Addicted to Drugs? Here's Your Next Step

The first step to overcoming an addiction to drugs is admitting you need help.

Deciding you want to take action for your health and future is commendable and should be celebrated. Even as you move toward a healthier idea for your future, you can still be met with a paralyzing question: “What do I do next?”

There is a lot of information about overcoming addiction, and it can be difficult to know where to start when planning your journey to sobriety. With so many changes on the horizon, take your future one step at a time as you prepare for your new, sober life. 

Establish a Support System

Deciding that you are ready to take the first step in overcoming an addiction to drugs is an incredible feat. Although, acknowledging this to yourself and expressing it to someone else can be very different things. Nothing about overcoming addiction is easy, but it is worth every minute.

It is important to have a support system in your corner for both the difficulties and triumphs ahead. Talking with your family or close friends about getting help is essential for creating a support network. This network can not only help you find the best treatment options available, but also begin the healing process with unity and honesty. 

This does not mean you have to announce your struggles with addiction to the world. Rather, taking time to sit down with a few select people to have an intimate conversation can lead to the best results. The decision over who you should tell or not about your journey through addiction recovery is ultimately up to you.

Finding effective support for addiction as early as possible makes a tremendous difference in the chances of your long-term recovery.

Separate Yourself From Negative Influences

Putting distance between yourself and previous habits and influences can be incredibly difficult. Your current friends may be a detriment to your recovery progress, either because they do not provide adequate support or because they still indulge in substances. This may also be true of places you used to go or things you used to do that were associated with drug use.

Recovery from addiction involves a lot of change, and it is common to feel uncomfortable during the early stages of recovery. By distancing yourself from the previous routines and social environments that led you to substance use, you can create space in your life that is conducive to maintaining sobriety.

As you separate yourself from negative influences, you can invite positive influences in to help you make the best decisions to keep your recovery going.

Research Different Facilities

There are many options for treatment out there, and it can be difficult to know where to begin. When you are considering addiction treatment facilities, ask each one about their unique approaches to the recovery process to find the one that will serve you best. Different treatment centers have varying approaches and options.

Finding a facility that aligns most with your needs and goals gives you the best chance for long-term sobriety.

Taking time to research, call, and ask questions about different treatment centers before committing to one can ensure your time is being spent in treatment modalities that will help you the most. Finding the right treatment center can make or break your recovery process. 

Check Into Detox

Detox is a crucial part of the recovery process, but also one of the most difficult parts. Detox involves the sudden cessation of the use of addictive substances to allow your body to process and expel the toxic substances you have put into it.

This phase often comes with many physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms, making the beginning of recovery difficult. Dedicated detox programs help you through the detox process by providing physical and emotional support to ensure you are as safe and comfortable as possible.

Detox is not something that should be conducted outside the supervision and direction of trained professionals. While it is a difficult step, it is also necessary to start your treatment process with a sober, clear mind in order to get you past the harmful effects of the substance being in your body.

Get Ready for a New Life

Recovery is not just about finding ways to quell the urge to use drugs. Rather, it is a transformative process that seeks to change your daily life and mindset for the better. Recovery involves healing the mind, body, and spirit. It comes with the opportunity to meet new people, explore new interests, and learn how to cope with life without dependence on substances.

Be ready to participate in individual and group activities. Approach recovery not only as a way to quit substance use, but also as the vehicle to transform your life. You must be open to accepting these new people and ways of thinking to truly dedicate yourself to the transformative opportunities that treatment and a sober lifestyle provide.

Acknowledging your drug use needs to change and cease is the first step toward change. However, taking the next step can still be complicated, even if you are prepared for the difficult journey ahead.

The Forge Recovery Center understands the difficulties that can plague the beginning of your recovery journey and we pride ourselves on being able to guide you each step of the way. Located in beautiful southern California, we are prepared to create a personalized treatment plan, all while educating you and helping you navigate your unique path to sobriety alongside peers and professionals.

For more information, call us today.

Written by

Brian Moore

Content Writer

Reviewed by

Jeremy Arzt

Chief Clinical Officer

May 9, 2022