Screening and early intervention are the most crucial steps in preventing addiction and substance abuse. If you’re already into it, then options like alcoholism treatment and alcohol detox are available for your help. The best way to prevent an addiction to a drug or alcohol is to avoid their use at all. But that’s easier said than done. Many people begin using drugs and alcohol from a young age and are too immature to realize the damaging impact addiction will have on their lives. The foremost step to prevent addiction is to recognize it and then work on it. Follow these steps to prevent developing an addiction:
1. Understand How Alcohol and Drug Addiction Develops: Alcohol and drug addiction starts by • Using drugs which have a potential to cause addiction (illicit or prescribed) for recreational purposes
• Misusing an addictive prescription medication
• Using a medication for seeking out intoxication
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2. If you’re engaged in drug or alcohol abuse, seek help immediately: People often confuse alcohol and drug abuse with alcohol and drug addiction. Drug or alcohol abuse is considered to be a situation wherein a person uses it heavily and can abruptly stop whereas, addiction is when the body requires the alcohol or drugs to stop withdrawal symptoms. The line between abuse and addiction is not solidly defined because a person may be abusing alcohol and drugs and experiencing the negative consequences of addiction. 3. Communicate: If you’re a teen, seek out for help. Communicate about any such thing with your dear ones. 4. Avoid Temptations and Peer Pressure: You may have heard the expression, “You’re only as good as the company you keep,” and in reality, that statement is true. If you have friends or family members who pressurize you to use alcohol or drugs, avoid them. Make new friends who practice healthier habits, who do well in school, who are motivated at work and who have goals. 5. Develop goals and dreams for yourself: Remember, alcohol or drug use can turn to addiction with the blink of an eye. While in active addiction, the only goal possible is to get drugs or alcohol to feed the addiction, you should try to divert your focus towards something constructive. Set big goals for yourself. Even if you fail and feel disheartened, do not choose to walk the path of drugs and alcohol for coping up. Preventing a relapse: Once you’ve been addicted to a drug or alcohol, you have higher chances of falling back into a pattern of addiction. If you do start using a drug or alcohol, it’s likely for you to lose control over its use again, even if you’ve had a drug and alcoholism treatment and you haven’t used the drug for some time. • Stick with your treatment plan: Keep an eye on your cravings. You may feel like you’ve recovered and don’t need to follow your treatment plan to stay drug-free. But your chances of staying drug-free will be much higher if you continue seeing your counselor, going to support group meetings and taking prescribed medication.
• Avoid high-risk situations: Don’t go back to the places (such as parties) where you used to get your drugs and alcohol. Surround yourself with good people and stay away from your old drug crowd.
• Get help immediately if you use the drug again: If you start using the drug again, seek help from your doctor, your mental health provider or someone else who can help you immediately.
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Advice for parents: It’s your responsibility to educate your child about the risks of alcohol and drug use and abuse. If you discover your child getting addicted to alcohol or drugs, communicate with him or her. Listen when your children talk about peer pressure, and be supportive of their efforts to resist it. Set a good example by not using drug or alcohol. Children of parents who abuse drugs are at greater risk of drug addiction. Strengthen your bond with your children. A strong, stable bond between you and your child will reduce your child’s risk of using or abusing drugs. Conclusion: This information can help you prevent drug addiction. There are various alcohol addiction treatments and alcohol detox to help you with your addiction. Family-based drug or alcohol prevention plans are also highly effective at helping children avoid the temptations of drugs or alcohol.
