Avoiding Drugs and Addictions

If we don’t know about something, we don’t know what we’re missing. Depending on the situation, that could be good or bad.

When it comes to drugs and alcohol, that could be very good. Not having contact with drugs, for instance, can help us avoid them and their consequences.

Sadly, this isn’t always a choice. Sometimes people are born to families whose members abuse drugs or alcohol or struggle with addictions. They could grow up surrounded by alcohol and drugs as well as people who use them. They could witness firsthand the effects of substance abuse and addiction.

These young people might have to enter the foster care system and could be adopted by other families. These arrangements might provide the children with better chances at healthier, substance-free lives. National Adoption Month and other initiatives hope to help with such efforts.

More drugs = more problems

This isn’t just a problem of drugs in the home. More drugs in total can mean more problems for everyone.

Increases in heroin production and technological transfers among drug suppliers have vastly increased the amount of heroin in the U.S. market, making it easier for many people to access the drug. Surveys have found that accessibility is a reason why some people begin using heroin.

It’s simple and complex at the same time. If we’re around drugs, we have the opportunity to try them. We might see others getting high and searching for ways to temporarily forget about their problems. Of course, we also see what happens when the effects of those drugs fade and we’re confronted with the complexity of addiction.

Treating addiction is also complex. Many people go to drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers but many also relapse from their sobriety. Given the difficulty of becoming and staying sober, maybe it’s best to keep away from drugs in the first place (if we can) and try to help others do the same.

Sources

acf.hhs.gov – What/When Is National Adoption Month?

drugabuse.gov – Prescription Opioids and Heroin Research Report – Increased Drug Availability Is Associated with Increased Use and Overdose

sunshinebehavioralhealth.com – Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Treatment Centers