiological means. In this type of treatment medications that mimic the substance of abuse is used at a reduced or different extent. Methylphenidate treatment is an emerging form of treatment which was initially prescribed for patients with ADHD, which is in some ways similar to cocaine in terms of neurological effects. The stimulant effects of the drug act on the brain for a longer time but elicit less extreme reactions compared to cocaine. The aim is to slowly remove the dependence over time. It is important to note that medically assisted treatment is program specific and not universally offered.

The Social Effects of Drug Abuse

Those people closest to individuals with drug addictions are the hardest hit during these situations. Patterns tend to emerge in families where a member is found to be an addict and is treated with a high level of criticism and negativism. In the case where the child is found to be the addict, the parents are mostly found to be in denial. In cases where the parent is the addict the child takes up the parental role and often functions in denial of the parent’s addiction. Researchers found that drug or alcohol abuse is responsible for more than 70% of all foster placements and up to 80% of child abuse and neglect cases as well.

Co-workers as well take on additional responsibilities at work to accommodate the decrease in productivity. The additional responsibility may be in the form of the extra long hours or overtime. A decrease in productivity with time may increase losses which in turn affect the business.

The effects of substance abuse in the society vary, but some of the most common effects are; increase in domestic disputes, increase in the rate of violent crimes, increased rate of homelessness and poverty, increased rate of co-occurring mental disorders, increase in the number of people who are incarcerated due to drug-related charges among many others.

The Social Responsibility of a Community Against Drug Abuse

The community as a whole needs to play an active role in streamlining and curbing the drug menace. The following are some of the ways that the society can help curb the drug menace; the society should ensure there is free treatment for drug abusers on demand and remove the barriers restricting treatment which is far less expensive than criminalization. Holding people responsible for crimes committed while under the influence of a substance should be strongly adhered to and the person held accountable for their own actions.
A research study was carried out and it was found that a large percentage of people who are arrested or forced to visit a rehabilitation center is not addicted, but only found in possession of the drug hence the centers tend to be filled with people who do not require the services offered at the facilities.

Most parents ignore the fact that their children are capable of abusing drugs or alcohol. Besides, parents contemplate that strict rules of no drugs or alcohol in the house can help in combating their usage by kids. Surprisingly, many kids discover substances and alcohol intake on their own, and far away from home.

Blunders Parents do in the Prevention of Child’s Drug Abuse

Even the parents who know the risks involved in drugs and alcohol abuse in children are not even certain on how they can combat abuse in their home. The following are some mistakes parents make, knowingly or unknowingly as they fight drug and alcohol abuse at home;

1. Not setting realistic anticipations on child drug abuse.

Often, parents and guardians underrate their ability to influence children on the abuse of drugs and alcohol. Researches state that kids whose parents do not give them stern warnings on the abuse of substances and alcohol, have a higher likelihood of abusing them than adolescents whose guardians and parents state clearly their displeasure.

In other studies, it is claimed that parents who practice strict parenting style, their children are more likely to abuse substances or alcohol than those who prevented drug intake through communication, understanding, and empathy for their kids. Communicating clearly and making children understand your stand lovingly is effective in preventing abuse of drugs and alcohol by children.

To prevent substance and drug abuse in children requires the parent or guardian involvement; one should be strict but not cruel. Also, one should use effective and the right communication skills when addressing the kids. You can practice right communication skills by;

• Letting the kids know that you anticipate them not to try drugs and alcohol.
• Not judging them and motivating to avoid drug and alcohol consumption. For example, do not tell the child that drugs and alcohol are used by hopeless or thugs. They may criticize your statement, and for those who have already consumed the drugs or alcohol, they will feel guilty, and guilty and they might not be free with you.
• Setting and following your boundaries as far as drug and alcohol use is concerned such as not driving when drunk or riding with persons who are intoxicated. Tell your children about your rules.
• Coming up with a plan with your kids so that they can call for help despite anything. They can give you a call any time of day or night to pick them than taking risks by driving when drunk or being driven by friends who have taken alcohol or drugs.

2. Failing to take the attempt of kids to try drugs or alcohol seriously.

Guardians and parents justify them believe that, children will try drugs and alcohol in any way, and that it is safer if the experimentation is done under parental directions at home, than trying at their own, and in the company of friends. Researchers state that it is a very dangerous mistake for parents and guardians to argue this way.

In a certain study, an addict who started abusing substances and alcohol while they were growing, claimed that their parents played a big role in influencing them to abuse drugs and alcohol. They turned a blind eye to his situation and assumed that it was normal and will vanish with time. If the community or the parents had intervened, he felt that he could not be in such a situation.

Some parents assume that their kid is bright and smart enough to attempt drug and alcohol use. Unluckily, however, the extent of smartness of your kid, it does not matter when it comes to substance or alcohol abuse. Most kids get into drugs due to peer pressure and lack of stern warnings on abuse of drugs and alcohol. Every kid no matter how smart they are they want to have friends and be popular in their school.

Irrespective of the factors that contribute to first attempt to consume drugs or alcohol, it is dangerous, and it can be a sure path to drug and alcohol addiction. Studies reveal that children who abused drugs while growing, tend to be addicts even when they grow up and quitting can be a great challenge.

Most parents and guardians think that it is normal for children to take alcohol or drugs at bashes. Surprisingly, some parents go to the extent of distributing the substances and alcohol in the parties, underestimating the power of their actions in influencing the children to abuse drugs and alcohol. Parents mistakenly suppose that by tasting, the kids cannot be addicted, and that experimentation will stop as the child grows.

However, teens can be tricked to eat drug-laced food at parties or in their friend’s house. It is the responsibility of a parent to assist children in avoiding such foods. In most cases, we warn our loved ones about spiked drinks, but we should also let them know of the possibility of drugs in the food.

Get to know whoever is hosting your kids for the party, ensure they know that your goal is drug-free life for your child. Tell your kid if they doubt, to avoid baked or candy food. Marijuana is commonly made in these forms. Be in the good knowledge of the friends attending the party. Let it be clear to your children that having fun is good, but they should be careful whom they hang out with it at the party and to take precautions.

3. Underrating the mental health problems associated with drugs and alcohol abuse.

Most parents lack knowledge on the mental health of kids. Most adolescents will abuse drugs or alcohol if they are undergoing serious mental health problems such as depression and stress. Children who are dealing with depression experience sadness, irritation, and hopelessness. They have high chances of abusing drugs or alcohol than those who are not depressed.

Also, teens who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) have five times more probability of abusing substances than those with no history of mental illness. On time and proper evaluation of kids suffering from mental health problems can help in preventing drug and alcohol abuse among-st kids.

Learn to discover symptoms of depression, PTSD, anxiety, and other issues related to the mental health of the child. It can help in noting when your child needs medical support to prevent them from turning into drugs to help them calm the symptoms. Consider your family history as it can also contribute to drug and alcohol abuse in the child. Genes play a great role in brain development.

4. Failing to notice the behavioral change in your child.

Most parents ignore signs of mental health issues in children. A child who is suffering from stress or depression will not be free to open, and thus they take drugs and alcohol to help them avoid reality. Children abusing drugs can be secretive, and as a parent, you might knowingly or unknowingly ignore the signs. The following are some alerts that a child is abusing drugs or alcohol;

• Change of friends

A kid will stop hanging out with his or her old friends and gets new ones. They will not want you to know the new friends and when or where they meet. Also, they will no longer be spending time with age mates but older ones. Take note of the new friends, if they are always causing tantrums or are rebellious, that is a clear sign they are under the influence of something.

Teenagers who are under the influence tend to enjoy being alone and can do anything to keep family members from their rooms.

• Appearance

Children who have started consuming substances or alcohol, change their looks or appearance. Adolescents are always very keen on how they look. A kid who was ever well-groomed will gradually start to stop taking a shower, wearing clean ironed clothes, or brush their teeth. Also, they might change their wardrobe and start putting on strange clothes, jewelry and draw tattoos.

Your princess was a good friend of the mirror and would never step outside the house with uncombed hair or makeup, and instantly stops caring how they look, is a stern warning that they might be using a drug.

• Undergoing Problems at school or college

Poor performance and indiscipline cases at school start occurring and this was not the norm. They have hit a kid or talked ill of a teacher or a classmate, do not take it lightly or ignore it as a common misunderstanding.
A child will start to forget to do their home assignments and thus drop their grades. The school will no longer be interesting, and they will start missing lectures or skip to go to school. Also, activities in school which were fun to them will no longer be fun anymore such as games or music activities.

• Physical change

A child who has started taking drugs will change even in her or his body. They will no longer be energetic or inspired as they were and will be lazy. Their eyes look red and they might have red patches on their skin, this can be due to consumption of alcohol. Also, red eyes and constricted pupils can be a result of marijuana intake.
You will notice that they have unusual burns around the mouth and fingers, it is a sign that they are smoking heroin via a metal or glass tubes. Kids who have started abusing cocaine will develop serious nose bleeding and chronic headaches.

• Money issues

Drugs and alcohol are expensive, and a kid will require money to buy them. Due to this, they will start requesting money from you for no valid reason. If you notice that money is missing from your wallet or handbag, do not ignore. Follow up and get to know where it has disappeared to, you could be the one financing the kid in abusing substances and alcohol. Also, some notorious children will steal home items to exchange for drugs or sell them to get money to buy drugs or alcohol.

• Lack of interest in hobbies

Children who have begun to consume drugs will lose interest in things they used to enjoy doing like swimming, playing soccer or watching movies. They will no longer put their attention on them as it is diverted to drugs. If your child is abusing drugs, they might have emotional outbursts and start picking arguments with everybody including you.

• Change in eating and sleeping patterns

Children have specific times when they take their meals, when they go to bed, and when they wake up. Most kids tend to be very active during the day. If the child has started using drugs, they will want to sleep during the day and spent their nights awake. Depending on the substances they are consuming, some may lose appetite for no good reason, while others will overfeed or eat at small intervals.

• Strange and specific smells

You will discover that there is a change in the way your kid smells. If you notice the smell of marijuana, cocaine, cigarettes or alcohol on the breath of the child, it is a clear symptom that they are using those substances, in any way, where could be the odor be emanating from in their room. Also, you may observe the scents on their clothes, bedroom or in your car after riding with them.

• Drug paraphernalia

Kids are sometimes forgetful, and they might forget to clear the packages of the substances from the room, or even in your car. However, many parents are not aware of paraphernalia. Although each drug has specific items associated with them, you may notice strange items in his or her bedroom.

For a child who is using marijuana, you might find rolling papers, metal or wooden tubes, cigars which they use to fill the drug to form a blunt, bongs which are used to filter marijuana, and E-cigarettes for smoking the drug concentration. Heroine is normally in liquid form, and hence you may notice pipes, needles and small spoons in the room.

Children who use inhalants might be in possession of rags that they use for sniffing, balloons, tubes made of glue, and nozzles. However, they do everything to retain a fresh breath by using mouthwash, mints or breathe sprays. To avoid having red eyes, they will use eye drops, so if you notice any of those items in their room, talk to them and inquire on their knowledge on drug and alcohol consumption.

Kids purchase paraphernalia from the internet, tobacco shops, gas points, or they might be given by their peers as gifts. Note that it is against the law to sell drug paraphernalia, or to import and export them.

Protecting Children from Buying Drugs Online

In the past years, children could only get drugs from their classmates, friends at a bash or from a medicine cabinet. Unfortunately, kids can now easily access substances from the internet. It can be challenging to know whether your child is buying drugs from the internet as they use “dark web,” and use bitcoin to pay.

Check out what they search on the internet from the browser, in phones or computers. Look for “how to buy…” kind of searches. Be close with them and inform them all the consequences of drugs consumption. If you suspect any search, inform them your worries in a good way, making sure they will not feel like you are spying on them, which you are ideally doing.

Be vigilant on anything that is delivered in packages. Drugs are always brought in unmarked inconspicuous packages. If your child is getting packages you did not anticipate, inquire about it or insist on being there as they open the package.

5. Accusing yourself

After noticing that their children are abusing drugs and alcohol, most parents blame themselves, which is a normal response but of no help in such a situation. Do not concentrate on what you suspected, or you did not know. Save that time and energy for assisting your kid instead. Accept that what happened in the past can’t be altered, but you take full control of the future of your child.

Setting a good example for your children is a good parental tool. Avoid using drugs or alcohol when with the children. If you use drugs or alcohol, do not keep them at home. It helps addicted children to gain sobriety and in their recovery process. Try talking to your kid, and they might be honest and open to you about their journey to drug addiction.

Avoid getting irritated if they fail to tell you anything about their drug abuse. Most kids do not know how or even when they started using the substances. The questions may only make them defensive. Do not put blames on their friend’s or any relative and be calm; time will heal everything. Assure the kid your support and concern. Tell them that they can talk to you about anything anytime.

Realizing that your child is a drug addict can be hard and the period of helping them recover can be challenging. Take care of your body and thoughts. If you are down emotionally and physically, you may lack the motivation and energy to take care of your child. Get good sleep and eat normally. Ask support from your close friends or relatives to help in taking care of the child, for you to get time to relax.

You can also get some therapies to help you manage stress and seek advice from parents who have undergone the same experience.

6. Not Seeking Help Immediately

It is very scary and demoralizing to discover that your child is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Many children tend to be defensive and deny their drug abuse habits. Some even get angry, and thus many parents and guardians back-off. Some think that they are taking the issue to serious, and that the child will stop on their own.

It is very wrong to compare situations; some parents claim that they or relatives used drugs at such age and they stopped on their own and that the kids can too. It is not only illegal for teenagers to use drugs and alcohol, but also it has detrimental effects on their health. Some parents vacillate to seek help in rehabs as they believe that their children will stay far from them for months and the child might think that it is a punishment.
But, the period that one spends in rehab depends on many factors such as the drug one is addicted to, how long and even their choice.

Treatment Plans for Drug Addiction

Seeking medical support can be very helpful to you and your kid. The following are some options you can choose from;

a) Counselling – You can ask for help from professional counselors to talk to your child. It can be daily or weekly.

b) Detoxification – this is a process of removing drugs and alcohol from the body. One can detox at home, though it can be painful and cause withdrawal symptoms. Ask for guidance from a medic if you want your kids to stop using substances, instantly stopping consuming drugs that you have been dependent on can be painful and the side effects can be more damaging.

c) Outpatient treatment program – these are normally done after school. The child visits the center to get advice or some medications. It can be for 5 or fewer hours and may include parents.

d) Inpatient program – it is the most effective program for children who have been using drugs or alcohol for a period. It lasts one month to three months, and the child receives 24/7 medical care.

Conclusion

Adolescents want to discover everything about themselves as they grow. Mostly children get into drugs and alcohol to prevent boredom and make them feel good. Kids sometimes have problems such as not being able to perform well in school or low self-esteem. They turn to drugs to help them avoid reality and forget their problems. At times, a child will use drugs as a show to their peer that they are fully independent.

To prevent your kids from getting into drugs, set a good example and talk to them regularly about drugs and alcohol. Be cautious with the place you live, in most cases, kids learn about drugs use from neighbors or friends. Consumption of drugs and alcohol can affect the mental health of a child.