Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: How to Resist the Temptation to Try Drugs
• Method 2 of 4: How to Stop Drugs
• Method 3 of 4: How to keep track of your health
• Method 4 of 4: How to get treatment
• Tips

Today you can meet a lot of people who ruined their lives because of drugs. Many of those who decided to try drugs regretted this decision. Don't repeat their mistake. If you do take drugs, then remember: it is possible to refuse them.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: How to Resist the Temptation to Try Drugs

1. 1 Put personal goals. The researchers concluded that having goals (and having people who support those goals) helps fight temptation. A possible reason is thinking about what you want to achieve in life, as well as about ways to get what you want. In contrast, in the case of drug use, a person thinks about being “good” right now, regardless of the consequences.
   • If you are tempted to try drugs (even just once), think about how it might affect your goals. What are the chances of achieving what you want if you are addicted to expensive and illegal drugs, get a criminal record, or go to jail?
   • Goals also build self-confidence. If a person is confident in himself and his ability to achieve what he wants, he is unlikely to want to use drugs.
   • Also, the desire to achieve goals helps to give up drugs. Purposefulness will help you to achieve your goal, including getting rid of drug addiction.
2. 2 Spend time with loved ones. Strong relationships with family and friends protect us from destructive tendencies. In other words, the stronger your relationship with loved ones, the lower the risk of succumbing to temptation.
   • If you are under pressure or curiosity, then do not hold the feelings to yourself. Talk to someone you trust. Others can offer you support and advice, which is very important in such a situation.
3. 3 Tell us about what's going on. If you are the victim of pressure or even bullying due to refusal to try drugs, contact a competent person - a parent, teacher, school psychologist. You don't have to fight the onslaught alone. Support will help you survive.
4. 4 Find another activity that is satisfying. If you want to try drugs to feel good, then try other joyful and enjoyable things.
   • For example, find a hobby, have fun with friends more often, play fun video games, or help others to feel good. Try to fill your life with meaning in this way.
   • Go for a run, read fun books, hang out with family and friends, play video games, or see a therapist to actively deal with the problem and negative thoughts.
   • Discuss your feelings with friends or distract yourself with interesting activities.
5. 5 Find the strength to refuse. If you are offered to try drugs, then refuse and walk away. In the case of peer pressure, it's important to understand that real friends respect you and your decisions, so they won't force you to do things you don't want to do. Otherwise, it is better to find new friends.
6. 6 Stay away from drugs. If your family member or friend is using drugs, you better stay away from them and certainly not follow a bad example. If possible, talk to a trusted adult friend about this. He may offer you help or social support.The support system plays a key role in the success of the drug-free life.
   • You should be aware that a weakness for drugs can be a characteristic family trait, so if someone in your family takes drugs, then you are at a high risk and you need to resist even more.
   • If your friends are using drugs, then make new friends. Surround yourself with people who resist temptation and prefer to live a sober lifestyle. Teens are especially prone to imitate and be influenced by friends.
7. 7 Resist the temptation. Do not communicate at school and university with companies in which people use drugs. Find friends with healthier interests.
   • If you find yourself at a party where many are free to use drugs, then it is better to just leave. Peer pressure can break anyone, even a tough person.
   • Social impact in a situation like this cannot be underestimated. Even social media can influence our decisions. If you notice a lot of photos with people who use drugs, then it is better to unsubscribe and block such pages.
8. 8 Analyze your temptations. If you're tempted to try drugs even when you're alone (for example, you're wondering how it would feel if you took your brother's pills), then that temptation can be dealt with. Think, “Why do I need this? What motives are driving me? "
   • If you want to please your friends with this, then it is important to remind yourself that not everyone is taking drugs. In fact, more and more young people are choosing a healthy lifestyle. There are many healthy activities with friends, such as hobbies and sports activities.
   • If depression and stress are the cause, then it's important to understand that drugs are an unhealthy way to deal with stress. There are other ways - exercise, meditation and yoga. You can also always contact a psychotherapist.
   • Remember, adolescent decision-making skills are not mature enough. The decision to try drugs can be life-changing. It is unlikely that at 50 you will thank yourself for such a step.
9. 9 Be clear about your rejection. There will surely be times when you will be asked to try drugs. Your answer must be firm and decisive. It is worth giving vent to doubts, and peers will begin to put pressure on you.
   • If a person suggested that you try drugs and asks why you refuse, then you do not have to explain your decision. Just tell them that you do not use drugs. Your excuses will provide an opportunity to challenge your decision and the person will try to convince you otherwise.
   • Persuasion can be like this: "Everyone has tried it once", - or: "Once - not scary." Remain firm. You can answer that more and more young people are giving up drugs, so not all of them try drugs, and you are not going to do this either. You can also say, “No, I won't even once. I do not need it".
10. 10 Find something to do. Strive to maintain a clear mind and lead an active lifestyle. If you keep yourself busy, you won't have time for drugs. Boredom leads to rash actions, so don't let yourself get bored.
    • Learn languages. Find a hobby. Learn to play a musical instrument. Volunteer. An active life (and new bullet points) will help you stay away from drugs.
11. 11 Find out what brings you joy. Depression and low self-esteem often push people to make the wrong decisions. If you are depressed, it is best to see a specialist. Also do things that bring you joy and self-esteem so you don't even think about drugs.
    • Make a list of the things that make you happy. Pick a few things that aren't too hard to do (make an inexpensive meal or go to the movies) so that you have something to do every day.

Method 2 of 4: How to Stop Drugs

1. 1 Understand why people use drugs. People become addicted because they self-medicate. Symptoms in the case of abstinence interfere with the cycle of addiction. To give up drugs, you first need to cope with physical addiction - go to the clinic and take part in a program that will help you survive "withdrawal" (such symptoms can be life-threatening), and then deal with the emotional problems that force people to take drugs to forget about emotional suffering.
   • If a person takes drugs, then this not makes him "bad" or "immoral."
   • Drug addicts are often unable to quit. Drug addiction affects the brain, making it difficult, but not impossible, to quit drugs.
2. 2 Examine your triggers (provoking factors). If you have used drugs before, learn to recognize the events and conditions that lead to such situations. This could be a drug-taking device, a group of friends, a specific place, or even a specific song that you listened to while intoxicated.
   • If you have such triggers, try to stay away from them. Delete the song or throw away the cigarette paper. The complete absence of triggers reduces risk and temptation.
   • It is also best not to go to places you have been to when you were taking drugs. It is very difficult, but this is the only way to protect yourself.
3. 3 Find a support group or get family support for rehabilitation. Support is important not only to resist the initial temptation, but also to cope with drug addiction. If you find it difficult to live without drugs, then a support group can be your salvation.
   • To find a group, you can see a doctor, psychotherapist, or other professional, search your phone book, talk to religious or secular leaders, or contact groups that provide support for people with addiction.
4. 4 Try the "pulse surfing" method. This is an exercise in mindfulness, according to which you need to acknowledge your impulses and "ride the wave" until it subsides. Imagine that you slide along the waves of your gusts until they become calm, which is much easier to deal with. This method is much more effective than trying to ignore or suppress your impulses and desires.
   • Remember, this is probably not the first time you want to take drugs. Has this impulse already faded before? The answer will almost always be yes. Remind yourself that the desire will pass this time too. The rush is real, but you must not give in.
   • Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings at such a moment. For example, you may be completely sure that you want to take a certain type of drug. You may experience increased sweating, itching, or anxiety. Recognize that the sensations are real. Remember that these are only your thoughts, which have no power over you.
   • When surfing the waves of your impulsive impulses, you need to focus on deep breathing. Breathe in and out slowly and evenly. This will make it easier for you to focus on the moment, rather than on your impulses.
5. 5 Force yourself to wait 10 minutes. If you have a very strong need to take drugs, then try to delay the moment and ask yourself to wait 10 minutes. Just 10 minutes. You can handle it. If after 10 minutes the rush continues, convince yourself to wait another 10 minutes. Continue tightening the solution until the momentum weakens. And so it will happen, you just need to wait.

Method 3 of 4: How to keep track of your health

1. 1 Eat right. Consciousness and the body are interconnected in an intricate way, since consciousness is the result of the multi-level work of the brain, a biological organ that is part of the body.This means that mental and physical health are closely related. If our mental health suffers from drug use, and mental and physical health are linked, then a healthy body helps a person to stop using drugs. One way to keep your body healthy is to eat right.
   • Eat natural foods like lean meats, nuts, fruits and vegetables. You may be interested in the cooking process, which builds self-esteem and can turn into a hobby that can help you live a drug-free life.
2. 2 Exercise regularly. During exercise, endorphins are produced that improve mood without harming the body. Exercise can help reduce stress and even combat minor bouts of depression. Stress and depression increase your risk, so it is important to exercise regularly.
3. 3 Consume caffeine in moderation. Excessive amounts of caffeine increase anxiety and irritability, which contribute to stress and the urge to use drugs in an attempt to calm the initial anxiety from caffeine.
4. 4 Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep negatively affects mental health, makes you feel tired, sad and anxious, which can increase the temptation to take drugs to forget about the bad.
5. 5 Relax your body and mind. Improve your mental and physical health with relaxation techniques. They reduce the effect of stress on the body, as they help get rid of unpleasant feelings and sensations in the body, such as muscle tension. Stress is one of the causes of addiction, so dealing with stress can help you live a drug-free life.
   • Use visualization. This method relies on calm and relaxing mental images. For example, imagine a calm ocean and try to use all your senses: imagine the smell, the breeze, and the warmth of the sun on your skin. Immerse yourself in the created image.
   • Use relaxing exercises like yoga and tai chi.
6. 6 Meditate. Meditation is a great way to deal with stress, focus on breathing and mindfulness. Meditate to deal with the sudden urge to solve your problems with alcohol or drugs. In the long term, meditation will increase your chances of success in trying to quit drugs.
   • Find a quiet place, get into a comfortable sitting position, and meditate for 10-15 minutes.
   • Concentrate on your breathing - your breaths should be deep and measured.
   • Let go of all thoughts and do not try to evaluate them. Think only about breathing.
7. 7 Try progressive muscle relaxation. This method will help you understand the difference between tense and relaxed muscles. You just need to slowly strain and relax each muscle group. This way you can experience the difference between tension and relaxation and take your mind off the stress.
   • Start with your toes. Squeeze them as hard as possible for five seconds, then relax for another five seconds. Pay attention to how you feel when relaxing. Begin to work your way up to your calf muscles, thighs, buttocks, abdominal muscles, chest, shoulders, arms, neck, and face.

Method 4 of 4: How to get treatment

1. 1 See a psychotherapist. A person who is recovering from addiction needs control and a course of treatment. Counseling can provide support to live a drug-free life if you decide to quit your addiction.
   • Cognitive behavioral therapy is a very effective way to combat drug addiction and harmful impulses.
   • Family therapy is also helpful, especially when family problems are conducive to drug use.
   • The relapse control method uses positive reinforcements of success in the form of rewards.
2. 2 Go to a rehabilitation center. Inpatient and outpatient facilities have their own advantages and disadvantages.In inpatient facilities, direct observation is carried out, the patient is protected from drugs, which speeds up the recovery process. However, this option can be quite expensive and limit other activities such as work. Outpatient treatment is cheaper and has less impact on the patient's privacy, but may be less effective due to the potential availability of drugs outside the institution. The optimal choice depends on many factors, including the specific type of drug, dose and duration of addiction, patient age, and other medical and mental health conditions.
   • To find a rehabilitation center, you can see a doctor or search the web.
   • Prolonged, particularly strong addiction, involvement in criminal activities or social problems caused by drug use often requires correctional treatment in a special institution.
3. 3 Find a sponsor. In many support groups, new members are assigned a sponsor or sponsor. This is a person who has overcome addiction and is called to help the new member successfully complete the recovery program. Good guarantor::
   • helps to develop, increase productivity, acts in the interests of the addict;
   • helps to gain independence, love yourself, rejoice at success, reduce the severity of sensitivity, free yourself from addiction and learn to control your life;
   • does not do everything instead of a person and provides support in the absence of success.

Tips

• Discuss your concerns with someone you trust. He will understand everything and help you avoid temptation.
• If you have drug problems, see a school counselor or find an anonymous support group.
• Never take drugs. Some medicines have narcotic properties, so do not overuse such medicines.
• Be bold and don't be afraid to say "NO"if you are offered drugs or alcohol.
• Educate yourself. Being informed about the possible consequences is already half the battle. On the Internet and specialized literature, you can find a lot of information about the effect of various drugs on the human body.