How to Break Drug Addiction

Drug addiction can be incredibly damaging to both the person addicted, as well as to his family and friends. Stopping the addictive behavior is a process that requires a great deal of change, and often the most successful way to overcome addiction is to identify and treat the underlying issues that led to drug abuse. This is far from easy, and it may take a long time to recover fully. Luckily, with work and commitment, it's possible to break a drug addiction.

Instructions

The Process

• 1

  Admit you have a problem, and make a sincere promise to yourself to remain fully committed to overcoming your addiction. Rid your surroundings of anything that encourages the addictive behavior, and stop going to places where the addiction can be indulged. This means severing ties with friends who take drugs.

• 2

  Find and attend a local support group, such as Narcotics Anonymous. Check your local newspaper for a calendar of upcoming support groups to find the one that's right for you. You also can call your local United Way to get information on support groups in your area.

• 3

  Begin to evaluate the beliefs and thought processes that contribute to your addiction. These could include unrealistic desires for perfection, low self-esteem, anger and intimacy issues, and a quick-fix mentality that desires instant gratification. Reflect on how events in your past may have contributed to these underlying thought patterns. Keep a journal detailing your work in identifying and understanding your negative thoughts.

• 4

  See a licensed counselor who specializes in addiction to help you work through and correct your addictive behavior and thoughts. Have the counselor evaluate you for underlying mental health issues, such as depression or bipolar disorder. Be honest with your counselor about any past experiences that may have contributed to your drug use, such as a history of abuse or neglect. Work with your counselor to overcome and change the thought patterns and issues that you feel have led to your drug addiction.

• 5

  Cultivate new hobbies and interests to replace the addictive behavior you used to indulge in. Talk to your therapist about activities and exercises that you can engage in to help alleviate your negative thought patterns and addictive tendencies, such as meditation, joining a gym or yoga class, learning to play an instrument, or volunteering at an animal shelter or a nursing home.

• 6

  Consider more intensive treatment if your problems prove to be severe. This could include taking psychiatric medication, attending long-term outpatient treatment, or even residing in a more intensive inpatient treatment facility.