Valerie Mmanthe Mampshika,[Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English].
Drug and alcohol abuse take their toll on thousands of individuals every day, but no matter how hopeless the situation seems, it is never too late to turn things around by seeking help.
Individuals need to learn about the dangers of substance abuse urgently especially teenagers who experience peer pressure from the early age of twelve to prevent drug and alcohol abuse.
Family is a very significant group in all our lives and they need to support their family members by attending family therapy with them to apply reassurance of their sense of belonging in their lives for addicts to quit alcohol and drug abuse,although the process might be ongoing for a long period of time.
There are many factors which cause alcohol and drug abuse such as “genetics, family background, mental health issues, work stress, financial pressure, and relationship problems,” said Marna Acker who happens to be an Occupational Psychologist in Nelspruit,South Africa.
Signs and symptoms that individuals should look out for in their surroundings if they think one of their loved ones might be drug or alcohol abuse addicts are:
Weight loss, skin colour change, skin outbreaks.
Intense urges or cravings as the addiction develops.
Withdrawal symptoms leading to suboptimal performance and physical craving.
Isolation, depression, anxiety and paranoia.
Unhealthy friendships with people who have similar habits.
Financial difficulties due to large amounts of money being spent on drugs or alcohol.
Neglecting responsibilities, such as work or personal obligations.
Poor judgement, including risky behaviours such as stealing, lying, engaging in unsafe sex, selling drugs, or crimes that could land the person in jail.
Most importantly those who surround addicts need to give them time to admit that they have a problem before they can even provide the adequate support they need on a daily basis to beat the addiction,because psychologists believe that admitting is the first step that you take before you start the process of getting help.
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#HowToAssistAddicts
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