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Recovery from Problem Drug Use

What is recovery?

Recovery from addiction means a person has stopped using drugs. At this point, they have learned new ways of dealing with problems. Someone in recovery is making positive changes in their health, social activities, and values.

Recovery from a drug addiction can continue through someone's whole life. This is because a drug addiction is a brain disorder. An addiction can stay with a person for a long time, but with treatment, a person can stop using drugs. They can improve their health and wellness. Then, they are in recovery.

What is a relapse?

A person who's trying to stop using drugs can make mistakes, feel bad, and start using again. This return to drug use is called a relapse. Relapse is common and normal and happens to a lot of people recovering from drug addictions. People will often have one or more relapses along the way. It takes practice to learn how to live without drugs.

Stopping drug use is like trying to diet and lose weight. It's hard to learn to do things differently, like eat less, exercise more, and avoid some favorite foods. It's easy to slip up, eat too much, and gain back the weight—but then you have to try again.

It's the same with quitting drugs. People with drug addictions might get treatment, slip up, and then go back to treatment many times before it works. If that happens, the person should get back into treatment as quickly as possible.

Danger of Overdose

For some drugs, a relapse can be very dangerous—even deadly. If a person stops taking drugs and then takes the amount they used before quitting, they can easily overdose. Their body is no longer used to having the same amount of the drug in its system. An overdose happens when a drug causes serious, harmful symptoms or death.

This is why it's important to take a treatment plan seriously. Treatment can help to lower the chance of a drug relapse and overdose.

How can friends and family help?

Some people want treatment so they can learn how to stop using drugs. They want to get their lives back. Other people don't want treatment. They are so deep in their drug addiction that they aren't ready for help. Many people who use drugs go into treatment because the police, a judge, their job, or family members make them do it. It might take a while for them to understand that they have a problem and want to stop using drugs, but treatment can work even when someone doesn't want it.

When friends and family show that they care, it can help people stick with treatment, even when it's very hard. If you're an adult, there are many things you can do to help someone in treatment:

  • Find them treatment services and information.
  • Offer rides to treatment and support groups.
  • Remind them to take any medicine their doctor gives them.
  • Help them find a place to live, if they need one.
  • Help them get a job, if they need one.
  • Find things to do that will take their mind off drugs.
  • Help them avoid places and people that might tempt them to take drugs again.
  • Talk with them about their feelings and drug cravings.
  • Be understanding if they relapse, and help them get back into treatment quickly.

Where can someone find treatment and recovery resources?

If you or someone you know has a drug problem, you should try to find medical treatment. Your employee assistance program (EAP) can be a great resource for locating assistance that may be helpful. You can also call this toll-free number at any time for drug and counseling treatment near you: 800-662-HELP (800-662-4357).

These websites will help you find treatment and counseling near you:

Support groups also help while you're in treatment:

It can be hard to have a family member or friend with a drug addiction. Sometimes it's helpful to talk with other people who also have a loved one with a drug addiction. These are some support groups:

For information and help to quit smoking:

For help if you or a loved one feels sad, hopeless, or suicidal, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) or Link opens in a new windowhttps://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Easy-to-Read Drug Facts. (n.d.). Treatment and recovery. March 23, 2021, from https://easyread.drugabuse.gov

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