Drug abuse, also called substance abuse, is the harmful or dangerous use of substances that make you feel high, like alcohol and illegal drugs. One of the most important effects of illegal drug use on society is that people’s health gets worse. Drug use is also very expensive for the person, their family, and society as a whole.
There isn’t just one way to treat drug abuse. Even though it’s almost impossible to stop anyone from using illegal drugs, there are things we can all do to keep from abusing drugs or alcohol. By telling your friends and family about this information, you may be able to stop them from doing drugs as well.
We’ve taken the time to talk about some real ways to stop drug abuse in Nigeria so that we can offer a reliable solution to this social problem that is ruining the lives of many young people.
Table of contents
7 Ways of Preventing Drug Abuse in Nigeria
1. Maintain a Healthy lifestyle
When anything in a person’s life isn’t working for them, or when they are dissatisfied with their lives or the direction in which their lives are heading, they may start using drugs. Take a step back and look at the larger picture of your life, then organize your priorities accordingly.
2. Check out every possible danger of drug abuse
If you are conscious of the biological, environmental, and physical risk factors that you present, you will have a better chance of overcoming them. There may be a history of substance misuse in the family, you may live in an environment that celebrates drug usage, and/or your family may serve as a role model for drug abuse. These are all potential risk factors.
3. Always try to accept facts about life
People in today’s society are underpaid and overworked, and they often have the impression that they deserve a nice vacation or some other kind of recompense. However, in the long run, drugs simply make life more stressful, which is something that a lot of us fail to understand in the time for a variety of reasons. Find other methods to deal with stress and decompress if you want to avoid turning to drugs as a kind of reward. Start an exercise routine, pick up a good book, spend some time helping those in need, and make something. Any activity that is uplifting and calming might assist keep one’s mind off the idea of utilizing drugs to manage stress.
4. Try to overcome Peer pressure
Peer pressure from other teens is the main reason why teens start using illegal drugs. No one likes to be left out, so teens (and yes, even some adults) do things they wouldn’t normally do to fit in. In these situations, you need to either find a better group of friends who won’t pressure you into doing harmful things, or you need to find a good way to say “no.” Teens should come up with a good excuse or plan ahead to avoid giving in to temptation.
5. Seek assistance for mental disorder
Substance misuse and mental illness are often found to co-occur in individuals. Those who suffer from mental health conditions are more likely to seek relief from the discomfort via the use of drugs. People who are experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder, should seek the assistance of a skilled professional for therapy as soon as possible, before the symptoms progress to the point where they lead to drug abuse.
6. Learn to ask for assistance from friends
It is in your best interest to formulate a plan to get assistance if you or a member of your family is prone to abusing substances. There are a lot of different approaches to taking care of it. Appoint a close friend or member of your family as the person you will contact first in the event of a critical incident. Find a reliable physician or mental health professional in whom you can confide, and do so as soon as possible. It is usually preferable to have numerous alternatives available, especially if one of them is unavailable.
7. Make time for yourself
Stress is a big part of modern life, which can make a person more likely to abuse drugs or become addicted to them. Many people find it hard to leave work at the office because they can easily get work emails or phone calls on their phones. This adds to the stress of having family responsibilities, going to social events, and driving to and from work. This means that many people are always stressed out and have no time to take care of themselves or relax. Chronic stress can lead to a lot of physical and mental health problems, which can make someone want to use drugs or alcohol to feel better. People can avoid some of these triggers by taking care of themselves and giving themselves enough time to relax. This could mean setting aside a few hours a week to write in a journal, read, relax in a sauna, catch up on sleep, or even turn off the cell phone for a day a week.
Is There any Difference Between Drug Addiction and Drug Abuse?
YES there is, Abusing drugs means using them in ways you shouldn’t, whether they are legal or not. You could take more pills than usual or use someone else’s prescription. You may abuse drugs to feel good, ease stress, or avoid reality. However, you should be able to adjust your bad behaviors or quit using completely.
Addiction is when you can’t quit. Not if it puts your health in danger. Not if it hurts you or your family financially, emotionally, or in other ways. Even if you want to stop, you might feel like getting and using drugs every minute of the day.
Conclusion
Abuse of drugs and alcohol in Nigeria is a big problem that has contributed a lot to the sad state of our country. It has caused many social and medical problems, such as dropping out of school, armed robbery, violence, mental illness, irritability, and heart problems, to name a few.
Talking about how to get rid of this problem, the government cannot do it on its own. It is a job for everyone, including individuals, groups, families, schools, civil society, religious groups, the media, and businesses.
