How can addiction be prevented? An image of a woman enjoying the sun on a balcony

Could it really be possible to be able to avoid developing a dependency? And if so, how can addiction be prevented?

The significance of addiction prevention efforts cannot be overstated – getting in early and stopping your engaging in destructive behaviour can help improve your long-term health and well-being.

It’s important to know how to prevent addiction, what resources are available to you, and where to access them.

Understanding Addiction

Addiction has always existed. Alcohol has been a continuous problem with people for thousands of years, and substances such as cocaine, heroin, tobacco, and caffeine have been abused since they were discovered.

Behavioural addiction is a more modern phenomenon with people capable of being addicted to gambling, social media, the internet, gaming and pornography.

There is no single cause of addiction, but there are certain risk factors. Genetics, mental health problems, your environment and trauma can all increase the risk of addiction.

Early Education and Awareness

Preventing substance abuse amongst younger people will hopefully stop them from developing more severe addictions as adults. The best help that young people can get is education about addiction and awareness of the damage it does.

Getting this information at school is essential as this is where young people spend most of their time. In the latest UK government report, 31% of young people referred to treatment services were via education services.

Schools can educate their staff to recognise the signs, creating an early intervention and wellness team. They can offer educational sessions to teach students about addiction and create safe spaces for them to voice concerns about their substance use and behaviour. Schools can also teach skills for navigating peer pressure situations.

Parents and guardians should also play a role. If they set a foundation of open and honest communication, education and trust, then children with questions or worrying about addiction are more likely to reach out.

Building Healthy Coping Mechanisms

A common cause of addiction is that people develop unhealthy coping mechanisms. Stress, anxiety and other mental health issues can quickly lead to addiction if a person doesn’t know how to better deal with their issues.

Developing healthy coping mechanisms can stop addiction before it has got going – leaving you in a much better place.

Healthy coping mechanisms include:

  • Exercise
  • Hobbies
  • Practising mindfulness
  • Staying connected with others
  • Balanced diet
  • Support meetings and therapy

Developing an addiction occurs due to deeper emotional and psychological issues. Getting mental health support and counselling can help you understand your issues, develop better problem-solving techniques and provide you with goals to aim for.

The Role of Family and Social Support

Strong family bonds that are built around trust and communication can be key to addiction prevention. If you feel that protection and safety net, you are less likely to get in situations where addiction can occur. You are also more likely to voice problems you are having and find better ways to deal with them – rather than taking a substance or socially withdrawing.

Open communication and support within families will keep you accountable, help you stay connected and provide emotional support. This support network can extend to friends and the wider community – group support meetings are vital for people in recovery – and having access to loads of people means there is always someone to lean on in tough times.

Implementing Community Programmes

Beyond the family and support network, communities and local healthcare professionals have a part to play in creating strategies to avoid addiction.

GPs especially can be a point of contact between patients and services. Local doctors can provide their patients with information on local organisations and resources available to them within the NHS. They can be part of early intervention and help motivate those at risk to get help.

Programmes have been adopted within local communities. Some police forces have adopted diversion schemes – diverting people involved in low-level drug use to educational, therapy and social services rather than prison.

UK music festivals drug test confiscated substances and send out alerts to festivalgoers’ phones about anything dangerous – adopting a harm reduction approach.

In Lancashire, there is a service to help women caught up in addiction and the criminal justice system. In Devon, they have expanded their early support response to provide rapid assessment for younger people.

Alcohol and Substance Abuse Policy and Regulation

Laws and regulations are important to preventing substance abuse. Age restrictions, such as being unable to buy alcohol or cigarettes before being 18, provide a significant obstacle for young people. Advert bans have prevented cigarettes from being advertised, and drinking ads cannot feature people that look under 25 or reflect the culture of under 18-year-olds.

The government and policymakers are responsible for creating a safe environment society-wide. They divided substances into classes and set out the prison sentence guidelines for the consumption and selling of drugs.

Thoughts are changing on whether punishment is the best way to deal with issues around addiction. An effective policy in Portugal showed there is another. They decriminalised drugs in 2001, and by 2018, the number of heroin addicts had gone from 100,000 to 25,000.

Recognising Early Addiction Warning Signs

Early intervention and seeking help promptly can greatly reduce the damage done by addiction. Knowing the signs is important, and being prepared by being aware of resources and support means you can act quickly.

Early warning signs include:

  • Binging episodes
  • Losing interest in other activities
  • Mood swings
  • Sudden weight change
  • Not taking care of appearance
  • More secretive

Providing Access to Resources

Addiction prevention will only work if at-risk people have access to resources. GPs are in a position to make a difference. They have been empowered to help people not fall through the cracks, offering harm reduction advice and intervention, working with alcohol treatment services and reducing barriers to primary healthcare for everyone.

Many organisations offer help too and services such as Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous. There are AA meetings all over the country and Europe.

Along with local support groups, there are online resources. These include:

Encouraging Healthy Lifestyles

While help is important, you can make simple changes to your lifestyle to avoid addiction.

  • Well-balanced diet
  • Regular exercise
  • Good sleeping pattern
  • Routine
  • Meditation
  • Being more positive

These changes will make you more physically healthier. They are also good for your mental health which will lessen the allure of substances and addictive behaviour.

It can seem like a lot of changes but if you do it and small increments and perhaps involve other people, slowly you can make your lifestyle one that is healthier and more positive.

Find Support Through Step 1 Recovery

So, how can addiction be prevented? Although you cannot remove the chances of someone developing an addiction entirely, education, awareness, commitment, support, and access to resources are all important to reducing the risk of addiction.

Step 1 Recovery provides comprehensive support for addiction, and we offer leading addiction treatment programmes that can help. We can be a part of your entire recovery journey, assisting you and your family – ensuring your Step 1 experience is a positive one.

For more information about our resources and programmes, contact us on our free number +44 (0) 800 012 6006.