Drug abuse is a popular topic to chat about among people these days. Conversations may be among tense parents who fear their children might become addicts in college or high school, or among the youth discussing which weed has the best hit and what substance gives the best high. Drug addiction is quite common in a particular part of our society, especially among university students and high-schoolers who casually smoke joints or use IV drugs like heroin. This results in a few moments of happiness and feeling “high.”

The fact is that the whole road to using drugs starts from a single thing. In the East, according to millennials, curiosity is the cause of this process, which leads to smoking cigarettes. This is one of the primary reasons why Gen-Z who smoke or vape are labeled as future addicts.

Overcoming Drug Addiction

Those who fall into the pit of drug abuse and want to leave things behind take specific steps. Those who aren’t addicts may bluntly stop using and withstand the withdrawal symptoms that follow. Withdrawal symptoms include frequent headaches, migraines, lethargy, a heavy and clouded mind, and mood swings. Those who fail to do that and do not want to face severe withdrawal symptoms may take other steps. These steps include decreasing doses of the drug, joint, or even cigarettes they use, or switching to alternatives.

This is quite common in the case of cigarettes. People who are willing to quit smoking typically shift to nicotine patches or e-cigarettes. Although these alternatives do not necessarily aid in quitting, they help prevent health problems associated with smoking. However, in some cases, such as with e-cigarettes, addiction to nicotine increases instead.

The Role of Rehabilitation Centers

Rehabilitation centers exist for those who aren’t able to quit drugs by themselves. These individuals are usually heavy drug addicts, often using substances to escape depression or emotional trauma for a few moments. For them, the urge to escape reality becomes so desperate that it results in severe addiction.

Rehab usually aids drug addicts by gradually decreasing their doses to zero and addressing their mental state through individual therapy sessions or group therapy. The purpose of group therapy is to allow individuals to hear others’ stories of getting clean, providing motivation and support.

The Effectiveness of Rehab Centers

One factor to argue about is that while rehab centers are a noble initiative, their effectiveness depends on the individual’s willingness to change. Society has taken steps to accept drug addicts rather than ostracizing them, but rehab centers are often ineffective if the individual lacks determination. This is especially true in the East, where addicts are often forcefully sent to rehab by their families in the hope of change.

For such people, rehab mostly doesn’t work, and in many cases, they become heavier drug addicts. If intention didn’t matter and only the procedure did, then the success rate of rehab therapy would be 100%, and relapse would not exist—which is far from reality.

The Importance of Mental Strength

The key takeaway here is that quitting drugs or smoking is all about mentality, intention, and determination. Without these factors, all seminars, awareness programs, and rehab centers are ineffective, and bluntly speaking, it would be better to utilize resources elsewhere.

In a known experiment, a person proved this by heavily using drugs for approximately one month and then quitting cold turkey, stating that it’s all a matter of mindset and intention.

Conclusion

To summarize, drug use should be abhorred and prevented in society, but to truly implement change, people must understand that psychology plays a crucial role in addiction. Without a strong personal motive or goal, any attempt to quit will be of little importance. The battle against drug addiction starts with awareness, but it is ultimately won through personal determination.