Our society is one where people are taught to mind their own business. This extension of our freedom and diversity is unfortunate though, because it continues to promote the lack of guidance that permeates throughout our country. For the most part, everyone will experiment or be exposed to drugs in their lifetime. Many try them out when they’re younger, but eventually grow out of it and move on with their lives. Others never get passed that stage. I have had many friends on both sides of that example, and it gives me a unique perspective on how our drugs affect our mind, and ultimately how it affects our ability to achieve our goals.
Most people would say that whatever emotion led people to doing drugs in the first place is the root cause of the problem. Whether it’s low self-esteem, a need to fit in, or problems at home, those factors would be the driving factors in the behavioral issues that are holding people back. I don’t necessarily agree with this, as there are many young people that experimented with drugs just because they were curious. But in the end they were not able to get passed it to move on to better things in there life. That’s not to say that you can’t do drugs and still accomplish things. It’s a personal choice, and if you are able to achieve your goals but still like to use drugs recreationally, that’s your business. Personally, I think drugs are more risk than reward the older I get (thus why I don’t do them), but the major goal is being able to make something of yourself.
The biggest gap is that some young people don’t have the guidance in their life to show them all the things they could do and how to get there. Nobody says “I want to be a drug addict when I grow up”, it just happens. People who have become addicted to drugs had (and still have) dreams and goals, they just don’t have the guidance to know how to get there. More than just a body addiction, the drugs become a reason to get excited for the day. These are the feelings that have to change. If you are seeing progress in your normal life (as you achieve your goals), then that is exciting enough. You don’t need drugs to get you by.
So how can you help your loved ones get out of the addiction cycle? I think the biggest thing is having a strong support system around them with people that care (and who are also drug free). Then, some guidance on what they can do with their lives. Enroll them in a community college, try to help them get a really great job, something of that nature. Then as some good things start to go their way, build on that success and make sure they’re able to see their progress. The rush of excitement from seeing some of your goals come true is usually enough to keep you going on to the next one. The more you start to build up your life, the more you have to lose. Then you can really see that drugs aren’t helping you get where you want to go.
It’s very unfortunate what drugs can do to people. I’ve seen some really great people with big hearts who had hopes and dreams become a shell of their former self because of drugs. If you know someone who’s in a similar situation, try to help them. Prevent them from doing an injustice to themselves and try to get them the guidance that they need. No one wants to come off “preachy”, but sometimes you need to stick your head into their business because you love them.
