How to quit hard drugs for life What are the benefits of quitting drugs? If you want to stop using drugs, it’s never too late.
Many aspects of your life can be improved by reducing or eliminating your drug use. It has the ability to:
Improvements in your physical and emotional well-being can help you live longer, healthier lives. They can also help you reconnect with your emotions, which can help you sleep better and look better. They can also help you conserve your finances.
Recovered addicts report that they have never felt better after stopping drugs, albeit it may take some time for this to happen. Knowing why you want to stop using drugs will assist you in remaining motivated throughout the withdrawal period.
What it’s like to be clean after quitting drugs
As a result of reducing or discontinuing drug use, your body goes through a detoxification process (also known as withdrawal).
Symptoms differ from person to person and from drug to drug, and they can range from minor to severe. Depending on the individual, they can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, but they are only there for a short time. Cravings for the substance will vary in intensity from time to time, sometimes being mild and other times being extremely powerful. It is critical to understand how to deal with them if you want to remain drug-free.
How to quit hard drugs for life
Learn about the withdrawal symptoms associated with particular medicines.
Getting Ready to Quit Drugs
It might be difficult to reduce or stop using drugs if you have become reliant or addicted to them. It’s a good idea to be mentally prepared for what’s going to happen next.
Acknowledge that you have an issue.
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Admitting that you have a problem with drugs is the first step toward recovery from addiction. Ask yourself these questions if you’re not sure what you should do:
Taking medicines first thing in the morning or to get through the day is something you should consider.
Do your friends and family members express concern or dissatisfaction with your drug use?
Do you tell the truth about how much you’re consuming?
Have you pawned your belongings or stolen money to fund your drug addiction?
Is it true that you’ve engaged in harmful or risky activities such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, having sex without protection, or using unclean needles?
Do you get the impression that you’ve lost control over your drug use?
Are you experiencing difficulties in your relationships?
Answering yes to any of these questions may indicate that you need to acknowledge that you have a problem and get assistance.
Consult your specialist alcohol and other drugs service or your primary care physician.
You should consult with your specialist alcohol and other drugs (AOD) service or your doctor before reducing or discontinuing your drug use completely. They can assist you in obtaining suitable assistance and support.
It takes a lot of courage for someone to accept that they may have a drug or alcohol addiction problem. Recognition that you may be experiencing a problem and seeking assistance is a vital first step in making a change.
You may get free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment options by calling the Alcohol and Other Drug Helpline on 1800 250 015 during business hours. It will connect you to the Alcohol and Drug Information Service in your state or territory. These local alcohol and other drug telephone services provide support, information, counseling, and referrals to treatment and recovery resources in the community. You can also get treatment directly from a specialised alcohol and other drugs service or a doctor.
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If you’ve been addicted or reliant on drugs, it’s possible that quitting on your own will be dangerous. In order to assist you handle withdrawal symptoms, your AOD expert or doctor may refer you to treatment options such as detoxification, medication, and counseling.
Keep in mind that any discussions you have with these services are strictly private and confidential.
Recognize your own personal triggers.
You can identify habits, emotions, and social settings that trigger the desire to use drugs by keeping track of your drug consumption.
However, there are actions you can do to avoid all of those circumstances. These are some examples of such steps:
by staying away from situations where you know drugs and alcohol will be available, surrounding yourself with friends who do not use drugs, learning how to resist temptation, and learning how to cope with stress and relax without the use of substances
using activities such as exercise or listening to music to divert your attention away from yourself
Make a strategy.
Making a strategy and putting it in writing can help you stay committed to your decision to quit.
In order to stay motivated and to make the healing process less stressful, it is beneficial to set recovery objectives. It’s critical to create realistic goals for yourself, both in the short and long term. Make your objectives explicit and quantifiable.
Some examples of reasonable, short-term objectives are as follows:
This week, I’ll be seeing my doctor.
This week, I’m going to go for a half-hour walk three times a week.
I’d like to be drug-free for a period of two weeks. How to quit hard drugs for life
The following are examples of long-term objectives:
being drug-free for a period of time
Having friends who are healthy and sober, and who are willing to lend a hand in mending family bonds through frequent get-togethers, can be quite beneficial.
Treat yourself well when you achieve achievement – by engaging in a pleasurable, drug-free activity such as going to a movie or making travel arrangements – and be gentle with yourself when you fail.
It is acceptable to fail, as long as you do not give up trying.
Ways to cut or quit drugs
There is no single treatment that is effective for everyone. Treatment must be tailored to each individual, just as medications impact each person differently. You must pick a program that is effective for your needs and circumstances.
A variety of treatment alternatives, ranging from counseling to in-patient hospitalization, are available depending on the drugs involved and the severity of your dependence or addiction. They are as follows:
counseling and lifestyle adjustments – individual or group therapy can assist you in learning to cope without the need of drugs. going cold turkey – you stop taking medications abruptly, with no outside assistance or support If your drug use has been minimal, this may be a viable option. Peer support meetings are frequently hosted by addicts who have recovered from their addiction — their personal experience can be beneficial to others.
Rehab is a longer-term treatment that involves staying in a hospital or clinic, or at home, while your body clears the drug from your system. Detoxification is a short-term treatment that involves stopping taking drugs and receiving medical treatment (known as pharmacotherapy) while your body clears the drug from your system. It may also include psychiatric counseling to assist you in dealing with issues that may have contributed to your drug usage in the first place.
It will be necessary to address your mental health difficulties at the same time as your physical health concerns if you are to have a successful outcome from your total treatment.
Services to assist you
Quitting drugs on your own is challenging; however, with support, it becomes much simpler. Inform your friends and family members of your decision to quit so that they can assist you.
To assist you, there are numerous support services that are readily available. You can do the following:
contacting the National Hotline for Alcohol and Other Drugs
Join a support group, such as Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous, or find a support service in our list of contacts. Visit Counselling Online and email or chat with a counsellor. Visit the Alcohol and Drug Foundation website for help and support services.
Quitting hard drugs
Remember that your AOD specialist or doctor can also point you in the direction of support services that are suited for your situation and need.
What happens if I have a relapse?
If you experience a relapse and begin using again, keep in mind that recovery does not occur overnight. Allow yourself to reflect on why you are stopping, to forgive yourself, and to recommit yourself to your strategy.
Consult with your physician. They can figure out how to resume treatment in the most effective manner, or they can propose an alternative sort of treatment.
When you’ve gotten back on track, take the following lessons from what happened:
What was the catalyst for the relapse?
What exactly went wrong?
What do you think you could have done differently?
On the website of the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, you may learn more about coping with a relapse.
A relapse has the potential to be fatal!
When you stop taking a medication for which you have established a tolerance over time, your tolerance levels decrease. Overdosing on the substance is very easy to accomplish when one has a relapse and uses the same amount as one did before quitting the medication. How to quit hard drugs for life
If you or someone you know is in imminent danger of overdosing, dial 000 immediately and request an ambulance to be dispatched.
Providing assistance to someone who wants to quit drugs ,——How to quit hard drugs for life
It’s difficult to watch someone you care about do drugs while you’re there. Their behavior can be unpredictable, and communicating with them about their situation can be difficult.
Here are some suggestions on how you might contribute:
Understanding how drugs work will assist you in comprehending why stopping can be difficult to do.
Express your concern without passing judgment; remaining calm and respectful may encourage them to be honest and forthcoming with you.
Be pleasant and encouraging rather than negative and nagging – remember that relapses may occur, but that this does not rule out the possibility of the person trying again and succeeding.
Practical assistance – often just being there is enough, but you may offer to accompany them to parties or join them for a walk or a run as well.
On the website of the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, you can get additional information on how to assist someone in quitting drugs.
Is addiction an inherited condition?
Genetics, according to research, certainly play a role in whether or not someone is prone to become an addict, but it is not the only aspect to consider. Other elements to consider are: a person’s:
Growing up in an atmosphere where drugs are more readily available, for example, is a risk factor.
temperament – for example, being more sensitive to stress or more impulsive are both examples of temperament.
The function of genes in drug addiction is still being researched by scientists in order to discover novel approaches to preventing and treating the condition. How to quit hard drugs for life