How to Avoid and Quit Drugs

Understand why people take drugs. Self-medication can lead people to become addicted to drugs. Since then they are stuck in a vicious cycle of addiction due to withdrawal symptoms. To get off drugs, the first step you need to take is to deal with your physical symptoms through medical facilities. There you can participate in programs that help treat withdrawal symptoms (sometimes life-threatening), followed by dealing with the emotional problems that led you to drugs. to hide emotional pain. ^[25]

• Drug users are not “evil” or “immoral” people.
• Addicted people often simply cannot “get off drugs”. Drug addictions take a toll on your brain, making it hard to give up—though not impossible.

Identify triggers. If you have used drugs in the past, be aware of the triggers that stimulated you to use drugs. These triggers can include drugs, a group of friends, a certain place, or even a song you heard while using drugs. ^[26]

• Eliminate any triggers that might incite you to use drugs. Delete that song in the player, throw away the paper tubes used for smoking. You will be less likely to be tempted by drugs again if the triggers are permanently removed.
• You may also need to avoid going to places where you have been to and using drugs. This can be difficult, but it will help you stop drug use.

Join a family or community-based recovery support system. Support is not only the key to staying away from drugs, but also getting out of it. A support group can help if you’re struggling to live a drug-free life.

• To find a support group, you can talk to your doctor, counselor, find a list of support groups in your phone book, visit your local religious or addiction support organization. or national. ^[27] .

Try the “passing desire” method. This is a mindfulness exercise that helps you feel and “shoo away” the craving until it disappears. Imagine you are a surfer surfing through a wave of lust until it breaks into small, gentle and easy-to-handle pieces. ^[28] “desire surfing” technique proved to be more effective than trying to ignore or suppress cravings. ^[29]

• Tell yourself that this is probably not the first time you have experienced the urge to use drugs. Has that craving ever happened before? The answer is almost certainly “yes”. Remind yourself that this time it too will pass. The urge is there, but you don’t have to follow it. ^[30]
• Pay attention to your thoughts and senses as you experience that craving. For example, you may feel a strong urge to take drugs. You may sweat, itch, or feel restless. Note those feelings. Tell yourself that they are just thoughts, that they have no real power over you. ^[31]
• Focus on taking deep breaths while you are “passing through desire.” Breathe slowly and evenly. This move helps you focus on the present moment instead of paying attention to cravings.

Tell yourself to wait 10 minutes. If the urge to smoke is intense, delay it by making an appointment with yourself to wait for 10 minutes. Just 10 minutes, no more. You can do it. When the 10 minutes are up and the craving is still there, you tell yourself to wait another 10 minutes. Continue procrastinating until the craving passes. The craving will pass if you have enough time. ^[32]

Healthy eating. Our mind and body have a very subtle relationship, because the mind includes the complex activities of the brain, which is a biological organ and part of the body. This means that physical health and mental health are interrelated. Poor mental health is tied to substance use, and physical health is tied to mental health, so maintaining a healthy body plays an important role in quitting. prefer. And one way to maintain good health is to eat healthy foods. ^[33]

• Eat whole foods like lean meats, nuts, fruits and vegetables. Maybe you’ll discover your passion for cooking, which you can build on your self-esteem and turn it into a hobby to help you quit drugs. ^[34]

Do exercise. Exercise can release endorphins that make you feel good in a much healthier way than using stimulants. Exercise helps reduce stress, even cures mild cases of depression. Stress and depression increase the risk of drug use, so it is important to exercise regularly to stay away from drugs. ^[35]

Avoid taking too much caffeine. Too much caffeine can make you jittery and nervous, increase stress levels, and you’re more likely to turn to other stimulants to deal with the thrills caused by caffeine. ^{[36] [37]}

Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can contribute to worsening mental health due to feelings of fatigue, sadness and anxiety, all of which can increase the likelihood of using drugs to avoid feelings of unhappiness. ^[38]

Relax your body and mind. Practice relaxation techniques to maintain physical and mental health. Relaxation methods can help reduce stress caused by negative feelings, such as tension in the muscles. ^[39] Stress is a common reason people resort to drugs, so managing stress will help you stay out of drugs. ^[40]

• Use visualization. This method focuses on visualizing peaceful and relaxing images. For example, you can picture in your mind a calm seascape and try to visualize it with all your senses; imagine the smell of the sea, feel the breeze and sunlight on your skin, immerse yourself completely in the scenery. ^[41]
• Try exercises like yoga or tai chi.

Practice meditation. Meditation can be a magical stress management tool, helping to focus on breathing and body awareness. Practice meditation to calm yourself down when you’re dealing with cravings for alcohol or drugs. ^[42] People who practice meditation have a high rate of success in staying away from drugs in the long run. ^[43]

• Find a comfortable and quiet place to sit for about 10-15 minutes.
• Focus on your breath, inhaling deeply and evenly.
• Every time thoughts cross your mind, let them pass without judgment. Return to focusing on the breath.

Try dynamic relaxation exercises, stretching – stretching. Through this exercise, you will find out the difference between the feeling of tension and slack in the muscles. You will focus on slowly tensing and relaxing each muscle group. This exercise helps you to feel the difference between stress and relaxation, freeing your mind from stressful thoughts. ^[44]

• Start with the toes. Squeeze your toes for 5 seconds, then relax for 5 seconds. Notice the feeling of relaxation. Work your way up your calves, thighs, buttocks, abs, shoulders, arms, neck and face. ^[45]

Find advice. People recovering from addiction need guidance and treatment. Counseling can provide you with the support you need to resist the temptation of drugs when trying to quit or recovering from addiction. ^[46]

• Behavioral treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy are effective in helping drug addicts control their urges and stop using drugs.
• Family therapy can also be helpful, especially when family problems contributed to your addiction to drugs.
• Preventive control therapy, which uses positive reinforcement to help keep you away from drugs.

Consider going to a rehab facility. Outpatient and inpatient detoxification both have advantages and disadvantages. Inpatient rehab facilities have close monitoring, eliminate any possibility of drug use, and detoxification is fairly quick. However, these facilities are quite expensive and limit your other activities, such as employment. Outpatient detox programs are less expensive and have less of an impact on your daily life. However, this method may not be as effective, because you still have access to the stimulant outside. This treatment has the advantage of not disturbing the patient’s life and being less expensive. Which option is best depends on many factors, including the type of stimulant used, the amount and duration of substance abuse, the patient’s age, comorbidities, and/or condition. mental health of the patient, and a number of other factors. ^[47]

• You can find rehab centers on the internet.
• People with serious substance use problems, a long history of substance abuse, involvement in illegal activities, or social problems due to drugs will often receive help. assisted by inpatient treatment in drug rehab facilities. ^[48]