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How can I stop drinking or taking drugs?

141 Answers
Last Updated: 05/04/2022 at 9:21am
How can I stop drinking or taking drugs?
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Clinical Social Work/Therapist

The journey to where we are today included many ups, downs, twists and turns. Healing from the events of life is crucial in achieving mental health and happiness.

Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
November 16th, 2017 8:39pm
It's important to realize that drugs are just a temporary solution to a long term problem and often times can make things worse when they wear off.
LukaCanWithUg
November 16th, 2017 9:36pm
go with your friends somewhere, nice and calm place. 2-3 days are enough i think, u will understand it simply, life can be good without drugs too.
aestheticbeebo
November 18th, 2017 3:02pm
You can. You need to promise yourself first. I know that you can. It will feel like the worlds most impossible thing to do. But if you think you can, then you can and there's no one stopping you other than yourself.
ppeachess
November 23rd, 2017 3:23am
Getting sober is always tough. My current partner is struggling with addiction, and I try my best to be as supportive as possible. I think wanting to stop is the first step, as well as admitting you have a problem with substances. Don't be afraid of reaching out for help, wether it's from loved ones or professionals, especially from professionals.
originalMusic45
November 24th, 2017 3:23pm
If I even have the thought that I need to stop drinking or taking drugs, I need to stop. It's time to admit that I can't do it by myself, and ask for help. And the time is today, this minute, this second. Help is here, and there are no judgements -- begin. Just begin. Tell one person. And begin.
sierralocket
November 26th, 2017 5:32pm
Somebody once told me it takes 5 good habits to replace one bad one. But I think the worst thing you could do is substitute one addiction for another. Try to engage in more self-care and work towards healthy lifestyle changes. A more serious approach could also be looking into therapy or rehabilitation.
Anonymous
December 1st, 2017 9:29pm
This is a question with a very complicated answer. If you're truly in a place where you really want to stop, the first step is knowledge! Explore yourself, and be honest - ask "why am I self-medicating?" This is hard to do, because the reason you're drinking and drugging in the first place is to avoid confronting that very question. As hard as this is to do, it's only the first step. When we feel bad enough, our first instinct is to stop the pain. Our brain will tell us, "Hey, remember how you felt better last time? You got drunk." The insidious part of this is that we ALL conveniently forget the problems it caused, we only remember the temporary reward. Once you come to these realizations, you have to accept the fact that a true alcoholic or addict can never defeat the disease on their own. You have to reach out to others like you for support. Stepping into an NA or AA meeting is one of the hardest things a person can do, but if you're truly ready to stop, there are unlimited resources out there dedicated to helping you get there. So, identify the problem and reach out for help with it. There's more to it than that, but that is enough to get you on the road to recovery, if you really want to get better!
Aadhyaa21
December 2nd, 2017 12:29pm
The most important thing is to decide that you won't take drugs or drink anymore. Once you've done that, do contact Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous of your country. These are worldwide fellowships that will help you give them up.
Nikandlv
December 12th, 2017 3:53pm
You need to realize that these things are temporary and they dont matter all the do is hurt you and your body, you should find the reason that why you are doing them and find a better answer to those needs
Anonymous
December 14th, 2017 12:08pm
Create strategies to deal with cravings. Plan how to stop cravings and have a process in place to deal with these as they occur.
StepOneListen
January 12th, 2018 9:45pm
Are you addicted? Because if you are addicted to drugs then the process becomes much more difficult. Eventually, there really is one thing I've found that helps people with addiction. Pain. Pain builds up until one day you tell yourself this isn't what I want anymore, I need to get help. Also, support from your friends and family is extremely important. Drugs and alcohol especially when you're addicted tend to isolate you from others. During, rehab, your support system is your lifeline. Talk to someone about what you are going through, doing it by yourself, with just your own willpower will not be enough to stop. You will tell yourself this is the last time 100, 500 times and you will still use the next time. Start by opening up to someone and if the problem is serious I'd look into rehab.
dfdavid123
January 17th, 2018 7:34pm
Inpatient treatment: Typically, inpatient treatment programs last 30 days , 60 days , or 90 days . But these lengths can be adjusted according to your personal needs. When living at the treatment facility, you can escape your using environment to focus solely on your recovery. Outpatient treatment: Outpatient rehab options include intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization and standard outpatient treatment. Intensive and partial are more structured, and typically time-intensive treatment programs. You attend therapy a number of times per week, depending on the intensity of the program. Standard outpatient programs typically require you to attend once per week and may gradually decrease this rate over time. 12-step programs: 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are free to join and have meetings all across the United States and Canada. Alternative support groups: Groups such as SMART Recovery and Secular Organizations for Sobriety forego the more spiritual atmosphere of 12-step programs and base recovery on scientific principles and ongoing acquisition of knowledge.
KennethZ
January 31st, 2018 3:45pm
The first step to stopping any kind of substance abuse issue is actually -wanting- to stop for yourself. I wasn't able to quit drinking until -I- made the decision to stop. I couldn't let someone else make the decision for me. Look into local 12 step programs. They didn't work for me, but they have a higher rate of success than most other types of therapy for substance abuse.
jennmichelle126
January 31st, 2018 8:22pm
Substance abuse is very challenging to get out of alone. The best approach is to use multiple approaches. It's good to have a friend or family member on your side, a counsellor or therapist who specialises in substance abuse, as well as a support group in your community. Addiction is something difficult to do on your own, but with the right help, you can overcome your struggles and take back your life.
Brittany8013
March 1st, 2018 1:00am
There is no one way to quit an addiction, however there are things that need to be in place. the addict must acknowledge the problem, and want to fix it. the addict must have a positive support system, be it professional or relative. the addict must have a plan and a goal. Quitting an addiction such as drugs or alchohol is extreamly difficult, as the body is reliant on the substance. but it can be done!
IzzieBelle
March 10th, 2018 2:09am
I think it's important first of all to "commit to quit" - getting sober takes time, it takes effort, and there's no quick fix, so committing to it with all you have is the first challenge (sometimes it can be helpful to make a list of all the reasons you want to quit) - once you've committed to getting sober you can set some goals and choose a treatment plan. When you set goals it can help you to keep motivation. You might set a goal of learning how to manage your anger when you have a craving... or perhaps a goal of how to label your emotions and then express them in a healthy way. Your treatment plan will depend on the type of substance, the amount, and also may even depend on your support network and financial situation. You may choose to enrol in a detox or rehab program (you may need to speak to a doctor or research this). Finding the right support for you is crucial to recovery and getting sober... some people will join AA or NA meetings to attend weekly, and others will look to family and friends. As always, i suggest searching online for options that may work for you, and remembering that although it may be a struggle, many people have conquered addictions by creating a plan that works for them. Good luck!
Anonymous
March 23rd, 2018 10:39pm
From my experiences and education, you must know what triggers it all. It could be something or someone that triggers your emotions negatively, and makes you want to erase/numb those emotions. By simply understanding what the triggers are, you can then make appropriate steps to change your lifestyle to motion away from the triggers, and become the ideal person you know you can achieve.
positiveGrace10
March 31st, 2018 1:52pm
Take it slow and don't be too hard on yourself. Try to stop completely, cold turkey, and try to tell someone you trust to help you out but don't think of it as a failure if you find yourself going back to your addiction. It's a step on your path to recovery. There's always support groups and people to give positive reinforcements and advice. Stay strong!
Anonymous
April 14th, 2018 7:59pm
You can always think about your future. Ask yourself if doing drugs and alcohol will make you a better person. Strive big and think if it’ll help. Will it benefit your future job? Or your future life?
QueenEmpress
April 21st, 2018 11:12pm
Like many things that are difficult to quit, we have to be committed to it. Although we may have things in our lives that may give us a push or a reason, such as children or health scares, the decision is truly up to the person. Support is very important, we need people we can turn to that we feel we can depend on to talk to. We have to completely change our environment and stay away from people that will trigger the behavior. When we slip up, it’s not failure, we have to get right back on it and not think we can’t do it.
Anonymous
May 9th, 2018 10:58pm
Support, self determination, self love, new group off friends, affirmations, self forgiveness...…..
Anonymous
November 21st, 2019 1:05am
There are many things a person can to to better their relationships with a substances. The first thing you could do is talk to a medical professional about your desire to quit. Dr's have many rescues to make your journey to a clean life as easy and safe as possible. Another thing that can be helpful is thinking about the times you engage in these behaviors. You can do this by wright down every time you have/had reached for the substance and make sure to note the way you where feeling, what was happening right before, and what your intention was/is when you reached for it. This can allow you to look back and see some potential patterns that my be happening. With a better understanding of your behavior patterns you can avoid your triggers lowering your urge to use. Another thing that can be helpful is slowly limiting your intake over time. This allows you to take part in the substance but back away from it slowly keeping your body out of major withdrawal (Dr.'s can help with this). I would suggest that you start limiting your self to only using 3 day a week, then the next week only 2 days a week... and thought out time you should get to the point where you don't need to use at all. This may makes quitting less scary and may allow for slow growth away from the substance.
XBOXambassador106
February 20th, 2020 11:37pm
You can try to stop on your own cold Turkey or try getting help at a rehab facility some places offer more services than others if you need any advice on addiction you could try asking your doctor for help to stop drinking or using drugs or you could try taking a look online for drink or drugs help or rehabilitation assistance in your local area there is information available it's just about knowing where to look for it and how to look or you could ask the advice of an experienced listener here on 7 cups we are here to help
Anonymous
March 7th, 2020 6:11am
There are several different paths - but the most important in my opinion is support. This can be friends, family, or, if necessary, professions. There are many resources for people struggling with substance abuse issues, and they are there to be used! AA works for a lot of people, private detox programs, rehabilitation centers, etc. It really depends on you and on your situation. There are lots of different variables, but the most important thing is finding a way, whatever way that works for, to not take that substance that you are addicted to. It's most important to take it one day at a time!
Anonymous
April 5th, 2020 7:24am
Think about how it is affecting you and those around you. It's hard because you become used to it in many ways. So take small steps, cut down day by day instead of going cold turkey completely. Think of all the things that taking drugs and drinking does, and see how the consequences affect you. The first step is almost always self-realization and then second is to create a plan. An additional way to do this can be if you get someone in your life who you can hold yourself accountable to. This way you can control what you take.
JennMarie2
April 19th, 2020 8:16pm
Addiction is a very real thing and I am so glad that you came here seeking help for it! Along with various listeners who have direct experience with addictions, there is a sub community that has forums directly related to addictions of various kinds. Aside from that, there are many programs and resources in the US that are dedicated to helping people overcome their addictions to various substances. If you were to attempt to tackle addiction on your own, there are various methods that can be used to help you quit your addictions, depending on if you wanted to quit cold turkey or slowly. If you quit all at once, then obviously you would completely stop. The other option is to quit slowly and to do that, you could set goals for yourself that decrease the amount of the substance that you use each day or week.
exquisiteSea58
May 1st, 2020 9:39am
Keep track of your drug use, including when and how much you use. This will give you a better sense of the role the addiction is playing in your life. List the pros and cons of quitting, as well as the costs and benefits of continuing your drug use. Consider the things that are important to you, such as your partner, your kids, your pets, your career, or your health. How does your drug use affect those things? Ask someone you trust about their feelings on your drug use. Ask yourself if there’s anything preventing you from changing. What could help you make the change? Preparing for change: 5 key steps to addiction recovery Remind yourself of the reasons you want to change. Think about your past attempts at recovery, if any. What worked? What didn’t? Set specific, measurable goals, such as a start date or limits on your drug use. Remove reminders of your addiction from your home, workplace, and other places you frequent. Tell friends and family that you’re committing to recovery, and ask for their support. Explore your addiction treatment options Once you’ve committed to recovery, it’s time to explore your treatment choices. While addiction treatment can vary according to the specific drug, a successful program often includes different elements, such as: Detoxification. Usually the first step is to purge your body of drugs and manage withdrawal symptoms. Behavioral counseling. Individual, group, and/or family therapy can help you identify the root causes of your drug use, repair your relationships, and learn healthier coping skills. Medication may be used to manage withdrawal symptoms, prevent relapse, or treat any co-occurring mental health condition such as depression or anxiety. Long-term follow-up can help to prevent relapse and maintain sobriety. This may include attending regular in-person support groups or online meetings to help keep your recovery on track.
Chebbie
May 20th, 2020 5:16pm
Firstly, i think you are strong for talking about this and you are on a great path. It is okay to feel a little scared. I would too. 2 years ago i went through a drinking phrase too and i had to stop due to my health issues. I struggled along the way but i eventually made it and i am now 18 months without a drink. So you will make it too. I think you are great for wanting to stop drinking and you are strong enough to see it through. What do you think is the best scenario post drinking?
Anonymous
July 1st, 2020 11:12am
A GP is a good place to start. They can discuss your problems with you and get you into treatment. They may offer you treatment at the practice or refer you to your local drug service. If you're not comfortable talking to a GP, you can approach your local drug treatment service yourself. If you're dependent on heroin or another opioid, you may be offered a substitute drug, such as methadone. This means you can get on with your treatment without having to worry about withdrawing or buying street drugs.As well as the NHS, there are charities and private drug and alcohol treatment organisations that can help you.
Anonymous
July 5th, 2020 9:23am
Recovered addicts say that they’ve never felt better after quitting drugs, although this can take time. Knowing why you want to quit drugs can help you to stay motivated during the withdrawal process ,When you reduce or quit using drugs your body goes through a detoxification process (detox) or withdrawal. Symptoms vary between people, and between drugs, and range from mild to serious. They can last from a few days to a few weeks — it's different for every person — but they are temporary. Cravings for the drug will sometimes be weak and at other times very strong. Learning how to manage them is important for staying drug-free. Making a plan and writing it down can help you commit to quitting. Setting goals for your recovery helps you stay motivated and can make the process less stressful. It’s important to set realistic goals — both short and long-term. Be specific and make them measurable. Some examples of realistic, short-term goals are: I will see my doctor this weekI’m going to walk for half an hour 3 times this weekI want to be drug free for 2 weeks straight Long-term goals might include: being drug-free for a yearhaving friends that are healthy and sober and provide supportrebuilding family relationships by having regular get-togethers Reward yourself for success — with an enjoyable, drug-free activity such as going to a movie, or planning a holiday — and take it easy on yourself if you mess up. It’s OK to fail, just don’t give up trying.