Dear Counsellor, Recently, I went out with my peers and they convinced me that the only way I can be a man is to take drugs. After a month, I can’t control myself, and have lost interest for school. Please guide me on how I can overcome this dangerous habit. Yours Benjamin, 20 years old

Drug addiction is not a matter of willpower; it is a chronic brain disease that alters brain function, making it incredibly difficult for an addict to stop using drugs on their own despite destructive consequences. The commonalities across all drug addictions include damage to the kidneys, heart, liver, digestive system, brain, respiratory system and hormonal levels. If it’s not treated, drug addiction can lead to a wide range of negative consequences, including serious health issues, financial repercussions, legal troubles and relationship problems. In addition, drug addiction can lead to various types of cancers as well as sudden death from a range of factors.

Drugs change the brain structure and impair the mental abilities to reason or execute activities normally. There’s no magic buckshot or single treatment that works for everyone when it comes to curing drug addiction. Every person on this planet is different and we react to certain situations differently. However, recovery is never out of reach no matter how hopeless your situation seems to be if you make up your mind to quit drugs.

Getting addicted to drugs makes you feel apprehensive about what will happen if you don’t keep taking the drug. Nevertheless, quitting is possible with the right treatment and support, and by addressing the root cause of your addiction. Once your own awareness of the addiction reality is increased, there’s the potential for a deeper motivation sufficient to bring about the required changes that would enable you to get well and to stay free from drugs. Through effective drug rehab treatment, you will gain the ability on how to arrest the addiction through stopping using drugs and lead a drug free life.

List the pros and cons of quitting, as well as the costs and benefits of continuing your drug abuse. If your addiction has taken a financial toll or compromised your studies, you can gradually beat your addiction with many tactics all of which call for perseverance and patience. Consult with a doctor who specializes in chemical addictions or a family therapist. These professionals can give you guidance on treatment options for your particular drug addiction. In addition to doctors and psychologists, many clergy members, social workers, and counselors offer addiction treatment services. If your previous social life like your peers revolved around drugs, you may need to make some new connections and get new drug-free friends to hasten the healing process and try to stay away from drug triggers.

Similarly, you can choose to open out to your family or teacher to have them offer special assistance in your course of healing. Your life story will definitely acquire a new status if you gravely apply these approaches and you will lead a productive post addiction life. Also you’ve got to bear in mind that breaking free from active addiction takes time, personal willpower and requires a seismic shift to new ideas and ways of relating to the world. This takes a very brave or a very scared person to attempt before it gets any worse. You can choose to get back on the path to recovery and use the experience to strengthen your commitment.