Addiction

It’s not always easy, you know. I lost my job because of the COVID pandemic and drifted away from my friends. It can be a struggle to earn a living… to find happiness.
— Ojwang

What are some of life’s stresses?

ECONOMIC STRESS

I don’t have a job or enough money to pay for necessities.

EDUCATIONAL STRESS

I feel pressure to do well in school.

PEER PRESSURE

I feel pressured by my friends to behave like they do.

LOW SELF-IMAGE

I lack confidence and sometimes feel bad about myself.

SOMETIMES LIFE CAN BE CHALLENGING AND FULL OF STRESSES THAT WE CAN’T CONTROL.

Some people turn to drugs and alcohol to escape from their problems.

Some people become addicted to sex, to food, to many things.

This can lead to finding comfort in places and with things that will make everything worse.

What is Addiction?

An addiction is an urge to do something that is hard to control or stop. If you use cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs like marijuana (weed), cocaine, and heroin, you could become addicted to them.

My name is Ojwang. I felt a little bit lost. I saw other people being happy, doing things… having a family or a wife. I wondered why that couldn’t be me. Then COVID-19 made everything so much harder. Since we had to socially isolate, I sometimes felt alone. I didn’t know what to do. I started finding comfort in alcohol and drugs. They made me feel better at first, then they made me feel much, much worse. I lost my friends and family. I woke up in the road. A friend found me, and told me to seek help at a Youth-Friendly Centre. I told him to go away at first. But a few weeks later, I woke up on the road again. I realized that I needed help. I went to a clinic where the health workers were respectful and compassionate. They treated my addiction like a health problem, rather than making me feel like I was the problem. They helped me not to feel ashamed.

Steps from Addiction to Recovery

STEP 1: EXPERIMENTATION — Very few people set out to become addicted.

STEP 2: REGULAR USE & ABUSE — Something that was once considered recreational or temporary can become a lifestyle.

STEP 3: DEPENDENCY & TOLERANCE — When someone continuously abuses a substance, their body becomes used to it and they can’t function normally without using it. They develop a tolerance and begin taking higher doses to feel the same effects as before.

STEP 4: ADDICTION — When someone is struggling with addiction, they may try to stop using the substance but feel like they cannot stop, even though they are experiencing negative consequences from it.

STEP 5: DETOX, TREATMENT & RECOVERY — Detoxification (detox) is the process of clearing the body of drugs or alcohol, while safely managing the withdrawal symptoms when someone stops taking the substance. Those struggling with addiction must receive the proper treatment and support for them to recover.

The life you lead in the future will be influenced by the decisions you make today. With the information you now have, what choices will help you to reach your individual goals? Let us know your thoughts at youthzone@gmail.com
— Mary-Margaret