Can an addiction be prevented? How to prevent addictions? An addiction is a chronic illness that anyone can suffer from; no one is exempt from it. Regardless of age, social class, economic level… For this reason, it is essential to be aware of the risks and dangers posed by addiction. Although it can be difficult to prevent an addiction because there is no exact cause, it is possible to do preventive work in advance and prevent addictions.
Prevention could be defined as a series of behaviours to take into account and follow when faced with drug use or other addictive behaviours. If you have any questions about a substance use disorder or need information to overcome an addiction, CCAdicciones is always by your side.
Risk factors for developing addictions
There are certain factors that increase the likelihood of suffering from an addiction. The presence of one of these elements does not mean that a person will necessarily develop an addiction, but it may increase the probability.
Mainly, the following factors can be distinguished:
- Biological. This refers to genetic aspects of the person in question. It is what will determine an individual’s vulnerability to drug use or addictive behaviour. There are individuals who have greater vulnerability, and this explains why some people become addicted and others do not, or why some need to consume higher doses for an addiction to develop.
- A person’s personality traits can contribute to causing an addiction. Having a very impulsive character, seeking new sensations, or having low self-esteem are factors that can lead a person to use drugs. It should also be noted that if there is a mental disorder, the chances of suffering from an addiction increase.
- Social / environmental. Social and environmental stimuli in a person’s life can affect whether a person starts using. For example, being in a disadvantaged situation of poverty, going through a difficult situation such as the death of someone close, a breakup, job loss…
- Family. The family situation and the bond with it can be decisive. If there are cases of addictions in the family, these behaviours may become normalised and repeated in the long run. A poor family relationship, an environment of constant arguments, and lack of communication between family members are factors that can drive substance use or addictive behaviour.
- Cultural. Easy access to drugs in today’s society, and even the normalisation of their use, are factors that make it easier to develop an addiction because they can be obtained easily. Even for younger people.
Measures to prevent addictions
Although, as we have mentioned previously, there is no age limit for suffering from an addiction, it is true that some stages are more vulnerable than others. Adolescence is one of them. It is a time of change and experimentation. Wanting to try new things, being influenced by friends and feeling social pressure, generally having a low perception of risk, reproducing adult behaviours to feel older… For these reasons, emphasis must be placed on making the dangers of addictions known so that they understand everything that revolves around an addiction.
Just as there are risk factors that contribute to developing an addiction, there are also preventive measures to avoid it. These are a series of behaviours that will contribute positively to preventing the disease of addiction. These measures are especially useful for adolescents or young people, precisely at the age when substance use begins. Some of our recommendations are as follows:
- Communication. It is very important that there is communication so that any topic can be addressed and discussed openly. That there is a bond of trust and support.
- Address the topic of addictions. It is important not to turn addictions into a taboo. Not to make it a topic that cannot be talked about, because that would contribute to its stigmatisation. It must be normalised in order to warn of the dangers it has and to answer the questions that adolescents may have,
- Encourage positive aspects of the person. There is a bad habit of always highlighting negative aspects that create complexes, insecurities and low self-esteem in younger children. It is necessary to reinforce positive aspects.
- Avoid certain harmful company and environments. It is best to avoid people who already use or who encourage use, and places associated with drug use, so as not to have any kind of temptation.
Behaviours that indicate an addiction
Each addiction will manifest differently because it will have different effects. However, some general characteristics can be defined that are present in all addictions. They are as follows:
- Complete loss of control
- Deteriorated appearance
- Denial as an initial reaction
- Sadness
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Physical health problems
- Onset of a mental disorder, such as anxiety or depression
- Development of diseases
- Guilt
- Decreased performance at work and/or academically
- Abandonment of leisure activities unrelated to use or addictive behaviour
Addiction Treatment
If it is already too late to prevent an addiction and the person already has a dependency or an addiction, it is advisable to contact professionals who are experts in the disease of addiction. CCAdicciones is a detox clinic specialised in detoxing from addictions and treating dual pathology. It has a medical team made up of therapists and medical specialists who will provide the necessary tools for our patients to free themselves from addictions. Thanks to our experience after years of helping people and their families, we have been able to merge various therapies and treatments into one exclusive programme.
We offer treatments to overcome any addiction, whether with or without a substance. It is a toxin-free treatment for people who need to detox. It does not matter whether they are in a phase of abuse or have already developed an addiction, getting out of addiction is possible. With a method, a professional team, and a suitable centre. We know there is always a way out because we have an 86% recovery rate. Contact us if you need more information on how to prevent addictions or about detox treatments.
