Substance abuse can be a hard topic to talk about. This is a topic considered taboo in many societies and due to reasons including shame, stigma and fear, conversations around drug use are far from what they should be, in terms of the nature of these interactions as well as the number of people having them .
The most important thing to keep in mind during these conversations is to be empathetic. Drug abuse is a problem that nobody is inherently immune to, just because an individual uses drugs does not mean they are careless or irresponsible people who should single handedly face the blame for the problems surrounding drug use. A lot of times substance abuse stems from underlying problems and traumas that a person might be facing, which is why one should never be quick to judge those who abuse substances.
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The path to recovery for people who abuse substances involves support systems and community involvement, if the people around recovering patients are not supportive and shame them, the person will find it very hard to reintegrate themselves into the society and attempt to lead a normal life. For the people around recovering addicts/abusers, it is essential to ensure there is constant positive regard for the affected person’s feelings and experiences. People cannot be shamed or judged directly into abstinence or recovery, therefore it is important to be mindful of one’s interactions with recovering addicts/abusers.
Here are some tips to help those who are helping someone close to them deal with substance abuse:
The best way to help someone is to accept what you can and cannot do. You cannot force someone to remain sober, nor can you make someone take their medication or keep appointments. What you can do is make positive choices for yourself, encourage your loved one to get help, and offer your support while making sure you don’t lose yourself in the process.
Seek support: Dealing with a loved one’s mental illness and substance abuse can be painful and isolating. Make sure you’re getting the emotional support you need to cope. Talk to someone you trust about what you’re going through. It can also help to get your own therapy or join a support group.
Set boundaries: Be realistic about the amount of care you’re able to provide without feeling overwhelmed and resentful. Set limits on disruptive behaviors and stick to them. Letting the co-occurring disorders take over your life isn’t healthy for you or your loved one.
Educate yourself: Learn all you can about your loved one’s mental health problem, as well as substance abuse treatment and recovery. The more you understand what your loved one is going through, the better able you’ll be to support recovery.
Be patient: Recovering from co-occurring disorders doesn’t happen overnight. Recovery is an ongoing process and relapse is common. Ongoing support for both you and your loved one is crucial as you work toward recovery, but you can get through this difficult time together and regain control of your lives.
Substance abuse is a serious issue which receives due importance through appropriate legal incarceration from the Indian as well as Singapore government. In both India and Singapore, the punishment differs according to the quantity and type of drugs possessed by the offender. While a lot of countries do not identify substance abuse as an issue that deserves death penalty, in extreme cases of drug abuse in both India and Singapore death penalty can be issued to the offender.