Many people view drug addiction as a weakness, a sign that an individual has serious character flaws. However, addiction is a disease that requires something more than willpower to overcome. Drugs change your brain chemistry, causing such intense cravings that it can seem impossible to come up with a plan on how to stop drug abuse and take back control of your life. Remember, nothing is impossible. It’s important that you look beyond the seemingly hopeless of your current situation and take steps to get help, no matter if it’s your first time trying to quit or the 100th.
Accept You Have a Problem
The first stop toward figuring out how to stop drug abuse is facing your current reality. It’s not just a social thing or merely a way to get some relief from stress. You must acknowledge the fact that there is a serious problem. No amount of rehab or legal consequences will make a difference until you make that active choice.
It’s easy to come up with reasons not to seek treatment. If you have a prescription drug addiction, you may wonder how you’re supposed to go about treating your pain issues without drugs. Those who abuse other drugs may panic at the idea of going through life sober. Your social group may be made up of people who abuse drugs. What happens when you get clean, but your friends continue using? Who are you supposed to spend your time with?
Being conflicted about receiving treatment is normal. Taking the following steps help you beat back the compulsion to keep going on your current path.
- Track your drug abuse — Look into how often you use drugs each day. You’ll realize how much money and time you’re throwing away supporting your addiction.
- Look at the pros and cons — Create a list of the positive and negative impacts drug abuse has on your life.
- Think about what’s important — Consider how your drug abuse affects people in your life like a partner or family. How has your drug abuse impacted those relationships? What about your career or education goals? Think about how drug abuse may have thrown you off-track.
Look Into Treatment Options on How to Stop Drug Abuse
Explore different treatment options that best suit your current situation. If you’re deep in the throes of an addiction with no viable support network, residential treatment may be your best option. It removes you from your current situation and allows you to focus solely on recovery without outside distractions. You should take the time to work with therapists and others to come up with a plan for living life post-recovery.
If you’ve got a strong support network at home, you could consider partial hospitalization. Atlantic Recovery Center’s program allows clients to receive treatment during the day, then go home at night. They receive access to the same therapies and programs available to those in residential treatment.
Atlantic Recovery Center also offers intensive outpatient treatment for those looking for other options on how to stop drug abuse. You attend sessions each week for help with your addiction issues while still having the ability to go to school or work.
Establish a Support Network for Your Recovery
Completing treatment is just one step on the road to achieving recovery. One way to improve your odds of success as you map out your path on how to stop drug abuse is entering rehab aftercare. Atlantic Recovery Center’s aftercare program supports clients as they rebuild their lives in the outside world.
Our team points clients towards programs like 12-steps or other support groups. Connecting with individuals in these programs helps clients create a strong network to lean on when they struggle to stay sober. Taking part in an aftercare program helps you keep busy, which means less downtime to contemplate a relapse.
Let Atlantic Recovery Center Help You Stop Abusing Drugs
If you’re ready and willing to find a way on how to stop drug abuse, call Atlantic Recovery Center at 1-866-824-5193. Learn more about the benefits of our programs and therapies in helping clients achieve lasting sobriety.