Seeking the treatment you need for addiction is a big step. However, this step does not guarantee substance abuse is over for you. You still must practice what you learn in rehab. Moreover, you also need to pay attention to the best measures of substance abuse prevention.
Five Measures of Substance Abuse Prevention
You cannot keep someone from going down the wrong path with substance abuse. However, you can help yourself through substance abuse prevention.
Consider the five measures of drug and alcohol abuse prevention, including:
Understand How Substance Abuse Begins and Grows
Substance abuse starts when someone uses any drug or alcohol for recreational purposes. This means you can suffer addiction to prescription medications, as many Americans do today. Substance abuse also begins when you drink to drunkenness or use drugs for intoxication, exclusively. Of course, any abuse of prescription medication is a big red flag and risk for addiction.
Avoid temptations and triggers
You need healthy friendships and relationships, not toxic ones. If you need to write down some quick excuses to avoid people and places that trigger or tempt you, do it. Memorize your excuses and use them. Specifically, protect yourself.
Get the Therapies you Need for Co-Occurring Conditions
Mental illness and addiction often accompany one another. Anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, depression, and other mental conditions require professional help and support. It’s that simple. You need a professional helping you to learn coping skills in the prevention of substance abuse.
Get to Know Your Risk Factors
Do you have a family history of substance abuse, mental conditions, or addiction? For example, studies indicate addiction runs in families, but you can prevent it. Know the risk factors for substance abuse in your life and guard against them.
Maintain Healthy Balance in Life
Drugs and alcohol fill the hunger brought on by boredom, depression, and general life issues. Learn and practice stress management and coping skills to keep you out of stress and in balance with a healthy life.
Plan, Hope, and Dream for Substance Abuse Prevention
An important means of preventing substance abuse is planning, hoping, and dreaming about your future. If you maintain realistic goals for your future, goals you work toward each day, then you cannot make space for drugs and alcohol. Track your progress toward your goals, so you can see even small accomplishments. This builds confidence, self-esteem, and positivity toward your future.
Typically, people suffering from addiction started abusing drugs or alcohol in low self-esteem. For this reason, keep your eyes on a specific prize in the future to prevent substance abuse in your life.
Overcoming Addiction
Suffering addiction is not the end of your life, hopes, and dreams. Instead, you have the opportunity to turn your life around. You can overcome addiction to drugs or alcohol and use substance abuse prevention skills to keep yourself on track in good health.