Recovering from substance abuse is very hard. For many people, it can be a lifelong journey. This is why the prevention of substance abuse is essential. If you could stop substance abuse from ever happening, it would change the world. Although there is not one specific way to do this, there are some common ways to attempt to start.
Prevention for Substance Abuse Starts with Paying Attention
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Risk of substance abuse increases during times of transition. This might be for a child or teen during moments of stress in school. It could be when moving, going to a new school, or going through a divorce. Although not exactly the same for an adult, it could be when you lose your job, you move, or go through your own divorce. Essentially, these are all times of stress.
Prevention for substance abuse in your friends or other people that you know starts with paying attention. Especially when they are going through hard times. Be willing to listen to them without any judgment, and then remember that sometimes people need support and acceptance. When it comes to yourself, you can notice when you are going through tough times. Get into a therapy program before substance abuse starts. It is only after it starts that you will need to take a different approach.
Prevention for Substance Abuse Starts With a Schedule
Having a healthy and fulfilling schedule is a great way to push back against substance abuse. Even if you are already in recovery. Having a schedule is great. You can focus on spending time with friends and family or make sure you have work and school laid out. You want to spend your time doing positive and, constructive activities. Sports are also great to help keep your focus and maintain a good support system for the prevention of substance abuse.
Despite this, you need to keep your life in a positive and fun state. You shouldn’t only throw yourself into work in order to facilitate the prevention for substance abuse. All you need to do is focus on sober fun with good people.
Recognize Signs of a Problem as Prevention for Substance Abuse
Although you do not want to have a problem with addiction, many people do. This means that you may not know this until you start using. The easiest way to avoid these problems is to abstain entirely. This is not going to happen for most people. If you or someone you love is using alcohol or drugs, prevention for substance abuse means looking at the patterns of use and behaviors you see unfolding. If you see signs of a problem, there is probably a problem. If you recognize things in your own behavior, or that of someone close to you, speak up before it is too late.
Managing Mental Illness is a Prevention for Substance Abuse
Although not everyone who abuses substances suffers from mental illness, half of all people with substance abuse issues will also suffer from a mental illness. This is pretty astronomical, which means it is common to see unresolved mental health problems in those who also have an addiction. This is sometimes because those with mental illness struggle to cope. This is called self-medication, and although it is dangerous, it sometimes soothes symptoms in the short term. If you are not receiving adequate care and treatment, this is extremely common.
Whether it is depression, anxiety, or any other type of mental health problem, you should never feel ashamed. Millions of Americans experience mental illness. It is actually one in five people in the United States that suffer from a mental illness. Most people do not speak up. There is even a specific form of treatment called dual diagnosis treatment that can help you tackle both your substance use and your mental health problem. This may put you in far less danger of resorting to substance abuse.
Go to Treatment at First Signs
If you believe you are seeing the first signs of a substance use disorder, you can get help immediately. Getting help at the start of an addiction can make it a lot easier than doing so later down the line. There are various levels of treatment, and even therapy, that can prevent matters from getting more severe.
Prevention for Substance Abuse
Preventing substance abuse is not easy, but it is possible. Sometimes all you need to do is put in a bit of effort, and give someone attention. Whether you are struggling with a substance abuse problem, or you are looking for help with the prevention for substance abuse for someone you love, it is possible.
Help yourself, and your family, friends, or other loved ones to stay clean and sober. By paying attention during transitional times, making a schedule, understanding the signs of substance abuse and mental illness, you can truly making a difference. Contact us at Rehabs Of Armerica to learn more about different treatment options available to you today.
Edward lives and works in South Florida and has been a part of its recovery community for many years. With a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Massachusetts, he works to help Find Addiction Rehabs as both a writer and marketer. Edward loves to share his passion for the field through writing about addiction topics, effective treatment for addiction, and behavioral health as a whole. Alongside personal experience, Edward has deep connections to the mental health treatment industry, having worked as a medical office manager for a psychiatric consortium for many years.
