Drug addiction is a scourge that if not rooted out early can ruin lives. It strikes quickly and unexpectedly. Drug users will often report the early stages of their addiction being fun and exciting, yet as the drug begins to take a hold of them, the fun stops.
This is what in turn leads to the drug user spiraling out of control and becoming an addict. They are in constant pursuit of the initial high; the high that has ceased and will never and can never return.
Can a drug user live a normal life again? The short answer is yes, they can. Unfortunately, however, they will always be haunted and tempted by their former addiction.
This page will hope to tell you how an addict can have a normal life again and how they can put distance between them and their former addiction.
Rehab
Rehabilitation facilities are a hugely effective measure employed in the fight against drugs. When the addictions themselves are addressed, according to the rehabilitation professionals at iRecover.ca, then the addict can begin repairing relationships and friendships. Rehabilitation facilities are often live-in and will mean that the addict is made to stay there for a period of weeks or months.
They are, usually, free to leave at any time, unless they are there as the result of a court order. Rehabilitation facilities are very beneficial, providing that the addict wants to change themselves. If they do not, there is a very little benefit that one can derive from a rehabilitation facility, and rather, their efforts will be in vain. Rehabilitation is often the first step toward freedom from drug addiction.
Rebuilding
It is important that a former addict rebuilds his relationships brick by brick when emerging from under the thumb of drug addiction. Drug addiction can, for many, estrange them from their families, romantic partners, and friends.
This owes entirely to the fact that drug addicts, simply, cannot be trusted. They steal, lie, and hurt. An addict seldom cares for any other than themselves.
Rebuilding relationships is a fundamental part of the rehabilitation process and can give the addict something to hold onto in the face of an indomitable adversary that will wait for them at every turn. If you are the friend or relative of a former addict, the best way to help them return to their normal self is to rebuild your relationship with them and forgive them for their past misgivings.
Atonement
An addict must atone for their sins against mankind. This is not said in any religious sense at all, and rather religion is at the discretion of the addicts themselves, however, can be effective. No, rather this atonement is free from religion; this is an atonement that the addict must make to truly move on in their life.
The best way to do this is to visit those that they have hurt, those they have stolen from, and those they have tormented and ask for their forgiveness. Even if forgiveness is not given, just by the notion of it being sought, the addict has changed. It may even be worth visiting a police station and admitting to crimes.
There is a program in place in the United Kingdom wherein a criminal can admit to non-violent crimes and be pardoned without prosecution, providing that they visit and apologize to everybody whom they have wronged and everybody who they had hurt during their time as an addict.
Work
Giving a former addict work can be a great way to give them something to hold onto. Work offers routine and stability and is a great way for a former addict to get to grips with normal life. Many addicts will not have ever worked before, and those that have will have frittered away their careers.
An addict can derive great benefit from paid work, and it can serve to integrate them back into their local community and make them a productive and functioning member of society. Paid work is very important as part of the rehabilitation process. You must watch them, however, and ensure they do not relapse. Relapse is very common.
Dating
Finding a partner is something that can also help an addict to live a normal life and give them something further to hold onto and cherish. Having a relationship can give them the motivation to stay away from drugs and to pursue a life free from carnal desire.
Commitment
The hardest part about freeing someone from addiction is ensuring their commitment. Addicts have likely lost all of their inhibitions, and not only that, have lost any sense of self-control or common decency by the time they reach the depths of addiction.
Before an addict can live a normal life they have to understand and recognize the harm that drugs have had on their life and the harm that they cause for countless others. It is easy, when free from addiction, to look back and romanticize the life of a drug user, but it is simply the life of a scoundrel – a no account – a reprobate. You must be certain that the person, whether it be a relative or friend, understands the harm drugs do, lest they return to their former life.
The number of addicts who do return to drugs long after their recovery is astounding. If you do find that your loved one returns to drugs, even after their recovery, you must still persevere and assist them in breaking free from the cycle yet again.
Many addiction specialists say that relapse is common, but by creating a cycle of resistance and return, eventually, they will resist once and for all and will not go back to drugs. They must be committed, above all, if you are to put your time in to helping them.
Now you know several ways that a former drug addict can lead a normal, healthy, and productive life. While their pasts may have been questionable, addicts can have the best future, they just need to be strong in their will to come out of it and work hard toward their life goals.
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