Living with subtance use disorder

Substance use disorder is a condition where a substance or drug is used repeatedly even when you know it is affecting your health and wellbeing. Substances that are often abused and cause addiction include alcohol, tobacco, weed, shisha and hard drugs like cocaine. The most effective way to prevent substance use disorder is to never start. However, you can manage this disorder by finding appropriate assistance programs or by visiting your healthcare provider for treatment.

Substance use disorder is a condition that affects not just the person but also their family and friends. People use substances for different reasons, but the following are challenges they may face:

• Damage to health: alcohol, tobacco and drugs can have bad effects on different organs in your body. They can affect your heart and lungs and puts you at risk of cancer.
• Behavioural change: people who abuse substances tend to change friends, stay away from family members and have more aggressive behaviours.
• Waste of resources: people that abuse substances go the extra mile to buy these drugs. They can even sell their phones and cars to buy a particular substance because of addiction.
• Suicide attempt: some people may commit suicide when they find it hard to get a particular substance or because they can no longer live with their addiction.

The most effective way to prevent substance use disorder is to never start using any of these substances. If you have this disorder, the following can help you live better:

• Be focused on quitting: you should have in mind that you want to stop using a substance. You need to realise that the benefits that may be gotten from these substances are very small compared to their dangers.
• Creating a safe space: parents should create a safe space where children and teenagers can talk about peer pressure or any other pressure they might feel that might influence them to start using substances.
• Reduce the quantity you take: you can begin your withdrawal from a particular substance by reducing the quantity you take daily or weekly. Create a plan so you can follow it well.
• Go for therapy sessions: your healthcare provider may suggest therapy sessions for you. Ensure that you do not miss your appointments and feel free to talk with your therapist about difficulties you face quitting.
• Join support groups: these groups let you know that you are not alone in the battle. You will be motivated when you meet people who are no longer addicted to a substance.
• Look for alternatives: you can chew gum or use a nicotine patch to help you stop smoking. These alternatives give you a similar pleasure to smoking tobacco but they have no negative effects on your health.

Substance use disorder is not the end of the world. The condition should be identified early. You should also work towards reducing if not stopping the use of the substance. The support of family and friends will also help in handling the emotional effects of this disorder. The support can come in the form of encouragement, paying for therapy sessions and staying close to you. There are a services available such as support groups and rehabilitation centres that can lend a helping hand to beat your addiction.