For the many millions of individuals all over the world who have fallen into the trap of using and abusing substances to get through their daily lives, it can seem as though there isn’t help for them. The consequences of substance abuse are often quite dire as continued substance use damages the organs in the physical bodies of substance users everywhere while also doing damage to their mind and spirit, and even damaging their ability to earn a living or have family, and true friends that care about them. With effects like these it is little wonder that many users give up hope and assume that they can’t receive actual substance abuse assistance that will really work to help them to stop using substances and learn how to reclaim their lives and live them without substance abuse. Many people fail to realize just how easy it is to fall into the trap of substance abuse, and others believe that just because a substance may be prescribed for them, or if it is available over the counter that’s it’s not really possible to “abuse” it and become addicted, but this is simply not true and just one of the many falsehoods that many substance abusers tell themselves as part of the denial that comes along with substance abuse. One of the biggest challenges in getting someone to receive substance abuse assistance is cutting through all of the lies and manipulations that they tell not just friends, family members and even co-workers, but the lies that they tell themselves so that they can continue using and abusing substances. In many instances it takes a specialist that is trained in the techniques of intervention to help family members and friends to confront the substance abuser to get them to see that they do indeed have a problem, that it is one that they cannot solve on their own and that they need help to become free of substance abuse and to re-learn how to live substance free. At other times, it takes a serious, life changing event, such as an accident caused by the substance abuse, a personal health scare or perhaps even coming to the attention of law enforcement and judicial system authorities for the substance user to finally face reality and to seek the treatment that is often necessary to become free of substance abuse. Once a substance abuser makes this crucial first step of admitting that they have a problem and need help, they will find that there is an overwhelming amount of help and support to assist them in their quest to stop using and abusing substances. Just as there are numerous legal and illegal substances that one can become hooked on using and abusing, there are also just as many different types of substance abuse programs to help them become free of the need to use. There are smoking cessation plans and support groups for alcoholism. There are drug rehabs, drug detox centers and even teen alcohol rehab, drug addiction treatment centers that offer dual diagnosis, and even gender-specific therapies, that can help anyone who makes an honest commitment and effort to becoming substance abuse free. The important thing to remember when confronting substance abuse is that regardless of the substance, while it is a difficult road to break free of physical or psychological addictions to substance abuse, there is always a source of help available and to never give up hope for recovery.
