5 WAYS TO PREVENT DRUG ABUSE

Drug abuse or substance abuse refers to the use of certain chemicals for the purpose of creating pleasurable effects on the brain. There are over 190 million drug users around the world and the problem has been increasing at alarming rates, especially among young adults under the age of 30. Apart from the long term damage to the body drug abuse causes, drug addicts who use needles are also at risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis B and C infections.

Just as substance addiction is possible, so is prevention. Here are a few effective ways to raise awareness of the abuse potential of drugs, the underlying causes of addiction, and ultimately to help prevent drug abuse.

1

FIND EFFECTIVE WAYS TO 

HANDLE  PEER PRESSURE

Human beings have a habit of not wanting to be left out and especially by their friends and peers. For this reason, you’ll find that most teens and some adults start abusing drugs as a way to fit in with their friends.

If you find yourself in such a situation, try finding the courage to say no. Better yet, you can find better friends who won’t pressure you into copying their habits. Whenever you find yourself being tempted to try drugs, find an excuse that will get you out of the temptation.

2

FIND BETTER COPING 

MECHANISMS

A good number of people who abuse drugs do so as a coping mechanism for the negative things they’re facing in life. It’s important to note that there’s nothing wrong with experiencing negative emotions.

Instead of turning to drugs for solace, find better ways of dealing with them. Some effective coping mechanisms include:

（1）Talking to someone

（2）Meditation

（3）Yoga

（4）Writing it down

（5）Exercising

Trying out any of these mechanisms takes your mind off drugs. Even a moment of stepping outside your thoughts with the practice of mindfulness can help make what seems unbearable a bit easier, even for teens and younger children who are shown how to ‘observe’ thoughts without acting on them.

3

CHOOSE YOUR CIRCLE OF 

FRIENDS CAREFULLY

Making friendships plays a major role in your overall health and well-being. However, you need to choose your friends wisely as socializing with the wrong crowd can easily lure you into drug use, and you may find yourself abusing drugs in short order.

Make sure you hang out with people who show you love and support and discourage you from attempting unhealthy substance use. Such people also provide a safe environment where there’s less likelihood of triggering drug abuse risk factors.

4

ALWAYS ALLOW YOURSELF SOME 

ALONE TIME

Imagine spending all day in the office handling difficult clients or workmates, then going home to find family duties and social obligations waiting for you. All these responsibilities expose you to a chronic state of stress, leaving you no time to have some alone time. In the long run, you might find yourself turning to drugs to help you keep up.

But guess what, if you fell ill and take an emergency break today from all those responsibilities, nothing will come to a standstill. So instead of sacrificing your happiness and risk getting physical and mental illnesses, consider taking time off and taking care of your wellbeing.

There’re some great activities that you can engage in during your alone time including:

（1）Getting a massage

（2）Reading your favorite book or magazine

（3）Taking a hot bath

（4）Switching off your smartphone and taking a break from social media

Taking some time off may seem like a hard thing to do, but it goes a long way to preventing drug abuse.

5

ANALYZE ANY POSSIBLE RISK 

FACTORS

Having prior knowledge of any possible drug abuse risk factors makes it easy for you to overcome them. For instance, if your family has a history of people who abuse the substance, then you can promise yourself that you won’t follow in their footsteps.

Also, if you’re friends with someone who’s a chronic drug abuser, you can decide to break up the friendship than being dragged into his behaviors.

Although the propensity to abuse drugs may be in your genetics, the choice on whether to use them or not is entirely yours. By actualizing the above tips on how to prevent drug abuse, you avoid not only addiction but also other risks that come with substance abuse.

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