YOU'RE NOT ALONE

Dealing With Addiction ( Part 2 )

What Can Help With Addiction Recovery?

After you start a treatment program, try these tips to make the road to recovery less bumpy:

Tell your friends about your decision to stop using drugs. 

True friends will respect your decision. This might mean that you need to find a new group of friends who will be 100% supportive. Unless everyone decides to kick their drug habit at once, you probably won't be able to hang out with the friends you did drugs with.

Ask your friends or family to be ready to support you when you need them. 

You might need to call someone in the middle of the night just to talk. If you're going through a tough time, don't try to handle things on your own — accept the help your family and friends offer.

Accept invitations only to events that you know won't involve drugs or alcohol. 

Going to the movies is probably safe, but you may want to skip a Friday night party until you're feeling more secure. Plan activities that don't involve drugs. Go to the movies, try bowling, or take an art class with a friend.

Have a plan about what you'll do if you find yourself in a situation with drugs or alcohol.

The temptation will be there sometimes. If you know how you're going to handle it, you'll be OK. Establish a plan with your parents, siblings, or other supportive friends and adults so that if you call or text using a code, they'll know you need a ride out of there.

Remind yourself that having an addiction doesn't make a person bad or weak. 

If you fall back into old patterns (backslide) a bit, talk to an adult as soon as possible. It's nothing to be ashamed about, but it's important to get help soon so that all the hard work you put into your recovery is not lost.

How Can I Help a Friend With Addiction?

If you're worried about a friend who has an addiction, you can use these same tips to help them. For example, let your friend know that you are available to talk or offer your support. If you notice a friend backsliding, talk about it openly and ask what you can do to help.

If your friend is going back to drugs or drinking and won't accept your help, don't be afraid to talk to a nonthreatening, understanding adult, like your parent or school counselor. Getting your friend help is the best support you can offer.

Above all, offer a friend who's battling an addiction lots of encouragement and praise. Hearing that you care is exactly the kind of motivation your friend needs.

What Helps With Staying Sober?

Recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction doesn't end with a 6-week treatment program. It's a lifelong process. Many people find that joining a support group can help them stay clean. There are support groups specifically for teens and younger people. You'll meet people who have gone through the same experiences, and you can have real-life discussions about drugs that you won't hear in your school's health class.

Many people find that helping others is also the best way to help themselves. Your understanding of how hard the recovery process can be will help you to support others who are battling an addiction.

If you do have a relapse, recognizing the problem as soon as possible is critical. Get help right away so that you don't undo the hard work you put into your initial recovery. And if you do have a relapse, don't ever be afraid to ask for help!