When people hear the term “drug-related harm,” they often overcomplicate what it means. Drug-related harm simply refers to all of the damage and destruction that drugs (including alcohol) can cause to both the individual who is using and the loved ones around them. This includes physical, emotional, and mental harm. The good news is that there is a solution. There are many effective means, methods, and modalities that can help one get past drug-related harm and onto the positive path of long-term recovery.
Reducing Drug-Related Harm
So, how can we reduce drug-related harm? The reality is that the best way to do so is to stop using and drinking. Of course, this is easier said than done. So, the best way to reduce drug-related harm is to create a plan to either get sober or help a loved one get sober.
This means connecting to recovery professionals who can help get the ball rolling. It may mean connecting to a professional interventionist to help get a loved one into treatment, or connecting to a detox center if you feel like you are ready to stop using and/or drinking. On that note, remember that it is critical not to try to detox on your own. It can be highly dangerous, and with substances like alcohol, it can even be deadly. Also, it is important to understand that drug-related harm also affects the family.
Better Understanding Drug-Related Harm
There is a reason why they call addiction a “family disease.” This is because addiction often hurts those closest to us in many ways. It can cause loved ones to lose trust, hope, and patience. Also, it can make loved ones codependent on our toxic behaviors. This ultimately means that they can become as “sick” as the individual who is struggling.
It is important for family members and loved ones to be able to set boundaries. This is one very helpful way to reduce drug-related harm because the consequences that these boundaries create can make an individual finally decide that it is time to get help. Of course, the effects on the family are not the only drug-related harm out there.
Types of Drug-Related Harm
The most obvious type of drug-related harm is the physical harm that it can cause the body. Now, the reality is that drugs will eventually break the body down completely. It is only a matter of time – it is a certainty. The sad fact, however, is that for many people, this deterioration takes a long time, which simply means the physical pain occurs over an extended period of time. This is no way to live.
Mental harm also occurs due to drug and alcohol use. This is why many people who struggle with addiction also struggle with issues of mental illness. Unfortunately, for millions of people who have co-occurring disorders, their issues go undiagnosed because the addiction symptoms mirror the symptoms of mental illness. This makes recovery significantly more difficult.
There is also a less commonly discussed harm known as “spiritual harm.” This includes the hopelessness that one often experiences when they are struggling with active addiction. Many people who once had strong spiritual convictions lose them when they feel that there is no way out from under addiction. The good news is that many people recover this spirituality when they choose to get well.
Effective Treatment Options
The key to getting past drug-related harm is to connect with a recovery plan that utilizes many types of treatment modalities. This includes psychotherapies that can help with the mental and emotional component, and holistic healing methods that can help with the physical and spiritual components.
Psychotherapies can be particularly helpful because they can get to the underlying issues that lead to addiction (and the drug-related harm). It is important to remember that addiction is less about the actual drink or the drug than it is about the reason that individual takes that drink or the drug in the first place. Psychotherapy also works well with yoga and meditation.
Yoga and meditation have been practiced for thousands of years. However, it has not been until recently that people started utilizing these holistic healing methods for addiction and mental illness recovery. These modalities can help you to rediscover your inner peace, find a sense of balance and serenity, aid in respiratory problems, and promote physical strength and flexibility. They can also aid in connecting (or reconnecting) with a Higher Power of your own understanding. 12-Step recovery can also help with this.
A Focus on Long-Term Success at Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we believe that reducing drug-related harm ultimately leads to long-term success. Anything less is a short-term “fix.”
If you are over being harmed by a toxic lifestyle, then the time to recover is now. You can do this! We can help.
Drug-related harm is a serious issue when it comes to early sobriety. That is why it is so important that you know what drug-related harm looks like, as well as how to reduce its effects. The good news is that there are many effective means, methods, and modalities that can help reduce drug-related harm. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about drug-related harm, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
