People with a drug addiction need both medical help and emotional support. A conservative view might blame the person, while a very liberal view might attack the drug. In actuality, the only thing that is important is the rehabilitation of the member of society. Many argue various routes in accomplishing this. Some people claim tough love is all that is necessary while others believe in gentle love and support, even though this might turn into an enabling situation. However, there really is a wrong way, and a right way. For drug addiction, there are methods to cure individuals of dependency.
A person has to first find the root cause of the drug addiction. Depression is a high statistic among drug users and so for this reason, depression should be addressed at a young age. This is not to encourage parents and physicians to prescribe psychoactive medication, but rather to promote a healthy, happy and interactive family life. For those that are already addicted, other steps are necessary.
After an individual begins using drugs to get high or reach a lift, they find themselves involved in a cycle of highs and lows. Once a trough of emotion is reached, the person will seek out the drug or drugs to bring him or her back from withdrawal. Because this can be such a scary period of time, loved ones need to do their best to comfort and encourage the person. One should never ask the sufferer to quit cold turkey, but provide other sources of enjoyment. Replacing the high with something else enjoyable can really help.
Drug addiction can be beat with medical and emotional help. For starters, methadone clinics have been used to ween drug addicts, and prevent dangerous withdrawals. Caring Physicians can also provide medication that would help a person coming off alcohol or a certain type of drug facing withdrawal.
Friends and family are equally valuable. If it is not too late, and the man or woman has not succumbed to severe mental debilitation, it is possible, and important to highlight attributes and skills that would be a focus of success such as a special talent that brings a sense of self-worth to the person. He or she may silently think if others can do it, then so can he or she. This is something one should be telling him or herself in order to possibly break through any mental limits.
Praise and confidence goes hand-in-hand as well. Never completely discourage or insult a person for relapsing, or not performing to expectations. It is a long hard road to recovery, with many methods of reaching sobriety.
Love is a powerful drug on its own. Sometimes that is all one needs to overcome their addiction. However, very often the people around the person needing the help are the ones who convinced him or her to try the drug in the first place. This is a sad situation, and having standards is key to prevent an unhealthy lifestyle.
Authoritarian vs. Authoritative
School structure and public policy are ways of implementing anti-drug campaigns and anti-drug programs. Administration should not be too hard or strict to alienate children from the right path. It is so easy to do so, especially the way students are punished for benign behavior, in part, due to the Zero Tolerance policy. An authoritative figure should be there for children, but not an authoritarian. Tough love just does not work.
Compassion is required to rehabilitate people with chemical dependency. They are not who they are now because of just one mistake, but really due to the outcomes of many psycho-social events. The restructuring of one’s self-perception, ambition, and surroundings is the best method to cure a human being. This is why both medical and emotional help plays such a vital role in ridding a person of a drug addiction.
Opinion-Ed
By Lindsey Alexander
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