Substance abuse is an unfortunate problem that many consider inadequately addressed by modern society. Techniques to help solve the problems that come with substance abuse and addiction can be effective, but they require the person in trouble to actively seek treatment and stick with it through to the end. Here is a general overview of the difficulties you can expect to encounter if you or someone you know is working through problems with addiction.
Addiction is difficult to get rid of by definition. With this in mind, it’s extremely important to note that it doesn’t matter how many times someone “falls off the wagon” after having been clean of their addiction for some time. In fact, around half of people who struggle with addiction relapse at some point. Seeking a support system to help someone who has an addiction is therefore paramount to a successful recovery. Rehabilitation centers should always be considered a possibility, and finding one is as easy as searching on Google for “drug rehab centers in Ontario” if you aren’t sure where the closest one is located. Failure is a part of everyone’s life, but the best thing you can do after you fail is to continue to press onward.
The importance of making an effort to combat substance abuse becomes all the more apparent when you look at the potential health consequences of letting an addiction take over your life. Even beyond the addiction itself, health problems are commonly associated with drug abuse. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drug use can be connected to other health problems like cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, and HIV/AIDS. The abuse of an addictive substance can also lead to a lapse in judgment, which might also open the door to hurting those around the addicted individual as well. Car accidents, infectious diseases like Hepatitis C, and even secondhand smoke can all be risk factors for people who do not participate in addictive drug abuse. Being addicted to a drug can be extremely dangerous, so getting rid of that addiction should be a priority no matter what.
Additionally, the possession and abuse of illegal drugs can carry criminal charges. Although it is possible to receive treatment for addiction while in prison, it’s relatively uncommon for prisoners to undergo any type of drug rehabilitation. In cases where rehabilitation is sought, however, a prisoner can expect to the same recovery success rate as they can outside of prison. A criminal record with a drug abuse conviction may also make finding a good job much more difficult than it would have been otherwise. While it will still be possible to find a job after having gotten a felony drug conviction, you will have extreme difficulty shaking the stereotype of a person with a drug abuse problem because many employers feel they cannot predict when someone will relapse into an old drug habit. If you have been convicted of such an offense, running a criminal prison search on yourself and practicing how to interview with this charge in mind with a friend could be a good way to prepare for discussing this issue with a potential future employer.
When approaching the issue of a loved one with drug addiction, it is always worth reiterating that the most important thing they can do is move forward with their lives as best they can. Even after a person with an addiction is successfully rehabilitated, depending on how bad their addiction was their life may still seem like an uphill battle at times. Never forget that anything worth doing takes effort and that building a better life for yourself or someone else is no exception.