Preventing Addiction

Guide to preventing addictions and dependencies.

• Manage Prescribed Medications
• Self Awareness
• Coping Skills
• Be Connected

It is very easy to say the best way to prevent an addiction to an illegal drug is not to take the drug at all. But in many cases, the circumstances around the initiation of taking an addictive drug or commencing an addictive behaviour is far from normal.

Manage Prescribed Medications

Doctors often prescribe narcotics to relieve pain, benzodiazepines to relieve anxiety or insomnia, or barbiturates to relieve nervousness or irritation.

These medications may be prescribed at safe doses, but unless they are also closely monitored, a genetic predisposition to addiction to the drug may not be detected in time for the addiction to be prevented.

A lot depends upon the patient being away of a need to take more than the prescribed dose of a medication, or to take it for longer.

When one is ill or in pain, such self control or self awareness is not easily observed. Caregivers and parents of patients should be well informed on the symptoms of early addiction.

Self Awareness

Understand your own strengths and weaknesses, and those situations or events that can lead you into a situation of feeling unhappy or not coping with life.

Understanding what makes you happy and why, is an early indicator of what behaviour you may partake in should these 'activities' cease.

Strengthen Your Coping Skills

Addiction generally always attempts to bring relief to a situation that you cannot cope with using normal relationship or stress management skills. It's an attempt gain happiness through other than human interaction.

Coping skills

Seek help from friends, cousellors or self-help groups. There are many helpful forums online that others who share your situation can relate to you in ways that many doctors cannot.

• Give yourself time - any major stress event in life takes at least three months before significant improvement occurs.
• Promptly seek treatment - for mental health disorders such as depression, are twice as likely to lead to drug or alcholol addiction.
• Avoid high-risk situations - if you feel tempted to engage in abusive substances or behaviour, remove yourself. Do anything to distract yourself from high risk situations. Stay away from other users of drugs or heavy drinkers. Also stay away from people who 'bring you down'.

Be Connected To Family Members

Parents and family members can help prevent drug dependency in their children or siblings. If you have a family member that may be heading for crisis:

Communicate - Being aware of what is happening in the lives of other family members is very effective in diverting potential addiction. Take time to understand the impact of stress and/or pain and be aware of the risks of drug use and abuse.

Be a good listener about any life pressure, and be supportive of their efforts to resist it.

Lead by Example - don't offer alcohol or addictive drugs as a solution to mask the problem. Children of parents who abuse drugs are at greater risk of drug addiction.

Strengthen Relationships - with family members, especially when they may be facing a tough time. A strong, stable bond between you and your family will reduce the risk of them using or abusing drugs. Don't expect just because the 'act strong' that they can fight this battle alone.

NEXT: Resources For Addiction

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