Many drug addicts believe they can stop using any time they want to. They feel like they are in complete control over their drug use and their lives. The truth is that once you become addicted to a drug, it alters your brain. This change in the brain causes you to think and behave differently than you did before becoming an addict, and the result is that quitting drugs becomes increasingly difficult.
“The truth is that once you become addicted to a drug, it alters your brain.”
The problem of drug use is widespread in America. According to the 2010 Household Survey on Drug Abuse, an estimated 22.8 million Americans used illicit drugs in the month preceding their involvement in the survey. The same survey also reports that 4.1 million people received treatment for their addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Steps to Stop Doing Drugs
No matter how you choose to get well, there are steps you must take to be able to defeat your addiction. Some of these steps are:
- Admit you are not in control.
- Find a treatment program.
- Follow medical advice.
- Commit to a treatment regime.
- Look to family and friends for support.
In some cases other actions may be necessary, but these steps will give you a good, basic plan of action on how to stop doing drugs.
If you need more information on how to stop doing drugs, or you would like to talk to someone about addiction treatment options, please call today.
Different Health Insurance Providers and Coverage Levels
Learn more about insurance companies and coverage levels for rehab treatments for drug or alcohol addiction.
Factoid:
Illicit drug use costs the economy an estimated $181 million per year.
Admit You Are Not in Control
The most important step in breaking a drug abuse is admitting you aren’t in control of it. As you become addicted to a drug, your body becomes used to its presence. Eventually, your body requires the presence of the drug to function normally. Once you are ready to stop using drugs, you must admit that you can’t control your dependency and seek the help of others. You must have an open mind and a willingness to follow the advice that others give you.
Factoid:
An estimated 37,485 people died from a overdose or symptoms of long-term drug use in 2009.
Find a Treatment Program
After you decide to seek help, you must find a rehab program. Addiction often occurs in people with a mental disorder such as depression. However, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, only 7.4 percent of people with both a mental disorder and an addiction get treatment for both, and 55.8 percent receive no treatment for either condition. If you have a mental disorder and an addiction, it is important to find a treatment facility that can treat both conditions.
There are other considerations when choosing the right treatment for you. Some treatment programs cater to abusers of specific drugs, and others might focus on specific age groups, genders, or ethnicities. It is important to find somewhere that you feel comfortable and think you have the best chance to get better.
If you need help finding the right treatment program for you or would like more information how to stop doing drugs, please call today.
Follow Medical Advice for Detox and Withdrawal
When you decide to quit drugs, you must remove all the chemicals from the drug that are present in your body through a process called detox. Drug treatment centers offer medical expertise that will make this process go as smoothly as possible. They will offer you the nutritious meals, medication and rest that are required to get off the drug in a healthy way. Following your doctor’s instructions during and after detox helps get your body off to the right start when you are quitting drugs.
Factoid:
In 2009, around 4.5 million emergency room visits were related to drug use.
Commit to a Treatment Program
“Finding a program that fits your needs will decrease chances of relapse.”
No matter what program you choose, it is important to fully commit to it. Twelve-step programs and group therapy are popular options. Whatever you choose, it is important you find something that works for you. If you are religious, there are faith-based treatment programs that may work for you. There are programs like Narcotics Anonymous that offer support for people addicted to a certain type of drug. Finding a program that fits your needs will decrease chances of relapse.
If you would like more information to drug treatment programs or other information on how to stop doing drugs, call today.
Look to Family and Friends for Support
Family and friends can provide a lot of support for recovering addicts. Asking your family to come to treatment or counseling sessions can help them learn more about your addiction and how to help you overcome it. The more your family is involved in your treatment, the more supportive they will be when you need them later on.
If you would like more information on how to stop doing drugs, call .
