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How Do You Control a Drug Addiction?

The ideal way to use drugs to get high and experience pleasure is to do them, and nothing terrible happens. Many individuals can go to a party, concert, or wherever and take drugs and enjoy themselves. Unfortunately, these same people also stop using them once they wear off. The next day they go to work and reflect the drug use as fun and see it as a single event or even something they only do at certain times. These people are essentially able to control when they use a drug. When the drugs wear off, they don’t care. They reserve their drug use for special occasions. 

People who can control their drug use also don’t increase their drug use because they don’t want to. The drugs do not control them; they control the drugs. 

How Do You Control a Drug?

What is Uncontrolled Drug Use?

Addiction is a complex disease of the mind and emotions that makes someone use drugs even when they are ruining their lives. They have a strong urge to change how they feel and have found that drugs are the only thing that makes them feel better. Many people confuse drug-taking as a matter of lousy character or self-centeredness. Still, the facts are that when someone is addicted to a drug, their brains have changed due to the drugs, and they can’t help themselves. The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as an inability to control drug use and why this occurs. 

Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people. Still, repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. (NIDA)

When to Stop Using Drugs?

The answer on when to stop using drugs is simple. If the drugs you are using have negatively impacted your life, then do not take them. Sadly, this is not easy or obvious for most people who struggle with drug use and addiction to see. No one wants to give up something they enjoy, which doesn’t just apply to drugs. The issue of denial when it comes to drug use is very intense. People take drugs to feel happier, relaxed, more awake and to help them cope. If the drug is helping them in a way nothing else can, they will not be willing to see how it is harmful. 

The definition of addiction states that people who use drugs are experiencing negative consequences but still using. They are addicted to the drug and will do it no matter what. The following list explains some of the signs of when it is time to stop using drugs: 

  • A change in priorities that put drug use first
  • Lying about your drug use
  • Feeling guilty about your drug use
  • Failed attempts to stop using drugs
  • Missing work because of drugs
  • People close to you are worried about you
  • You no longer enjoy doing things without drugs  

What Do Researchers Think About Drug Use?

Since we now know that drug addiction is a disease of the mind that changes the brain, the research completed in the last two decades reflects science. As a result, the U.S. government now spends millions of dollars a year to help understand how to help people with addictions. In addition, the National Drug Control Strategy now supports that drug addiction is a treatable disease. 

Science has shown that a substance use disorder is not a moral failing but rather a disease of the brain that can be prevented and treated. (NDCS)

Start Your Recovery For Drug Addiction at Garden State Detox

Drug use that has gotten out of control indicates that someone struggles with something much more profound than is understood. We at Garden State Detox know how to help you get free of the vicious cycle of drug obsession and the needing to get high. The programs we offer are based on science and work. Don’t wait to change without professional counseling, support, and medications. Recovery from drug use and addiction is no longer a white-knuckling it. We provide in-depth behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapies, and holistic treatment methods that promise you to feel better. 

Call our Specialists for priority admission and chat or email to learn more. 

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