Rebuilding Yourself After Leaving Drug Rehabilitation
Changing Society’s Attitude Toward People in Drug Treatment Is Another Way to Help Solve Thailand’s Drug Problem
When it comes to how someone changes after leaving drug rehabilitation, it depends on two main factors: “the person themselves” and “their environment or society.” Society itself needs to see people with addiction in a new light — shifting away from the old view of people with addiction as criminals, and toward recognizing that once they’ve completed rehabilitation, they can return to society to start a new life with real quality, and contribute value to society.
Changing society’s attitude toward these patients is another way to help solve Thailand’s drug problem. But today, many people in society still see people with addiction as dangerous criminals. Various media also report on cases of people with addiction who become violent, take others hostage, or harm people, and so on. Society’s view of people with addiction as criminals has a real impact on patients’ morale — leaving most people who enter rehabilitation feeling discouraged, carrying deeper wounds, or even too afraid to return to a normal life in society. So for society to become more accepting, patients or people in treatment themselves need real determination and confidence, and must be ready to change.
It really isn’t easy to quit drugs or alcohol, because dependence on drugs or alcohol is tied to the body itself. No matter how much someone wants to quit, if their body still can’t stop using that substance, the chances of success on their own are slim. Many people with addiction believe they can quit on their own, but very few actually manage to do it. So you should look for someone you trust — a close friend, a partner, a family member, a psychiatrist, or a treatment center such as DAY ONE REHAB CENTER — to enter treatment and rehabilitation, and to prepare before returning to live in society again.
Techniques for Rebuilding Yourself to Reduce Obstacles Once You’ve Decided to Quit and Enter Treatment — Techniques You Can Apply to Daily Life After Leaving the Treatment Center
1. Always remember: “being addicted to drugs doesn’t make you a bad person”
If you find yourself dwelling on the time you spent enslaved to drugs, and it makes you feel bad, we recommend talking to or consulting with someone quickly, to release those feelings — because there’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Letting others know how you feel helps you stay committed to your effort, and ultimately helps you quit drugs for good. It can also help the people around you understand you better — how you feel, and what problems led you to rely on drugs in the first place.
2. Find and set life goals
Find and set positive life goals — for example, what career you want, or what you want to succeed at — and then start moving toward that path with determination.
3. Tell your friends you’re trying to quit drugs
Friends who genuinely wish you well will understand and support what you’re doing, and will encourage you to succeed in quitting. But this also means you’ll need to stop associating with, or say no to, friends who use drugs, and avoid your old environments.
If that’s not possible, start by saying “let me think about it,” then gradually move toward saying “no” as quickly as you can — this helps prevent repeated pressure to join in, since persistent pushing from others can make you start looking for excuses to go along with it, and helps you build a new circle of friends who genuinely support, help, and understand you.
Ways to refuse and find a way out include:
- Refuse repeatedly without giving reasons, say goodbye, and find a way to leave the situation
- Negotiate — for example, by suggesting another activity to do instead
- Ask for more time, buying time so the person asking has a chance to change their mind
4. Avoid situations that put you at risk of using again
Don’t put yourself in high-risk situations. Drinking get-togethers or late-night parties are often situations where drug use happens frequently, especially among young people. If you’re in the process of quitting drugs, avoid putting yourself in these kinds of situations.
Because they carry the risk of being pressured or forced into using again, if you do need to attend an event like this, let your parents or someone close to you know beforehand, so that if you need help, someone can get you out of the situation right away.
5. Practice self-restraint
Learn to think, analyze, and exercise self-restraint. Be cautious, and don’t fall for advertising or advice that draws you toward drugs or other vices. Practice problem-solving, stay mindful, avoid panic, and practice managing your emotions.
6. Maintain a positive outlook
Maintain a positive attitude, look at the world in a positive light, and clear away the negative thoughts that erode your effort and determination.
7. Use your free time productively, away from drugs
Find activities you’re interested in, that you enjoy, or that you’re good at, and pursue them — don’t let free time go to waste. Importantly, these activities should have nothing to do with drugs or other vices.
If you find yourself thinking about using drugs again, take time to reflect carefully on “why you would go back to using.” Remind yourself how difficult and painful the process of quitting was, and draw on the techniques and lessons you learned and practiced at the treatment center, applying them together. And don’t be ashamed to ask the people around you for help.
Day One Rehab Center, a drug rehabilitation center, is a treatment and rehabilitation facility for people struggling with alcohol, drugs, and gambling. We believe everyone has value and ability within themselves, and we help people learn to live alongside others through a range of therapy activities, along with work on reshaping thoughts and behavior, and adjusting to life in society after rehabilitation.
Source: https://hd.co.th/dealing-with-addiction-drugs
Also: Guide to Rehabilitation for People in Custodial Drug Treatment (Department of Probation, Ministry of Justice, and Office of the Narcotics Control Board)
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