Substance abuse and addiction is not something that can or
should be taken lightly. Addiction treatment can only be successful with true
commitment and the desire to follow through. What many people fail to realize
is that addicts battle their respective demons for the rest of their lives --
there is no quick fix. Urges and cravings do not disappear. However, an addict
can reach a point where the intense hunger for the chosen substance becomes
manageable. Over time, and with the right steps, this hunger becomes a dull hum
in the background.
The other major aspect of addiction treatment is support
from family and loved ones. No addict will be able to complete their journey
alone. Loved ones are urged to educate themselves and to provide a stable
support network that the addict can truly rely on. When cravings set it, it
helps to have someone to talk to. While addicts may feel ashamed that they have
let their families down before, they need to know that their pasts are not
being held against them. The only way any person can progress past any type of
addiction is through looking forward instead of agonizing over past mistakes.
In addition to a stable family support system, addicts need
to build up social networks that are completely sober. For the first few years,
at the very least, there needs to be an almost complete lack of temptation in
the social sphere. An addict needs to be in the presence of people who do not
rely on substances themselves.
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