Common Barriers to Beating Drug Addiction

Overcoming any form of drug addiction is never easy. Addictions have the potential to take control of a person’s life. It can even go so fast that drug use seems necessary for mere survival. As dark and difficult as drug use can be, many former users can testify that there is a way out. It is often a long process that involves a lot of courage, hard work and support.

Regardless of what kind of addiction you are facing there will be many barriers to success. The good news is, if you can recognize them you can avoid them. Consider the following barriers and how you or someone you love can overcome them.

Fear

There are a lot of fears attributed to drug addiction. They may include fear of being found out, fear of letting loved ones down, fear of losing a job, fear of getting kicked off a sports team, etc. As a general rule of thumb, fear is never a good motivator. It prevents people from facing the truth. If you can’t overcome the fears associated with drug use and recovery, it will be nearly impossible to ever change. What things are you afraid of? How will you overcome it?

Denial of the Addiction

Probably the most common reason people fail to overcome drug addiction is a denial that they even have one. If you don’t think there’s anything wrong, there’s nothing to fix. Even when someone does realize they have a drug addiction, they may not understand its full consequences. Addictions affect more than just the user. Drug users may be blinded to the effect their actions are having on family and friends. The first step of any meaningful recovery is understanding the full consequences of your actions.

Lack of Support

Few people can make a change completely on their own. They need a network of people who can support and encourage them. That is why so many rehab and recovery programs involve people who play an important role in the addict’s life. This support may come in the form of family, friends, church members, those who have overcome addiction before, or professional counselors. There are many ways to connect with people. If an addict is geographically isolated from family and friends, they can still communicate through the Internet. The more support, the better. There is strength in numbers.

People and Places that Trigger a Craving

Once someone has decided to make a change, it is necessary for them to distance themselves from the people and places that remind them of drug use. There are many types of environmental factors that could trigger a craving. Going out to a bar with friends, hanging around certain people, or walking past a place that they used to do drugs can trigger the mind and body. Relapse often occurs because people put themselves in difficult situations. Was there a certain song you listened to while doing drugs? Was there a certain food you ate? Stay away from anything and everything that will remind of those times.