5 Ways To Prevent Substance Abuse

A lot of youth these days are deep into drug and alcohol abuse which is really unfortunate. And while it is close to impossible to stop people from doing drugs there are things we can do to avoid them especially for the one who wants to quit or the ones that are not sure yet they want to do it but doing it still. Here are some of the things you can do to help keep you away from substance abuse.

1. Effectively deal with peer pressure-  The biggest reason young people start using drugs is because their friends utilize peer pressure. No one likes to be left out, and teens (and yes, some adults, too) find themselves doing things they normally wouldn’t do, just to fit in. In these cases, you need to either find a better group of friends that would not pressure you into doing harmful things, or you need to find a good way to say no. You should prepare a good excuse or plan ahead of time, to keep from giving into tempting situations.

2. Deal with life pressure- People today are overworked and overwhelmed, and often feel like a good break or a reward is deserved. But in the end, drugs only make life more stressful and many of us all too often fail to recognize this in the moment. To prevent using drugs as a reward, find other ways to handle stress and unwind. Take up exercising or read a good book, or watch television. Anything positive and relaxing helps take the mind off using drugs to relieve stress.

3. Seek help for mental illness- Mental illness and substance abuse often go hand-in-hand. Those with a mental illness may turn to drugs as a way to ease the pain. Those suffering from some form of mental illness, such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder should seek the help of a trained professional for treatment before it leads to substance abuse.

4. Examine the risk factors- If you’re aware of the biological, environmental and physical risk factors you possess, you’re more likely to overcome them. A history of substance abuse in the family, living in a social setting that glorifies drug abuse and/or family life that models drug abuse can be risk factors.

5. Keep a well-balanced life- People take up drugs when something in their life is not working, or when they’re unhappy about their lives or where their lives are going. Look at life’s big picture, and have priorities in order.
Sources: SAMHSA’s Centre for Substance Abuse Prevention