quit and stay drug free essay

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Completing  treatment and returning to everyday life might seem like the most difficult thing you’ve ever done, but right now — as you are reading this — 10% of Americans are one some stage of their recovery journey. You can join them. As challenging as it may be for those in the beginning stages of recovery, there are some steps that you can take to ensure that your transition is as smooth as possible. Part of that journey includes attending outpatient treatments, aftercare and becoming involved in support groups , but that is only a portion of the journey. Here are some tips to help you stay drug-free and healthy during your transformative recovery journey.

• Learn to Set SMART Goals
• Build Habits to Stay Busy
• Sweat it Out
• Cut Out Toxic Relationships
• Utilize Support Systems
• Practice Positive Self-Talk
• Adopt a Pet
• Walk Away From Stress
• Avoid Temporary Solutions
• Get Rid of Triggers

Tips for Staying Drug-Free

1. learn to set smart goals.

Setting goals can help you stay drug-free, but if you set broad or expansive goals, they become more difficult to achieve and can cause more harm than good. With that in mind, remember the acronym SMART when you’re setting goals. SMART stands for:

• Specific — Set a targeted goal that you can achieve rather than a broad one that you’re working toward.
• Measurable  — Set a goal with progress points that you can measure. Don’t rely on arbitrary statements, but on actual data.
• Achievable — Make sure that this is a goal that you can achieve. Don’t set your goal to walk on the moon if you’re not healthy enough to pass an astronaut physical.
• Realistic — Don’t shoot for the stars with your goal setting. Stay firmly grounded here on Earth, especially when you’re setting your goals.
• Timely — Give yourself a specific time limit to complete your goal. Make sure it adheres to the other four letters of the acronym.

Setting SMART goals gives you the tools you need to set goals that will motivate you to stay drug-free instead of stressing you out and serving as a relapse trigger.

2. Build Habits to Stay Busy

When you repeat a task over and over again, you start to create a habit — something that you can do without really thinking about it. Some habits are good, like brushing our teeth or exercising, while others — like drug use or smoking — are bad. Whether you’re forming good or bad habits, what you’re doing is rewiring your brain. Repetitive tasks create new pathways in your brain and become permanent. That’s why it’s so difficult to break bad habits.  You literally have to rewire your brain to break those habits.

Habits all have the same four stages:  you receive or encounter a habit cue, you experience a craving, you respond to that craving, and you receive a reward. Does that sound familiar? If so, it’s because addiction is very similar which is why it can be so hard to make your way through recovery. Learn how to build good habits that will override your bad ones. It could be as simple as going for a run or lifting weights when you feel the craving for one of your bad habits. Maybe you need to be alone, maybe you need to call on your support system. Whatever you need to do, building habits can help you stay drug-free during your recovery jorney.

3. Sweat it out.

Try to squeeze in at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. According to a study at Mayo Clinic, exercise helps reduce stress, improves mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety, improves sleep and boosts mood. Those new to exercise shouldn’t feel intimidated. The study suggests a simple brisk walk is enough to reap these benefits.

4. Cut out toxic relationships.

Take responsibility for recovery by being honest with unhealthy friendships or romances . Ask for their respect in lifestyle changes, like the need for space. Ending it doesn’t mean the other person is “bad.” This is not assigning blame—only maintaining well-being.

5. Utilize support systems.

Support networks may include family, friends, colleagues, recovery meeting participants, sponsors or therapists. Verbalizing feelings, even when it’s uncomfortable, can help conceptualize and take responsibility for the next steps necessary. Joining and becoming engaged in a  recovery community  is beneficial as well, as it allows relationships to develop between people who have shared experiences and understand each other. Also remember that a support system isn’t only there to help through the bad—they are there to celebrate the good, as well.

6. Practice positive self talk.

Celebrate your victories instead of focusing on perceived failures. You’ve already taken the incredibly brave step to walk through addiction recovery. No matter where you are in your journey, you’re already a champion. When you feel tempted to criticize yourself, berate former mistakes or numb negative emotions with a substance, focus on employing positive self-talk.

Think about the things you’re proud of and any experiences where you were able to stay strong in your sobriety. Make a list of attributes you like about yourself or others have complimented you for. Surround yourself with positive statements and things that inspire and excite you.

7. Adopt a pet.

A furry or fluffy companion can help ease stress, anxiety and loneliness in an emotionally healthy way. Emotional support animals are shown to have a host of health benefits, including boosting your feel-good hormones and lowering your blood pressure with their calming nature. Caring for a pet also provides you with extra everyday responsibility and motivation to stay drug-free.

8. Walk away from stress.

Stress is often one of the factors that push former substance users to relapse. Some level of stress is unavoidable, but there are others that we can pluck right out of our lives. Take a stress-free stance and, whenever possible, respectfully remove yourself from situations or people that bring anxiety. Learn the power of saying “no” to requests that will bring negative energy to your life, and pursue healthy opportunities that make you want to say “yes.”

9. Avoid temporary solutions.

Don’t train your body and mind to become accustomed to short-term feel-good measures. If you’re always pursuing a quick fix to solve any unhappiness, stress or discontent in your life, you may be more likely to turn to drugs as another one of those temporary solutions. Instead, pursue long-lasting and sustainable health in the form of hobbies, nutritious food, regular exercise, positive friendships and self-care habits.

10. Give back.

One of the best ways to stay drug-free is to give yourself as many reasons as possible to remain sober. Investing in others can be a very sustainable and fulfilling reason. Volunteer to spend your time and talent helping a cause you care about, or share your story and experiences with others who may be a step or two behind you in the addiction recovery process.

11. Get rid of triggers.

Everyone has their own triggers that tempt them to start using drugs again. Maybe it’s a particular person or group of people. Maybe it’s a time of year. Maybe it’s a place or type of environment. Be conscious of your triggers and take steps to avoid them.

This might be as simple as avoiding a certain location or asking for extra support during the holidays. However, you might also need to take more drastic measures, such as moving or letting go of former friendships. No matter how difficult it may be, addressing your triggers will help you stay drug-free in the long term.

When times get tough, remember this is a time of major change, and lessons and insights are being gained to use down the road.

For more tips for staying drug-free, call Gateway today at  877.505.4673 .

Gateway Foundation

Gateway Foundation is a recognized leader in evidence-based addiction treatment proven to get results. Our experts in Addiction Medicine—including highly educated clinical and medical professionals and expert psychiatrists and nurses—deliver care that never stops. For over 50 years, Gateway Foundation has been helping individuals and their families recover from addictions and behavioral health issues and is the only provider that covers the entire state of Illinois with 16 facilities from the Wisconsin Border to the Kentucky Border. Gateway has specific programs focusing on substance use disorders, trauma, depression, anxiety, and other co-occurring issues. We’re licensed by the state of Illinois and accredited by the Joint Commission. We are in-network with all the major commercial insurance plans. Gateway Foundation: Addiction medicine, saving lives.

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Drug Addiction — Drug Addiction: Choice or Disease?

Drug Addiction: Choice Or Disease?

• Categories: Drug Addiction Drugs

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Published: Sep 16, 2023

Words: 677 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

The choice argument, the disease model, psychological and sociological factors, a holistic perspective.

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Russell Brand: my life without drugs

T he last time I thought about taking heroin was yesterday. I had received "an inconvenient truth" from a beautiful woman. It wasn't about climate change – I'm not that ecologically switched on – she told me she was pregnant and it wasn't mine.

I had to take immediate action. I put Morrissey on in my car as an external conduit for the surging melancholy, and as I wound my way through the neurotic Hollywood hills, the narrow lanes and tight bends were a material echo of the synaptic tangle where my thoughts stalled and jammed.

Morrissey, as ever, conducted a symphony, within and without and the tidal misery burgeoned. I am becoming possessed. The part of me that experienced the negative data, the self, is becoming overwhelmed, I can no longer see where I end and the pain begins. So now I have a choice.

I cannot accurately convey to you the efficiency of heroin in neutralising pain. It transforms a tight, white fist into a gentle, brown wave. From my first inhalation 15 years ago, it fumigated my private hell and lay me down in its hazy pastures and a bathroom floor in Hackney embraced me like a womb.

This shadow is darkly cast on the retina of my soul and whenever I am dislodged from comfort my focus falls there.

It is 10 years since I used drugs or drank alcohol and my life has improved immeasurably. I have a job, a house, a cat, good friendships and generally a bright outlook.

The price of this is constant vigilance because the disease of addiction is not rational. Recently for the purposes of a documentary on this subject I reviewed some footage of myself smoking heroin that my friend had shot as part of a typically exhibitionist attempt of mine to get clean.

I sit wasted and slumped with an unacceptable haircut against a wall in another Hackney flat (Hackney is starting to seem like part of the problem) inhaling fizzy, black snakes of smack off a scrap of crumpled foil. When I saw the tape a month or so ago, what is surprising is that my reaction is not one of gratitude for the positive changes I've experienced but envy at witnessing an earlier version of myself unencumbered by the burden of abstinence. I sat in a suite at the Savoy hotel, in privilege, resenting the woeful ratbag I once was, who, for all his problems, had drugs. That is obviously irrational.

The mentality and behaviour of drug addicts and alcoholics is wholly irrational until you understand that they are completely powerless over their addiction and unless they have structured help they have no hope.

This is the reason I have started a fund within Comic Relief , Give It Up. I want to raise awareness of, and money for, abstinence-based recovery. It was Kevin Cahill's idea, he is the bloke who runs Comic Relief. He called me when he read an article I wrote after Amy Winehouse died. Her death had a powerful impact on me I suppose because it was such an obvious shock, like watching someone for hours through a telescope, seeing them advance towards you, fist extended with the intention of punching you in the face. Even though I saw it coming, it still hurt when it eventually hit me.

What was so painful about Amy's death is that I know that there is something I could have done. I could have passed on to her the solution that was freely given to me. Don't pick up a drink or drug, one day at a time. It sounds so simple. It actually is simple but it isn't easy: it requires incredible support and fastidious structuring. Not to mention that the whole infrastructure of abstinence based recovery is shrouded in necessary secrecy. There are support fellowships that are easy to find and open to anyone who needs them but they eschew promotion of any kind in order to preserve the purity of their purpose, which is for people with alcoholism and addiction to help one another stay clean and sober.

Without these fellowships I would take drugs. Because, even now, the condition persists. Drugs and alcohol are not my problem, reality is my problem, drugs and alcohol are my solution.

If this seems odd to you it is because you are not an alcoholic or a drug addict. You are likely one of the 90% of people who can drink and use drugs safely. I have friends who can smoke weed, swill gin, even do crack and then merrily get on with their lives. For me, this is not an option. I will relinquish all else to ride that buzz to oblivion. Even if it began as a timid glass of chardonnay on a ponce's yacht, it would end with me necking the bottle, swimming to shore and sprinting to Bethnal Green in search of a crack house. I look to drugs and booze to fill up a hole in me; unchecked, the call of the wild is too strong. I still survey streets for signs of the subterranean escapes that used to provide my sanctuary. I still eye the shuffling subclass of junkies and dealers, invisibly gliding between doorways through the gutters. I see that dereliction can survive in opulence; the abundantly wealthy with destitution in their stare.

Spurred by Amy's death, I've tried to salvage unwilling victims from the mayhem of the internal storm and I am always, always, just pulled inside myself. I have a friend so beautiful, so haunted by talent that you can barely look away from her, whose smile is such a treasure that I have often squandered my sanity for a moment in its glow. Her story is so galling that no one would condemn her for her dependency on illegal anesthesia, but now, even though her life is trying to turn around despite her, even though she has genuine opportunities for a new start, the gutter will not release its prey. The gutter is within. It is frustrating to watch. It is frustrating to love someone with this disease.

A friend of mine's brother cannot stop drinking. He gets a few months of sobriety and his inner beauty, with the obstacles of his horrible drunken behaviour pushed aside by the presence of a programme, begins to radiate. His family bask relieved, in the joy of their returned loved one, his life gathers momentum but then he somehow forgets the price of this freedom, returns to his old way of thinking, picks up a drink and Mr Hyde is back in the saddle. Once more his brother's face is gaunt and hopeless. His family blame themselves and wonder what they could have done differently, racking their minds for a perfect sentiment; wrapped up in the perfect sentence, a magic bullet to sear right through the toxic fortress that has incarcerated the person they love and restore them to sanity. The fact is, though, that they can't, the sufferer must, of course, be a willing participant in their own recovery. They must not pick up a drink or drug, one day at a time. Just don't pick up, that's all.

It is difficult to feel sympathy for these people. It is difficult to regard some bawdy drunk and see them as sick and powerless. It is difficult to suffer the selfishness of a drug addict who will lie to you and steal from you and forgive them and offer them help. Can there be any other disease that renders its victims so unappealing? Would Great Ormond Street be so attractive a cause if its beds were riddled with obnoxious little criminals that had "brought it on themselves"?

Peter Hitchens is a vocal adversary of mine on this matter. He sees this condition as a matter of choice and the culprits as criminals who should go to prison. I know how he feels. I bet I have to deal with a lot more drug addicts than he does, let's face it. I share my brain with one, and I can tell you firsthand, they are total fucking wankers. Where I differ from Peter is in my belief that if you regard alcoholics and drug addicts not as bad people but as sick people then we can help them to get better. By we, I mean other people who have the same problem but have found a way to live drug-and-alcohol-free lives. Guided by principles and traditions a programme has been founded that has worked miracles in millions of lives. Not just the alcoholics and addicts themselves but their families, their friends and of course society as a whole.

What we want to do with Give It Up is popularise a compassionate perception of drunks and addicts, and provide funding for places at treatment centres where they can get clean using these principles. Then, once they are drug-and-alcohol-free, to make sure they retain contact with the support that is available to keep them clean. I know that as you read this you either identify with it yourself or are reminded of someone who you love who cannot exercise control over substances. I want you to know that the help that was available to me, the help upon which my recovery still depends is available.

I wound down the hill in an alien land, Morrissey chanted lonely mantras, the pain quickly accumulated incalculably, and I began to weave the familiar tapestry that tells an old, old story. I think of places I could score. Off Santa Monica there's a homeless man who I know uses gear. I could find him, buy him a bag if he takes me to score.

I leave him on the corner, a couple of rocks, a couple of $20 bags pressed into my sweaty palm. I get home, I pull out the foil, neatly torn. I break the bottom off a Martell miniature. I have cigarettes, using makes me need fags. I make a pipe for the rocks with the bottle. I lay a strip of foil on the counter to chase the brown. I pause to reflect and regret that I don't know how to fix, only smoke, feeling inferior even in the manner of my using. I see the foil scorch. I hear the crackle from which crack gets it's name. I feel the plastic fog hit the back of my yawning throat. Eyes up. Back relaxing, the bottle drops and the greedy bliss eats my pain. There is no girl, there is no tomorrow, there is nothing but the bilious kiss of the greedy bliss.

Even as I spin this beautifully dreaded web, I am reaching for my phone. I call someone: not a doctor or a sage, not a mystic or a physician, just a bloke like me, another alcoholic, who I know knows how I feel. The phone rings and I half hope he'll just let it ring out. It's 4am in London. He's asleep, he can't hear the phone, he won't pick up. I indicate left, heading to Santa Monica. The ringing stops, then the dry mouthed nocturnal mumble: "Hello. You all right mate?"

He picks up.

And for another day, thank God, I don't have to.

• Russell Brand
• Comic Relief
• Entertainment TV

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101 Ways to Live Drug Free

Reading Time: 9 minutes

• Exercise for at least thirty minutes every day in order to live healthier, be more active, and build your confidence.
• A stressful, chaotic lifestyle” can help lead to drug abuse. Find healthy ways to deal with your stress .
• Find peace in those things you already have in life instead of wishing for the things that you do not.
• Avoid using short-term solutions for problems . It will make you less likely to abuse drugs as a quick fix for unhappiness or stress.
• Spend time outdoors , even when you don’t have to, to feel connected with nature.
• Take classes. Educate yourself. Never stop learning new things.
• Do not let the opinions of others be so important to your opinion of yourself. Many instances of drug abuse start with peer pressure.
• Suggest activities you know you will be comfortable with when going out with friends.
• Consider the needs of your children: those who grow up seeing their parents using drugs may have a high risk of developing an addiction later in life for both environmental and genetic reasons.
• When you feel down, compliment yourself . There is always something better than you can say instead of berating yourself.
• Learn the dangers of drug abuse and the specific health issues caused by different drugs.
• Remember that whatever happens to you today won’t seem quite as much like the end of the world tomorrow.
• Spend time with the people who build you up , not the ones who tear you down.
• Also , make friends who are like-minded . It can be hard to stay drug-free when your friends are not.
• Be aware of your surroundings and environment. If you live in a place where drug abuse and crime is prevalent and you can move, do so.
• Remove people from your life who do not respect your decision to live drug-free .
• Remember to take care of yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally and, if something is wrong, tend to the issue.
• “Neglecting to eat” is one of the symptoms of drug abuse. Making sure to exercise good nutrition is key to a healthy, drug-free life.
• Don’t ever hesitate to ask for advice if you are confused, scared, or unsure of what to do next.
• Avoid places where you know that drugs and alcohol are available.
• Make regular doctors’ visits in order to stay healthy and to know what aspects of your well-being you may need to work on.
• If you are offered drugs, be polite but confident in your refusal of them . It causes both parties to be calmer and to justify their own behavior.
• Practice mindfulness by being aware of yourself in the present. Studies suggest that mindfulness practices may help people manage stress and reduce anxiety and depression.
• Remember that drug abuse can lead to addiction , a chronic mental disorder that can cause relapse even years after treatment, meaning that some individuals will live with it for a long time.

You CAN lead a drug-free life!

• Take into consideration that most youths do not use drugs .
• Make a list of things you have fun doing that don’t involve drugs . Keep your list and pick activities from it when necessary.
• Write in a journal or blog as much as possible to externalize your feelings and keep them from staying bottled up.
• Take pains to monitor yourself, your feelings, and your needs. Be aware of yourself and which issues are most important to you.
• Seek treatment when a compulsion, a feeling, or an addiction goes beyond your control.
• Choose treatments that emphasize therapy when applicable.
• Remember that not all drugs and medications are harmful or addictive but that they can all have side effects you must be aware of .  Any drug use involves risk.
• Have confidence that your decision not to do drugs is the right choice for you.
• It is all right to be friendly, helpful, and accommodating toward others, but always remember that you must look out for your own well-being too .
• Get plenty of sleep . Not having enough sleep can affect your judgment and your emotions.
• Remember that being on drugs alters your mental and emotional state . You are not yourself when you are high.
• Set aside me time that doesn’t involve stress or pleasing anyone else. During this time, do the thing you want to do most that are healthy and kind to you.
• Be aware of your personal risks associated with drug abuse. For example, “a person’s genes” can be a factor in their possible abuse risk.
• Don’t avoid your problems by pretending they don’t exist. It will just make things worse in the long run.
• Remind yourself of all the people who want you to be happy, healthy, and safe , states which could be compromised by your drug use.
• Don’t experiment with drug abuse; this can often lead to addiction and other issues.
• When you catch yourself being too critical, remember to talk to yourself as if you were your best friend .
• Having a stable home life can help you avoid drug abuse.
• Read the information that does not “glamorize or instill inappropriate fear about drugs.” Most things are not in black and white but shades of gray.
• Help others. Positive actions toward other people are beneficial to both them and you.
• Take pride in your work. Even if you are not currently happy with your job, find something about it that you do well and take pride in it.
• Make achievable goals for yourself that you can work toward. Even if the end result is something amazing or monumental, take each little goal leading up to it one at a time.
• Always drink plenty of water to keep healthy.
• Don’t put too much stock in why other people do what they do. Focus on yourself and your needs , and make sure you are taking actions that are beneficial to you and those you love.
• Try and accept the issues in your life that you can’t change.
• Attend support group meetings as a supplement to formal drug addiction treatment. You will meet other individuals who are dealing with the same issues you are.
• Many drug-addicted individuals also have other mental disorders so make sure to seek treatment for issues like bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD , etc.
• Don’t try to quit cold turkey . It can often lead to intense withdrawal syndromes and relapse. Attend detox or drug addiction treatment instead.
• Remember, though, that “ medically assisted detoxification is not in itself ‘treatment’ ––it is only the first step in the treatment process.”
• Don’t suffer in silence about your psychological distress or social issues. Talk to someone you can trust instead of turning to drugs.
• Remind yourself that relapsing or abusing drugs for the first time does not mean you have failed in your drug free pledge, just that you have to keep going .
• Tell yourself (and believe) that you deserve a second chance .
• Accept the mistakes of your past that you cannot change, apologize for any wrongs you have done those you care about and move on .
• Choose a treatment facility or substance use disorder program that meets your specific needs and not just the ones that pertain to your drug abuse.
• Make changes whenever necessary to your treatment plan. These must be “assessed continually and modified as necessary to ensure that it meets [your] changing needs.”
• Choose a treatment type or facility that is “readily available,” not one that you know you will never be able to attend because of distance, cost, etc.
• Give yourself a realistic treatment plan , and do not take on abstinence or treatment goals that are beyond your current point in your recovery.
• Realize that you’re human ––relapse may occur but do not give up on your treatment or yourself.
• Make sure whatever treatment option you choose that you are comfortable . Do not choose a facility or program that you are uneasy about.
• Attend family and relationship counseling to work on the relationships that experienced issues due to your drug use.
• Use therapy in order to change your outlook toward drug use . If you can change your attitude and your perspective, you can actively change your behavior.
• Consider low-cost or free treatment. Drug addiction can take a toll on a person’s financial situation, and your treatment does not need to cost you as well .
• If school, work, or other stressors were major factors in your decision to do drugs, take time away from these responsibilities if at all possible.
• Get to know your nurses , doctors, and therapists on staff at your treatment facility. They want to help you recover and see you live a drug free life too.
• Admitting to and recognizing your drug abuse problem is the first step to your eventual recovery.
• Talk to others in group therapy, but remember to listen as well.
• Be kind to yourself during rehab because it is a very difficult time.
• Learn to recognize when you made excuses for your drug abuse, and choose to stop doing so .
• Ask a friend to stay with you , especially if you are going through withdrawal.
• Attend treatment for as long as necessary.
• Make the necessary changes to your life that you know you must after you recover from abuse.
• Congratulate yourself for milestones; reward yourself for specific amounts of time sober or other moments of significance with abstinence-friendly prizes.
• Do whatever you must (attend support groups, teach abstinence to youths, etc.) to be mindful of the fact that your recovery is an ongoing process .
• Be wary that stopping your drug use does not manifest in another unhealthy way like extreme weight loss/gain, untreated depression, etc.
• Keep in touch with the friends you make during treatment.
• Consider the things about sober life you’d neglected or missed out on while abusing drugs.
• Always try to be honest with yourself about how you feel. Denial is one of the common practices of drug abusers.
• Be honest with others as well, and they will not have a reason to doubt you.
• If you will be homeless or jobless after rehab, ask to be admitted to a halfway house that can help get you back on your feet.
• Sober living houses are also beneficial for helping to reintegrate former addicts stay clean as alcohol and drug free living environments.
• When you are ready to return home from treatment, have someone remove all drugs and paraphernalia as well as those items which may become triggers.
• Remind yourself that tomorrow is a new day , a blank slate, and a completely new opportunity to be who you want to be.
• When you are struggling, think about where you were one year ago or one month or one week.
• Appreciate the people who helped you , recognize what they did for you, and thank them.
• If you feel yourself becoming stressed, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and count to ten. It is an old trick, but it works.
• Keep your home clean and your things uncluttered. You will feel more organized and less frazzled.
• Anticipate and neutralize problems before they come up.
• Treat yourself every once in a while to take out, a new outfit, or a movie, for absolutely no reason at all.
• Try and make new friends , especially if you feel lonely after rehab.
• Enjoy your physical and mental health is restored.
• Be candid when asked about how you made your decision to be drug free or how you stopped abusing drugs. It will reinforce your decision and might help someone else as well.
• Take on a new responsibility like plants or a pet. It will remind you that there are others in the world who need you and depend on you.
• Do something every day that makes you laugh. Watch funny movies, play games with friends, or do whatever tickles your funny bone.
• Attend clubs, sports programs, and other activities where you can meet people and improve your skills .
• Try to spend time with other people when you can, but make sure that you can comfortably spend time alone .
• Note that drug addiction is a preventable disease. The best way to live drug free is to refrain from drugs from the start. 

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How to reduce or quit drugs

Many different services are available to help you or someone you know quit drugs.

Why quit drugs?

It’s never too late to quit using drugs.

Reducing or quitting drugs can improve your life in many ways. It can:

• improve your physical and mental wellbeing
• reduce your risk of permanent damage to vital organs and death
• improve your relationships with friends and family
• help you reconnect with your emotions
• increase your energy
• help you sleep better
• improve your appearance
• save you money.

Recovered addicts say that they’ve never felt better after quitting drugs, although this can take time. Knowing why you want to quit drugs can help you to stay motivated during the withdrawal process.

What quitting drugs feels like

When you reduce or quit using drugs your body goes through a detoxification process (detox) or withdrawal.

Symptoms vary between people, and between drugs, and range from mild to serious. They can last from a few days to a few weeks — it's different for every person — but they are temporary. Cravings for the drug will sometimes be weak and at other times very strong. Learning how to manage them is important for staying drug-free.

Find out what withdrawal symptoms are for specific drugs .

Preparing to quit drugs

Reducing or quitting drugs can be hard – you may have become dependent or addicted. It’s a good idea to be prepared for what’s involved.

Admit you have a problem

The first step in quitting drugs is to admit that you have a problem. If you’re not sure, ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you taking drugs first thing in the morning or to get through the day?
• Do friends or family worry or complain about your drug use?
• Do you lie about how much you’re using?
• Have you sold possessions or stolen to pay for your drug habit?
• Have you participated in dangerous or risky activities, such as driving under the influence, having unprotected sex, or using dirty needles?
• Do you feel that you’ve lost control of your drug taking?
• Are you having problems with relationships?

If you answered yes to any of these questions it might be time to accept that you have a problem and ask for help.

See your specialist alcohol and other drugs service or local doctor

It’s important to talk to your specialist alcohol and other drugs (AOD) service or doctor about reducing or quitting drugs. They can help you get appropriate help and support.

It takes courage for someone to admit they may have a problem with drugs or alcohol. Recognising you might have an issue and asking for help is an important first step to making a change.

For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services, you can call the Alcohol and Other Drug hotline on 1800 250 015. It will automatically direct you to the Alcohol and Drug Information Service in your state and territory. These local alcohol and other drug telephone services offer support, information, counselling and referral to services. You can also visit a specialist alcohol and other drugs service or doctor directly.

If you’ve become addicted or dependent on drugs, it might be dangerous to quit on your own . Your AOD specialist or doctor can refer you to treatment such as detox, medication and counselling to help you manage withdrawal symptoms .

Remember, conversations with these services are private and confidential.

Know your triggers

Keeping track of your drug use can help you identify habits, emotions, and social situations that trigger the desire to take drugs.

It can be hard to completely avoid all those situations, but steps you can take include:

• avoiding places where you know drugs and alcohol will be available
• surrounding yourself with friends who don't use drugs
• knowing how to resist temptation
• learning how to cope with stress and relax without drugs
• distracting yourself with activities like exercise or listening to music.

Make a plan

Making a plan and writing it down can help you commit to quitting.

Setting goals for your recovery helps you stay motivated and can make the process less stressful. It’s important to set realistic goals – both short and long-term. Be specific and make them measurable.

Some examples of realistic, short-term goals are:

• I will see my doctor this week.
• I’m going to walk for half an hour 3 times this week.
• I want to be drug free for 2 weeks straight.

Long-term goals might include:

• being drug-free for a year
• having friends that are healthy and sober and provide support
• rebuilding family relationships by having regular get-togethers.

Reward yourself for success – with an enjoyable, drug-free activity such as going to a movie, or planning a holiday – and take it easy on yourself if you mess up.

It’s OK to fail, just don’t give up trying.

Ways to reduce or quit drugs

There is no treatment that works for everyone. Just as drugs affect each person differently, treatment needs to be individual. It’s important to find a program that works for you.

Treatment options range from counselling through to hospital care – it depends on which drugs are involved and how serious your dependence or addiction is. They include:

• going cold turkey – you stop taking drugs suddenly, with no outside help or support
• counselling and lifestyle changes – individual or group therapy can help you learn to cope without drugs. This can be successful if your drug use has been mild. Peer support groups are often run by recovered addicts – their personal experience can be helpful to others
• detoxification (detox) – you stop taking drugs and have medical treatment (known as pharmacotherapy) while your body clears the drug from your system
• rehabilitation (rehab) – this is a longer term treatment where you stay in a hospital or clinic, or at home . It also involves psychological treatment to help you deal with issues that may have contributed to your drug use

If you have mental health issues your treatment will need to address that at the same time for your overall treatment to be effective.

Support services

Quitting drugs on your own is difficult – it’s much easier with support. Tell your friends and family that you’re quitting so they can help you.

There are many support services available to help you. You can:

• call the National Alcohol and Other Drugs Hotline
• visit Counselling Online and email or chat to a counsellor
• find help and support services on the Alcohol and Drug Foundation website
• join a support group, such as Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous
• find a support service in our list of contacts .

Remember, your AOD specialist or doctor can also direct you to support services that are appropriate for your needs.

What if I relapse?

If you have a relapse and start using again, remember that recovery doesn’t happen overnight. Take the opportunity to remind yourself why you are quitting, forgive yourself and refocus on your plan.

Talk to your doctor. They can work out how to best resume treatment, or they may suggest a different type of treatment.

When you’re back on track, learn from what happened:

• What triggered the relapse?
• What went wrong?
• What could you have done differently?

Discover more about managing a relapse on the Alcohol and Drug Foundation website.

A relapse can be deadly!

If you’ve developed a tolerance for a particular drug over time and then quit taking it, your tolerance levels drop. If you have a relapse and use as much of the drug as you did before quitting, you can easily overdose.

If you, or someone you know, is in danger of overdosing, phone 000 immediately and ask for an ambulance.

Helping someone quit drugs

Watching someone you care about use drugs is stressful. Their behaviour can be erratic and talking to them about their problem is challenging.

Here are some tips on how you can help:

• Learn about the effects of drugs – this will help you understand why quitting can be hard.
• Show that you care without judging – being calm and respectful may encourage them to be open and honest with you.
• Be positive and encouraging rather than negative and nagging – remember relapses may happen, but they don’t mean the person can’t try again, and succeed.
• Offer practical support – sometimes just being there is enough, but you can offer to go with them to parties or join them for a walk or run.

Find more tips on helping someone quit drugs on the Alcohol and Drug Foundation site.

Is addiction hereditary?

Research shows that genetics does play a part in whether someone is likely to become an addict, but it’s not the only factor. Other factors include a person’s:

• environment – for example, growing up amongst addiction where drugs are more available
• temperament – for example, being more sensitive to stress or more impulsive.

Scientists continue to learn about the role of genes in drug addiction so they can develop new ways of preventing and treating it.

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The first step to overcoming drug abuse and addiction

Explore your addiction treatment options, find support for your addiction recovery, learn healthy ways to cope with stress, be aware of drug triggers, cope with drug cravings, build a meaningful drug-free life.

• Don't let relapse keep you down

Overcoming Drug Addiction

Ready to deal with your drug abuse problem? This step-by-step guide can help you cope with cravings, deal with relapse, and overcome your substance use disorder.

Developing an addiction to drugs isn’t a character flaw or a sign of weakness, and it takes more than willpower to overcome the problem. Abusing illegal or certain prescription drugs can create changes in the brain, causing powerful cravings and a compulsion to use that makes sobriety seem like an impossible goal. But recovery is never out of reach, no matter how hopeless your situation seems or how many times you’ve tried and failed before. With the right treatment and support, change is always possible.

For many people struggling with addiction, the toughest step toward recovery is the very first one: recognizing that you have a problem and deciding to make a change. It’s normal to feel uncertain about whether you’re ready to start recovery, or if you have what it takes to quit. If you’re addicted to a prescription drug, you may be concerned about how you’re going to find an alternate way to treat a medical condition. It’s okay to feel torn. Committing to sobriety involves changing many things, including:

• The way you deal with stress.
• Who you allow in your life.
• What you do in your free time.
• How you think about yourself.
• The prescription and over-the-counter medications you take.

It’s also normal to feel conflicted about giving up your drug of choice, even when you know it’s causing problems in your life. Recovery requires time, motivation, and support, but by making a commitment to change, you can overcome your addiction and regain control of your life.

Think about change

• Keep track of your drug use, including when and how much you use. This will give you a better sense of the role the addiction is playing in your life.
• List the pros and cons of quitting, as well as the costs and benefits of continuing your drug use.
• Consider the things that are important to you, such as your partner, your kids, your pets, your career, or your health. How does your drug use affect those things?
• Ask someone you trust about their feelings on your drug use.
• Ask yourself if there’s anything preventing you from changing. What could help you make the change?

Preparing for change: 5 keys to addiction recovery

• Remind yourself of the reasons you want to change.
• Think about your past attempts at recovery, if any. What worked? What didn’t?
• Set specific, measurable goals, such as a start date or limits on your drug use.
• Remove reminders of your addiction from your home, workplace, and other places you frequent.
• Tell friends and family that you’re committing to recovery, and ask for their support.

Once you’ve committed to recovery, it’s time to explore your treatment choices. While addiction treatment can vary according to the specific drug, a successful program often includes different elements, such as:

Detoxification . Usually the first step is to purge your body of drugs and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Behavioral counseling . Individual, group, and/or family therapy can help you identify the root causes of your drug use, repair your relationships, and learn healthier coping skills.

Medication may be used to manage withdrawal symptoms, prevent relapse, or treat any co-occurring mental health condition such as depression or anxiety.

Long-term follow-up can help to prevent relapse and maintain sobriety. This may include attending regular in-person support groups or online meetings to help keep your recovery on track.

Speak to a Licensed Therapist

BetterHelp is an online therapy service that matches you to licensed, accredited therapists who can help with depression, anxiety, relationships, and more. Take the assessment and get matched with a therapist in as little as 48 hours.

Types of drug treatment programs

• Intensive inpatient treatment . This is a short-term clinical treatment for people who have developed a physiological dependence on a drug and need help with withdrawal symptoms.
• Residential treatment . Residential treatment involves living at a facility and getting away from work, school, family, friends, and addiction triggers while undergoing intensive treatment. Residential treatment usually lasts from 30 days to several months.
• Day treatment/Partial hospitalization programs (PHP) . Partial hospitalization is for people who require ongoing medical monitoring but wish to still live at home and have a stable living environment. These treatment programs usually meet at a treatment center for at least 20 hours a week, but you return home at the end of each day.
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) . Similar to PHPs, IOPs don’t require you to live at a treatment center. However, they differ from PHPs in that they only require between 9 and 19 hours of treatment each week, so you can schedule treatments around school and work.
• Therapy . One-on-one or group therapy sessions can be useful in developing coping skills, identifying triggers, and exploring the roots of your addiction.

Remember that everyone’s needs are different. For example, not everybody requires medically supervised detox or an extended stint in rehab. Whether you have a problem with illegal or prescription drugs, addiction treatment should be customized to your unique situation. It’s also important to find a program that feels right for you. Read Choosing Drug Rehab and Addiction Treatment to learn more.

Tips for finding the best drug addiction treatment for you

Remember that no treatment works for everyone. Everyone’s needs are different. Whether you have a problem with illegal or prescription drugs, addiction treatment should be customized to your unique situation. It’s important that you find a program that feels right.

Treatment should address more than just your drug abuse. Addiction affects your whole life, including your relationships, career, health, and psychological well-being. Treatment success depends on developing a new way of living and addressing the reasons why you turned to drugs in the first place. For example, your drug dependency may have developed from a desire to manage pain or to cope with stress, in which case you’ll need to find a healthier way to relieve pain or to handle stressful situations.

Commitment and follow-through are key. Drug addiction treatment is not a quick and easy process. In general, the longer and more intense the drug use, the longer and more intense the treatment you’ll need. And in all cases, long-term follow-up care is crucial to recovery.

There are many places to turn for help. Not everybody requires medically supervised detox or an extended stint in rehab. The care you need depends on a variety of factors, including your age, drug-use history, medical or psychiatric conditions. In addition to doctors and psychologists, many clergy members, social workers, and counselors offer addiction treatment services.

Seek treatment for any mental health problems simultaneously . As you seek help for drug addiction, it’s also important to get treatment for any other medical or psychological issues you’re experiencing. Your best chance of recovery is by getting combined mental health and addiction treatment from the same treatment provider or team.

Don’t try to go it alone—reach out for support. Whatever treatment approach you choose, having positive influences and a solid support system is essential. The more people you can turn to for encouragement, guidance, and a listening ear, the better your chances for recovery.

Lean on close friends and family. Having the support of friends and family members is an invaluable asset in recovery. If you’re reluctant to turn to your loved ones because you’ve let them down before, consider going to relationship counseling or family therapy.

Build a sober social network. If your previous social life revolved around drugs, you may need to make some new connections . It’s important to have sober friends who will support your recovery. Try taking a class, joining a church or a civic group, volunteering , or attending events in your community.

Consider moving into a sober living home. Sober living homes provide a safe, supportive place to live while you’re recovering from drug addiction. They are a good option if you don’t have a stable home or a drug-free living environment.

Make meetings a priority. Join a 12-step recovery support group, such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) , and attend meetings regularly. Spending time with people who understand exactly what you’re going through can be very healing. You can also benefit from the shared experiences of the group members and learn what others have done to stay sober.

[Read: NA and Other Peer Support Groups for Drug Addiction]

After addressing your immediate problems with addiction and starting treatment, you’ll still have to face the problems that led to your drug abuse. Did you start using to numb painful emotions, calm yourself after an argument, unwind after a bad day, or forget about your problems?

Once you’re sober, the negative feelings that you dampened with drugs will resurface. For treatment to be successful, you’ll first need to resolve your underlying issues.

Once you have resolved your underlying issues, you will, at times, continue to experience stress, loneliness, frustration, anger, shame, anxiety, and hopelessness. These emotions are all a normal part of life. Finding ways to address these feelings as they arise is an essential component to your treatment and recovery.

There are healthier ways to keep your stress level in check. You can learn to manage your problems without falling back on your addiction. When you’re confident in your ability to quickly de-stress, facing strong feelings isn’t as intimidating or overwhelming.

Quickly relieve stress without drugs

Different quick stress relief strategies work better for some people than others. The key is to find the one that works best for you.

Movement . A brisk walk around the block can be enough to relieve stress. Yoga and meditation are also excellent ways to bust stress and find balance.

Step outside and savor the warm sun and fresh air. Enjoy a beautiful view or landscape.

Play with your dog or cat. Enjoy the relaxing touch of your pet’s fur.

Experiment with your sense of smell. Breathe in the scent of fresh flowers or coffee beans, or savor a scent that reminds you of a favorite vacation, such as sunscreen or a seashell.

Close your eyes and picture a peaceful place. Think of a sandy beach, or a fond memory, such as your child’s first steps or time spent with friends.

Pamper yourself. Make yourself a steaming cup of tea, give yourself a neck or shoulder massage. Soak in a hot bath or shower.

Your recovery doesn’t end at getting sober. Your brain still needs time to recover and rebuild connections that changed while you were addicted. During this rebuild, drug cravings can be intense. You can support your continued recovery by avoiding people, places, and situations that trigger your urge to use:

Step away from your friends who use. Don’t hang out with friends who are still doing drugs. Surround yourself with people who support your sobriety, not those who tempt you to slip back into old, destructive habits.

Avoid bars and clubs. Even if you don’t have a problem with alcohol, drinking lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment, which can easily lead to a relapse. Drugs are often readily available and the temptation to use can be overpowering. Also avoid any other environments and situations that you associate with drug use.

Be upfront about your history of drug use when seeking medical treatment. If you need a medical or dental procedure done, be upfront and find a provider who will work with you in either prescribing alternatives or the absolute minimum medication necessary. You should never feel ashamed or humiliated about previous drug use or be denied medication for pain; if that happens, find another provider.

Use caution with prescription drugs. If you were addicted to a prescription drug, such as an opioid painkiller, you may need to talk to your doctor about finding alternate ways to manage pain. Regardless of the drug you experienced problems with, it’s important to stay away from prescription drugs with the potential for abuse or use only when necessary and with extreme caution. Drugs with a high abuse potential include painkillers, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety medication.

Sometimes craving cannot be avoided, and it is necessary to find a way to cope:

Get involved in a distracting activity. Read, see friends, go to a movie, immerse yourself in a hobby, hike, or exercise. Once you’re interested in something else, you’ll find the urges go away.

Talk it through. Talk to friends or family members about craving when it occurs. Talking can be very helpful in pinpointing the source of the craving. Also, talking about craving often helps to discharge and relieve the feeling and will help restore honesty in your relationship. Craving is nothing to feel bad about.

Challenge and change your thoughts. When experiencing a craving, many people have a tendency to remember only the positive effects of the drug and forget the negative consequences. Therefore, you may find it helpful to remind yourself that you really won’t feel better if you use and that you stand to lose a lot. Sometimes it is helpful to have these consequences listed on a small card that you keep with you.

Urge surf. Many people try to cope with their urges by toughing it out. But some cravings are too strong to ignore. When this happens, it can be useful to stay with the urge until it passes. This technique is called urge surfing. Imagine yourself as a surfer who will ride the wave of your drug craving, staying on top of it until it crests, breaks, and turns into less powerful, foamy surf. When you ride out the craving, without trying to battle, judge, or ignore it, you’ll see that it passes more quickly than you’d think.

The three basic steps of urge surfing:

• Notice how you’re experience the craving. Sit in a comfortable chair with your feet flat on the floor and your hands in a relaxed position. Take a few deep breaths and focus your attention on your body. Notice where in your body you experience the craving or urge and what the sensations feel like. Verbalize what you’re experiencing. For example, you could tell yourself: “My craving is in my mouth and nose and in my stomach.”
• Focus on one area where you’re experiencing the craving. What are the sensations in that area? Describe them to yourself. For example, perhaps you feel hot, cold, tingly, or numb? Maybe your muscles are tense? How large an area is involved? Notice if the sensations change as you focus on them. “My mouth feels dry. There is a numbness in my lips. When I swallow, I can imagine the feeling of using.”
• Repeat by focusing on each part of your body that experiences the urge. Describe to yourself how the sensations change, how the urge comes and goes. Many people notice that after a few minutes of urge surfing, their craving has disappeared. The purpose of this exercise, however, is not to make the urge go away but to experience it in a new way. If you regularly practice urge surfing, you’ll become more familiar with your cravings and find it easier to ride them out until they go away naturally.

You can support your drug treatment and protect yourself from relapse by having activities and interests that provide meaning to your life. It’s important to be involved in things that you enjoy, that make you feel needed, and add meaning to your life. When your life is filled with rewarding activities and a sense of purpose, your addiction will lose its appeal.

Pick up an old hobby or try a new one. Do things that challenge your creativity and spark your imagination—something you’ve always wanted to try. Learn a musical instrument, a foreign language, or try a new sport.

Adopt a pet. Yes, pets are a responsibility, but caring for an animal makes you feel loved and needed . Pets can also get you out of the house for exercise.

Spend time in nature. Take a scenic hike, go fishing or camping, or enjoy regular walks in a park.

Enjoy the arts . Visit a museum, go to a concert or a play, take an art class or write a memoir.

Get involved in your community. Replace your addiction with drug-free groups and activities. Volunteer , become active in your church or faith community, or join a local club or neighborhood group.

Set meaningful goals. Having goals to work toward and something to look forward to can be powerful antidotes to drug addiction. It doesn’t matter what the goals are, just that they are important to you.

Look after your health. Regular exercise , adequate sleep , and healthy eating habits help you keep your energy levels up and your stress levels down. The more you can stay healthy and feel good, the easier it will be to stay sober.

Don’t let relapse keep you down

Relapse is a common part of the recovery process from drug addiction. While relapse is frustrating and discouraging, it can be an opportunity to learn from your mistakes, identify additional triggers, and correct your treatment course.

What causes relapse?

Different “triggers” can put you at risk of relapsing into old patterns of substance use. While specific causes of relapse differ from person to person, some common triggers include:

• Negative emotional state (such as stress, sadness, anger, or trauma)
• Positive emotional state (feeling happy and wanting to feel even better, such as having a good time with friends)
• Physical discomfort (such as pain or withdrawal symptoms)
• Trying to test your personal control (“I can use just once” or “have just one pill”)
• Strong temptation or urge (craving to use)
• Conflict (such as an argument with your spouse or partner)
• Social pressure (being in a situation where it seems everyone else is using)

The important thing to remember is that relapse doesn’t mean drug treatment failure. Don’t give up. Call your sponsor, talk to your therapist, go to a meeting, or schedule an appointment with your doctor. When you’re sober again and out of danger, look at what triggered the relapse, what went wrong, and what you could have done differently. You can choose to get back on the path to recovery and use the experience to strengthen your commitment.

Support organizations

Most of these 12-step programs have worldwide chapters:

Narcotics Anonymous

Cocaine Anonymous

Crystal Meth Anonymous

Marijuana Anonymous

Read: NA and Other Peer Support Groups for Drug Addiction

Professional help for drug treatment and recovery

Use the  Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator  , call the  SAMHSA helpline  at 1-800-662-4357,  Get One-on-One Help to Address Your Child’s Substance Use , or call the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids helpline at 1-855-378-4373.

Find  NHS drug addictions support services  or call the  Frank helpline  at 0800 776600.

Finding Quality Addiction Care   (Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction)

Find  drug and alcohol services in your State/Territory  (Department of Health & Aging).

More Information

• Step by Step Guides to Finding Treatment for Drug Use Disorders - Guides for adults, teens, or those helping someone addicted to drugs. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
• Effective Treatments for Opioid Addiction - Medications used in the treatment of opioid addiction. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
• What is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families - Learn about treatment options and what you can do. (SAMHSA)
• Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment - Effective treatment of substance abuse and addiction. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
• How can prescription drug addiction be treated? - Treatment options for prescription drug addiction including addiction to opioid painkillers. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
• Darkness Before Dawn - Collection of writings that offer guidance and perspective on depression from a  HelpGuide affiliate . (Sounds True)
• Friedmann, P. D., Saitz, R., & Samet, J. H. (1998). Management of Adults Recovering From Alcohol or Other Drug ProblemsRelapse Prevention in Primary Care. JAMA, 279(15), 1227–1231. Link
• O’Brien, Charles P. “Evidence-Based Treatments of Addiction.” FOCUS 9, no. 1 (January 1, 2011): 107–17. Link
• Pettersen, H., Landheim, A., Skeie, I., Biong, S., Brodahl, M., Oute, J., & Davidson, L. (2019). How Social Relationships Influence Substance Use Disorder Recovery: A Collaborative Narrative Study. Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, 13, 1178221819833379. Link
• Santucci, Karen. “Psychiatric Disease and Drug Abuse.” Current Opinion in Pediatrics 24, no. 2 (April 2012): 233–37. Link
• Kelly, Thomas M., and Dennis C. Daley. “Integrated Treatment of Substance Use and Psychiatric Disorders.” Social Work in Public Health 28, no. 3–4 (2013): 388–406. Link
• Magill, Molly, and Lara A. Ray. “Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment with Adult Alcohol and Illicit Drug Users: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.” Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 70, no. 4 (July 2009): 516–27. Link
• Grant, Bridget F., Frederick S. Stinson, Deborah A. Dawson, S. Patricia Chou, Mary C. Dufour, Wilson Compton, Roger P. Pickering, and Kenneth Kaplan. “Prevalence and Co-Occurrence of Substance Use Disorders and Independent Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.” Archives of General Psychiatry 61, no. 8 (August 2004): 807–16. Link
• Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders. (2013). In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . American Psychiatric Association. Link
• About the ASAM Criteria . (n.d.). Retrieved October 11, 2023, from Link
• ASAM – All Documents . (n.d.). Retrieved October 11, 2023, from Link
• Mutschler, C., Junaid, S., Tellez, C., Franco, G., Gryspeerdt, C., & Bushe, J. (2022). Community‐based residential treatment for alcohol and substance use problems: A realist review. Health & Social Care in the Community , 30 (2). Link

More in Addiction

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Choosing Drug Rehab and Addiction Treatment

A guide to drug addiction services

Coping with addiction and a mental health problem

A guide to alcohol addiction treatment services

Cutting down on alcohol doesn’t have to mean losing your social life

The health risks in young people and how to quit

The hidden risks of drinking

Binge Drinking

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How to Enhance the Motivation for Drug Detoxification: Consciousness Guidance and Behaviour Restriction of Family Intergenerational Ethics

1 Department of Social Work, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China; nc.ude.uncc@iepgnoh (P.H.); nc.ude.uncc.sliam@1202nsl (S.L.)

Shengnan Li

2 Department of Sociology, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China

Quanyang Deng

3 School of Public Administration, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China; moc.361@gnedgnaynauq

Associated Data

Not applicable.

Assisting substance users to recover from the behaviour of drug addiction and maintain long-term rehabilitation is a long and complicated process, in which the motivation to undergo drug rehabilitation plays a decisive role. So far, the cultural connotation of family and its mechanism of promoting behavioural change of substance users have not been fully explored. Through in-depth interviews with 15 drug rehabilitants, among which there were 7 women and 8 men, it is found that the motivation for drug rehabilitation is stimulated under the guidance and restriction of family ethics based on obligation and responsibility, which is mainly reflected in the longitudinal intergenerational responsibility. On the one hand, negative consequences such as intergenerational liability deficit and reputation damage lead substance users to reflect on ethical values. On the other hand, disciplines such as intergenerational responsibility and obligation and mutual assistance can correct the actual behaviour of substance users in ethical practice. In contrast to Western countries, which focus on external environmental factors such as family function, family relationships and family support, the motivation for drug rehabilitation in China places more emphasis on their identity and role as family members and corresponding responsibilities, which provides inspiration for developing social work services for substance users from family cultural norms.

1. Introduction

More than 130 countries and regions are faced with the problem of drug consumption, and more than 170 countries and regions are faced with the problem of drug cultivation and trafficking [ 1 ]. The number of drug users in the world currently exceeds 200 million, and the number of drug-related deaths reaches 200,000 every year [ 2 ]. Moreover, we have to face the global problem of “relapse after drug detoxification”. One clinical treatment study estimates that more than two-thirds of substance users relapse within weeks to months after rehabilitation [ 3 ]. A large number of drug users return to taking drugs after treatment; this is the most prominent problem in substance use treatment in almost all drug-infested countries and one of the major obstacles in the fight against drugs [ 4 ]. China has made substantial progress in the prevention and control of drug abuse in recent years. The number of existing substance users (excluding the number of people who have not relapsed after three years of rehabilitation, the number of deaths and the number of people who left the country) has declined for three consecutive years, and the number of people who have not relapsed after three years of rehabilitation has increased for many years, and even surpassed the existing number of substance users for two consecutive years (see Figure 1 ). However, the drug problem remains difficult to control. On the one hand, the number of drug users is huge. According to the Report on the Drug Situation in China in 2020, by the end of 2020, there were 1.801 million drug users in China, including 155,000 newly discovered drug users [ 5 ]. This sharp decline was influenced to some extent by the difficulty of obtaining drugs for substance users during the period of strict epidemic prevention and control. The World Drug Report 2020 released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) also explained that the decline of substance users caused by the restrictions on actions and gatherings as well as the need to maintain social distance in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic is likely to end when the restrictions are lifted [ 6 ]. In addition, the actual number of drug users often far exceeds the officially announced numbers. On the other hand, the relapse rate remains high. The most common feature of drug addiction is a high rate of relapse. According to the Report on the Drug Situation in China released by the Office of the National Anti-Drug Committee over the years, about 500,000 relapsed drug abusers are arrested every year. Drug abuse problems caused by relapse behaviour continue to recur, which not only causes great harm and loss to drug users themselves and their families [ 7 ], but it may also induce a series of illegal and criminal activities such as theft, robbery and fraud [ 8 ], bringing potential risks and dangers to public security.

The number of existing drug users and the number of rehabilitants without relapse for three years in China (2015–2020). (Sources: The data are derived from the China Drug Situation Report issued by the Office of the National Anti-Drug Committee of China between 2015 and 2020. Retrieved from http://www.nncc626.com/ ) (accessed on 30 June 2021).

Lack of motivation is considered to be one of the most common causes of relapse [ 9 ]. In view of the key role of detoxification motivation in the change of addictive behaviour, researchers have accumulated much evidence to prove the relationship between detoxification motivation and rehabilitation [ 10 ], and how to enhance the motivation of substance users [ 11 ]. These studies indicate that the motivation for detoxification is a multidimensional and multilevel complex phenomenon, which is affected by multiple factors [ 12 ]. Among them, as a micro system that has a direct influence on individual behaviour [ 13 ], the important role of family in stimulating substance users to enhance motivation for change [ 14 ] has aroused extensive attention. Numerous studies support the view that family factors play a positive role in enhancing the motivation for drug detoxification. However, most of the relevant research is quantitative [ 15 , 16 ] and there is a lack of further understanding and interpretation of the mechanism of family factors. At the same time, it is obviously different from Western countries in terms of value pursuit and ethical orientation in Chinese society [ 17 ]. Family is not only an individual’s cultural unit, but also an important carrier to obtain code of conduct. As a result, the impact of family on individuals and the way it operates vary from culture to culture. However, little attention has been given to the impact of family factors on the substance users’ motivation for drug detoxification in Eastern societies. How family ethical norms and responsibilities, which have a profound influence on the behavioural logic of Chinese people, promote the drug detoxification motivation of substance users has not been fully explored.

To address the lacuna in knowledge, based on a qualitative study in China, the present study explores how family factors, particularly family ethics, facilitate substance users’ motivation to put an end to their drug use.

2. Literature Review

2.1. two orientations on motivation for drug detoxification.

Recovering from the behaviour of drug addiction and maintaining long-term rehabilitation is a long and complicated process that involves many influencing factors and constraints. Many studies have shown that the motivation and willingness to stop using drugs is the starting point of the process [ 18 ], and can effectively predict the tendency to relapse [ 19 ] and help to increase the time without relapsing into addiction [ 20 ] and the success rate of rehabilitation [ 21 , 22 ]. To some extent, recovery from drug abuse is actually a process centred on stimulating and maintaining the motivation for change [ 23 ]. Positive behavioural changes are likely to occur only when a drug abuser reawakens cognitively [ 24 ]. Previous studies on the motivation for drug detoxification mainly focus on the investigation of motivation status and the analysis of influencing factors.

Globally, researchers usually conduct survey studies and adopt related scales to investigate the motivational status and the characteristics of rehabilitants. The scales commonly used to measure the motivation of substance users [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ] are basically the specific application of the Wheel of Change model [ 30 ], which mainly focuses on the attitude, intention and behavioural characteristics of substance users, and reflects the strong and weak state of substance users’ motivation through the psychological and behavioural changes in different stages of drug rehabilitation. Chinese researchers have also developed a number of scales on motivation for drug treatment [ 31 , 32 , 33 ], which focus on different structures and types to reflect the level of motivation of substance users. Obviously, due to the limitation of the scale measurement method, the existing studies either show the detoxification motivation in different stages of the process of addiction behaviour change or statically present the scores of the detoxification motivation in different dimensions based on the perspective of the “structure factor”, and rarely consider topics of how the motivation to change could be enhanced. Even studies that use the grounded theory approach to explore why substance users put an end to their drug use [ 34 ] just simply list the important factors that contribute to their decision to “quit” and do not adequately explain why these factors or events lead to their decision. Therefore, there is still enough room for discussion on how to enhance the motivation of substance users to put an end to their drug use.

There are two different orientations in the analysis of influencing factors. The individual psychological orientation focuses on the factors related to individual psychological cognition and psychological state, which may be related to the general understanding of detoxification motivation as a kind of psychological cognition [ 35 ]. Several studies have demonstrated the negative effects of traumatic events and their negative emotional experiences on the detoxification motivation [ 36 ], and further analysed the mediating effects of self-concept [ 37 ], self-esteem and emotional regulation self-efficacy [ 38 ] between traumatic experiences and detoxification motivation. In addition, the relationship between personality characteristics and coping style [ 39 ], emotional regulation ability [ 40 ], positive psychological capital [ 41 ], self-awareness [ 42 ] and the motivation for detoxification have also been explored. The systematic orientation focuses on the influence of the social environment factors on the motivation for drug detoxification, such as social support [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]. Many research findings indicated that family environment and family support are important factors affecting the motivation and effect of drug rehabilitation among substance users [ 48 , 49 ]. In addition, as early as the 1970s, some researchers suggested that substance users undergoing rehabilitation should not be separated from their families [ 50 ], and it would be futile to treat substance users separately from their families if family factors were not taken into account in drug treatment [ 51 ].

2.2. The Important Influence of Family on the Motivation for Detoxification

A large number of studies have discussed the important role of family in the enhancement of motivation for drug rehabilitation, but there are controversies in the research conclusions; in other words, research on the relationship between family factors and detoxification motivation has not generated a consistent conclusion.

On the one hand, existing studies have emphasised or demonstrated the relationship between family function [ 52 , 53 ], family support [ 54 , 55 ], family relationships [ 56 , 57 ] and substance users’ involvement in drug rehabilitation treatment. It is believed that the more perfect the family system, the better the family function, the higher the degree of family support for substance users, the stronger the willingness to invest in drug treatment and the motivation to maintain a drug-free life [ 58 ]. In the aspect of “family support”, an interview study on 40 drug users in Nigeria found that different forms of support, including financial, material and spiritual support, provided by families were important catalysts for substance users to achieve rehabilitation [ 59 ]. In addition, a number of questionnaire studies have confirmed the predictive effect of family support on drug rehabilitation motivation [ 60 ], relapse tendency [ 61 ] and maintenance effect [ 62 ]. In the aspect of “family relationship”, the interaction between substance users and family members [ 63 ] and their ability to express themselves emotionally [ 64 ] could affect the relapse tendency or the success rate of drug rehabilitation. Other studies have shown that family participation and the repair of their relationship with their families are the most important predictors of drug abusers’ participation in treatment [ 65 ], and could encourage substance users to admit that they are willing to change [ 66 ] and maintain positive changes [ 67 ] and stability in terms of detoxification [ 68 ]. In the annual report issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), it has been repeatedly emphasised that the improvement of family support system and relationship was of great benefit for the treatment of drug addiction [ 69 ]. Currently, there are many substance use treatment programmes in the United States that include the families of substance users in the treatment scope, involve the correction and adjustment of the family environment, including solve the original problems in the family, change the interaction pattern among the family members, improve the relationship among the family members and enhance parenting competencies [ 70 ]. Family-focused intervention models have also yielded good results, with nearly half (46%) of substance users successfully came off drugs with the help of their families [ 71 ].

On the other hand, some studies also suggested that although many family factors may have a direct or indirect impact on substance users, relied solely on the positive support of the family system was not a panacea [ 72 ]. McKay et al. conducted a longitudinal study on 14 factors that have effectively assisted substance users to put an end to their drug use and maintained a drug-free life, and found that the positive support and positive social network of the family system was only a secondary curative factor, and the real main predictors were the high self-efficacy, self-help participation, readiness to change and depression of substance users [ 73 ]. The results of a questionnaire survey in Indonesia also showed that although family support had a significant positive impact on substance users’ motivation, the main indicator that had a major impact on family support was the rehabilitants’ perception of whether their family could meet their well-being needs. At the same time, individual guilt and a sense of responsibility to oneself, family, community, government and God would also motivate substance users to stop using drugs [ 74 ]. Some studies of substance users in Taiwan have the same findings, i.e., that there was no simple and objective standard for whether family factors have an adequate protection effect for substance users [ 75 ], whether or not substance users themselves have good psychological adjustment ability [ 76 ], and that how to understand and interpret family environment factors [ 77 ] was the key. The latest studies also found that psychological capital played a mediating role between family closeness and relapse tendency [ 78 ], and life strategies could also regulate the mediating effect of psychological capital [ 79 ]. In conclusion, the family can only provide limited assistance, and the important factor that really determines whether substance user to “quit drugs” or not is still the individual’s psychological state and the significance given to family factors.

Existing studies have fully demonstrated the important influence of family on the motivation of detoxification, but mainly discussed whether some family factors would affect the enhancement of motivation for detoxification, without in-depth analysis of how family factors affect substance users, and then urge them to put an end to their drug use. At the same time, most studies still regarded family as an objective external factor, focused on what kind of family functioning/family support system/family relationship status could provide a good environment for substance users to put an end to their drug use. Although some studies have suggested that the effect of family factors on the motivation of detoxification were limited by the psychological state and individual cognition of substance users, they still focused on the influencing factors, and they have not revealed how individuals perceived their family and how this perception and understanding could promote the enhancement of detoxification motivation. These are questions to be answered in this study.

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. research design.

The present study aims to explore how family factors facilitate the substance users’ motivation for detoxification. It is a complex phenomenon and varies among individuals within the family, social and cultural context. Qualitative research emphasises the holistic understanding of events or behaviours within the context, and enables the researchers to view the participants holistically within their natural settings [ 80 ]. Through qualitative research, the process of enhancing the substance users’ motivation to stop using drugs can be understood in detail within their family and broader social context. After learning about what types of problems are best suited for each approach to qualitative inquiry, the researchers determined to use a phenomenological approach in this study. The focus of this study was to understand several drug rehabilitants’ common experiences of enhancing their motivation for detoxification, in order to develop practices or policies. This is the typical type of problem best suited for phenomenological approach [ 81 ]. In detail, the researchers expected to obtain a deeper understanding from the drug rehabilitants about their experience with drug detoxification, how do they interpret these experiences, and what contexts or situations affect their motivation for drug detoxification. This is also consistent with the focus of phenomenological approach, which explores the lived experience of individuals and how individuals make sense of their experiential world [ 82 ]. Therefore, the qualitative research method and phenomenological approach was adopted in this study.

3.2. Participants

In this study, the researchers adopted criterion sampling strategy to look for participants who have shared an experience, but vary in characteristics and in their individual experiences [ 83 ]. The objective of this research was to explore how to enhance the motivation for drug detoxification, thus the criterion for sample selection in this study was that participants had the experiences of substance use and success in ending their drug use. Under the introduction of the leader of the drug rehabilitation group, the researchers approached 41 potential participants among the drug rehabilitants of drug treatment social work service projects in Shanghai, China. This kind of introduction by a key informant with high reputation laid the foundation for the smooth entrance of researchers, and also provided great help for researchers to gain the trust of interviewees in the process of conducting in-depth interviews and helping them communicate with researchers sincerely and frankly. Among the 41 possible participants, the researchers selected informative participants who were closely aligned with the research objectives. Additionally, the researchers recruited participants varying in rehabilitation years and demographic characteristics such as gender and age. During the process, the researchers checked the availability of enough in-depth data showing the patterns, categories and variety of drug detoxification experiences. The researchers jointly decided whether the sample size was sufficient. When data saturation was reached, the researchers stopped recruiting new participants. In total, 15 drug rehabilitants were finally selected as the research sample. The basic information about the 15 participants is shown in Table 1 , in which the first letter of the numbered subjects is the interview time order, and the second letter is the gender.

Basic information about the participants.

3.3. Data Collection

In this study, face-to-face in-depth interviews were used as the main method, supplemented by participatory observation to collect data. Two researchers conducted in-depth interviews in Chinese with 15 drug rehabilitants in Shanghai, China, from August to September 2017. In order to obtain the richest information, the researchers conducted in-depth interview with each participant for three to four hours. Although it required a long time, the researchers used some methods to reduce participants’ fatigue. The researchers and the participants reached an agreement on the interview place near the participants’ residence or workplace, and preferably chose a setting devoid of loud noises, such as a private room of the cafe or tearoom, in which the participants might feel comfortable and relaxed. Before the interview, the researchers informed the participants beforehand about the time that would be taken for completing the interview and that the participants would have the right to take a break or stop the interview when they felt tired. Semistructured interviews were conducted via the use of an interview schedule comprising questions regarding demographic information, their personal life story, drug rehabilitation experience and their motivation to change. All interviews were recorded with the consent of the interviewees. In fact, the participants had strong willingness to share their experiences, and they cherished such communication opportunities since they expected that their rehabilitation experience could be seen by more people through the researchers’ writing, so as to influence more people to change their views on drug rehabilitation groups. Therefore, during the whole interview process, they all showed great energy. At the end of the interview, they even lamented on how quickly time passed.

For those in particular who had been recovering for a long time, they had difficulty providing more detailed information about the specific circumstances and practical feelings of their early drug rehabilitation experience. The long gap in time was more likely to lead to recall bias or affect their judgement in their description of past experiences. In terms of mutual verification of data, the researchers collected the documents such as the life story written by participants during participation in the drug treatment social work service project or articles about their experiences of drug rehabilitation written by participants that were published in related WeChat official accounts. To a certain extent, it was helpful to avoid the deviation of research conclusions caused by missing information provided by the participants. In addition, the researchers also participated in various drug treatment social work service activities. Through participatory observation, the researchers listened and watched the drug rehabilitants in mutual contact, and had the opportunity to communicate with more drug rehabilitants, so as to obtain a direct sensory impression of them and their explanation of the meaning of their words and deeds.

3.4. Data Analysis

Verbatim transcripts were typed according to the interview recordings and were then translated from Chinese into English by the first and fourth authors of this research. Finally, the second and third authors double-checked that the meanings of the translated transcripts in English were loyal to the original Chinese meanings, so as to ensure the highest level of accuracy. Qualitative analysis began with sorting and becoming familiar with data by the first and fourth authors. Two researchers read the transcripts two to three times, grasped the data and information as a whole, and marked the sentences that could describe the participants’ rehabilitation experiences and evoke strong emotions. Two researchers then analysed the key ideas of the transcripts, field notes and memos, and performed open coding separately based on actual data [ 84 ]. Two researchers often discussed the coding during the analysis process. Crosschecking of transcript coding was carried out by the second and third authors. Based on a careful examination of the data, the researchers developed as many codes as possible, such as “filial piety”, “parental responsibility” and “family reputation”. Points of divergence in coding were discussed until the research team reached agreement. Then, the researchers made a coding sheet to collect the codes and clustered them in preliminary categories. According to the preliminary analysis, the researchers interpreted that motivation of drug detoxification was strongly influenced by the cultural norms related to family intergenerational responsibility. This interpretation was based on a certain interpretative framework, which aimed to reveal the concepts behind the story that support the experience of research objects [ 85 ]. After repeated online and offline discussion, four categories were identified by the research team: compensation of intergenerational deficit, sharing of intergenerational reputation, constraint of role norms and expectation of intergenerational care. In the next step, the researchers made a further analysis based on the connotation of ethics at the value level and its guidance to the individual practice level, and divided the similar categories into two themes. The former two categories were summarised as the value aspects of family ethics, which refer to the influence of family ethics on the consciousness of the individual and thus shapes their values. The latter two categories were sorted out as practical aspects of family ethics, which refers to the influence of family ethics on the actions of individuals and thus guide their choices of action. Each theme was named with content-characteristic words, including “value orientation and consciousness stimulation of family intergenerational ethics” and “practical orientation and behavioural constraints of family intergenerational ethics”.

Four strategies [ 86 ] were adopted to enhance the trustworthiness of this study. (1) Prolonged engagement—the researchers spent a long time building a trust relationship with the participants by participating in their activities, which helped the researchers become familiar with them and clarify or elaborate any unclear points by going back to talk to them. (2) Data triangulation—the combinations of in-depth interviews, documentation collection and participant observation helped the researchers to approach the “reality” from different dimensions. (3) Member check—the researchers also repeatedly communicated with participants about their feelings concerning the interviews and the preliminary analysis findings, and discussed some of the research conclusions with them in the later stage. Thus, the researchers could find and reflect on the deviation in the process of data analysis and interpretation, and to some extent, it also ensured the validity of this study. (4) Peer debriefing—the researchers often held discussions together, as well as with the substance use treatment workers. Their comments, critiques and suggestions stimulated the researchers to reflect on the research, and further improved its credibility.

3.5. Ethical Considerations

This study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of the first author’s PhD school. Informed consent had to be obtained from all participants to ensure they had the right to participate in the study. Therefore, when the interviewees were invited by the leader of the drug rehabilitation group, the purpose and methods of the research and the content that might be involved were initially explained by the principal researcher, and the independent will of the participants was emphasised. After the voluntary participants were identified, a written “informed consent form”, including the research background, research purpose, data collection methods and measures to protect the privacy of the interviewees, was sent to them through the WeChat platform, to confirm again whether they were clear about participating in the study. Finally, before the formal face-to-face interviews began, the interviewees’ understanding of the research content and confidentiality rules was once again confirmed orally.

In accordance with the norms of research ethics, the information about the participants was presented anonymously to avoid inadvertently exposing the identity of the participants. In this study, although the participants often appeared in public places, such as in anti-drug publicity activities, media interviews and public welfare services, at the same time, some participants also made it clear in the interview process that they did not mind their identity being disclosed, but rather expected to guide more people to stay away from drugs through their own experiences and to advocate a better community acceptance atmosphere through their positive change after rehabilitation. However, to ensure anonymity and security, the real names of research participants were not used in the study, and the recordings were not labelled with names. Instead, they were marked with numbers and destroyed after the study.

In China, under the influence of Confucian family-oriented thought, people are mainly positioned in the basic pattern of human relations order, such as kinship and extended social relations [ 87 ]. Therefore, the responsibilities and obligations undertaken by individuals and the fulfilment and enjoyment of their rights are be constrained by family ethics. In contrast to Western family ethics, which focuses on the horizontal relationship between husband and wife, the Chinese family structure focuses on the vertical parent-child relationship [ 88 ], which emphasises filial duty whereby parents should be respected and children should be raised. Human ethics with the basic attribute of the “father–child axis” [ 89 ] has created a normative atmosphere among different generations of family members by clearly stipulating the parent–child code of conduct and the relationship between their roles and obligations [ 90 ]. The original motivation of the participants in this study to decide to put an end to their drug use superficially seemed to be some accidental events/situations, such as self-reflection after entering a compulsory detoxification centre for drug rehabilitation, family members’ effort to help or a word said to them, etc. However, what lies behind these seemingly accidental events/situations is the power of social norms of family intergenerational ethics; it rekindles their sense of intergenerational responsibility, which has been concealed by their craving for drug consumption, and then they are willing to make changes. In the words of the interviewees, these events or situations “poke straight into the soul”, “touch the softest part of the heart” and “open up the numbed good will within”. This paper discusses the enhancement of substance users’ motivation from the value orientation and the practical orientation of family intergenerational ethics.

4.1. Value Orientation and Consciousness Stimulation of Family Intergenerational Ethics

The value orientation of family intergenerational ethics reflects the basic principles of family order and the basic conditions for family to be placed in the whole society. Within the family, the relationship between power and duty stipulated by intergenerational ethics has become the guarantee of the orderly operation of the family, and the failure to assume the corresponding role obligations may cause damage to other family members. As for outside of the family, the family will be judged by its societal environment, which can affect the whole family’s image and honour, and it is the responsibility of family members to maintain them. Thus, when rehabilitants feel the potential or actual negative consequences of their failure to take responsibility for their families, they may realize that it is necessary for them to change their behaviour.

4.1.1. Responsibility Assumption from the Perspective of Debt Compensation

When family members fail to perform their corresponding duties or even cause harm to the people they take care of, the psychological mechanism of debt will take effect. In this case, the anxiety and pressure perceived by substance users may prompt them to compensate by taking new actions or resuming their responsibilities. Compensation for harm caused by drug use in the past mainly occurs in the liability debt as parents or children. The former is more common, which may be related to the general belief that parents are duty-bound to raise their children to the best of their abilities.

As parents, they are naturally responsible for raising their young children, which is necessary for the continuation of humanity. Therefore, parents’ care for their children and offspring is rarely regarded as a strict moral requirement, but as something that everyone can do naturally, as part of the nature and instinct of parenthood [ 91 ]. For parents, “worrying” about their children and fulfilling their responsibility to raise them, which is to fulfil their cultural obligations, are often taken for granted [ 92 ]. Therefore, it is extremely rare that parents do not love their children at all, and so do the substance users. Although due to years of substance use, most of them have not accompanied their children as they have grown up, or their own past experiences negatively affected their children’s healthy development and future, their awareness of parenting and caring for their children did not disappear completely. Thus, when substance users are aware of the effects of their drug use experience on their children, they will feel deeply guilty about not taking responsibility for their children’s education and expect to make amends.

I’ve been taken into the compulsory detoxification centre several times, never disciplined my daughter … The biggest responsibility for her mental problems is mine, because I did not assume my own responsibility. If I hadn’t taken drugs and had stayed with her, she wouldn’t be what she is today, would she? So, this is one of the major reasons why I don’t take drugs anymore, I must take my responsibility for the family, at least to take care of my daughter. (NM)

If I didn’t get into (the compulsory detoxification centre) for two years, just stayed in the society, I couldn’t stop using drugs either, certainly I couldn’t. I do not know how many times I have tried to “quit” repeatedly, it’s useless! I have two sons. The older is over 30 years old and the younger one is only 15. When I got into the compulsory detoxification centre, my little son was not born yet. Just two days after I got in, he was born … At that moment, I thought, I’ve already ruined my elder son, I’ve never been with him, and I could not ruin the little son again. So, now at my age, all I need to do is to raise my little son well. That is, to take care of him and raise him, I don’t care about anything else. (OM)

In addition, when certain events or situations visually demonstrate to the substance users how their children have grown, their awareness of their indebtedness to their children and their responsibility in fulfilling their parental obligations will be stimulated, which in turn will arouse the expectation of being a competent parent again, thus becoming an important source of motivation for firm belief in drug rehabilitation. In this sense, the unfolding of a motivation to change is mostly initiated by watching one’s own children grow, and the role of parents will become increasingly more important as children grow older [ 93 ]. In addition, in some situations that may lead to relapse, the arousal of “parenthood”, and the roles and responsibilities that the identity places on the individual will also be a source of motivation to avoid relapse.

The last day I came out of the female compulsory detoxification centre, there was one thing that touched the softest part of my heart, woke up my motherhood and reminded me of the responsibility that I should take as a mother. My daughter got her period for the second time on the day I came home. When I opened the door and walked into the bathroom, I saw a basin of my daughter’s underwear soaked in the water. The colour of the water made me feel a fierce pain. I entered the bedroom and saw the sheets with bloodstains that had not been replaced on the bed, and blood on the sofa, blood everywhere … At that moment, my tears would not stop, and I repeated a calling in my mind 10,000 times: “My baby, mum will never leave you again!” For the sake of my daughter, but also for myself, I will always stick to it, be a competent mother and no longer let my daughter grow up with any defects! (Data collected from the article “Wake Up, it is Rebirth”, published in the Starfish column of the WeChat official account “Shanghai Anti-drug Volunteer Style”.)

I went through great family changes … I think I can withstand such a great change and deal with it well, because I put my position right. Because I was conscious at that time, and my responsibility was “I am a mother”. Now that I’m a mother, it’s clearer to me that my responsibility is not just to be myself, to be a normal self, but also to be responsible for my daughter. So that’s what keeps me strong in my belief that I will not look for any excuse to relapse. (AF)

The debt to parents is mainly reflected in the delay and compensation in the change of the family care role for substance users as grown children. In the Chinese society that emphasises filial piety, the patterns and directions of family care and support functions will change with the transition of the family life cycle in different stages. Generally speaking, young children grow older under the care of their parents, but when these children grow older and their parents become old, the role relationship of “care giver and cared” between the parents and children will start to reverse, and the children will take the role of providing care and support in the family [ 94 ]. In other words, children should repay their parents for bringing them up when they become adults, and become the givers of family financial support and life care, so as to ensure the quality of their parents’ life and help them enjoy their later years. Therefore, when substance users as the adult children in a family do not take the responsibilities of caring and supporting their elderly parents, but instead need their parents to take care of them or to worry about them, it can cause painful experiences such as shame and regret, so as to stimulate the awareness and motivation of change.

The turning point for me was when my mother came to see me for the first time, which touched me the most. When she picked up the phone, she didn’t blame me for anything. Instead, she said, “Mom is not with you now. You should take care of yourself.” I just thought, I really look like a beast! The first feeling was that I was unfilial, I made a mistake, but I made my mother worry about me all day, which is a punishment for her as well, isn’t it? So, this is what urged me not to take drugs anymore, this is the biggest motivation and the original motivation! (HM)

At the same time, the awareness that parents may die will also have an impact on the lives of substance users, making them aware of their debt and responsibility to their parents. Studies have shown that these “worst of all” dilemmas often motivate substance users to reflect on themselves [ 95 ] and then be willing to start changing.

The real break with drugs came two months after I got out of the compulsory detoxification centre. At that time, my mother earned a little money for me by weeding on the roadside. One day, a friend who worked in a hospital called me and said, “Did your mother go out to work today? Something went wrong and there are no survivors!” Later, my mother was fine. When she came home, she would sleep with me at night and hug me. One night she said to me, “Don’t take drugs anymore and stay at home. Anyway, if you have nothing to eat, Mom and Dad will give you food. If you have no clothes, we’ll buy for you.” After my mother said that, I really couldn’t stop crying, and then I was determined to “quit drugs”. (BF)

4.1.2. Responsibility Assumption from the Perspective of Reputation Protection

“Home” occupies a prominent position in the Chinese culture [ 96 ]. To some extent, individuals are not the basic elements of society, but “home” is the core of society, and it is a “closely knit group” [ 97 ]. In this group, the individual’s sense of existence and value is not completely reflected in the self-realization of individual value, as life and death, honour and disgrace are primarily related to the interests of the whole family [ 98 ]. Thus, family members have obligations to each other, and share the honour and disgrace. In this sense, family responsibility is also reflected in not humiliating parents or having a negative impact on children’s future development through their words and deeds.

In terms of the identity and role of children in the family, “filial piety comes first in all virtues” is a long-term consensus in Chinese society. “Filial piety is the fundamental of Chinese society … We can see the influence of filial piety in all the activities of Chinese society and all lives of Chinese people” [ 99 ]. This influence is reflected in the physiological aspect of “body, hair and skin all come from parents and must not be damaged”, and the psychological aspect of “caring parents”, as well as the social aspect of “glorify the family” [ 100 ]. In other words, children repay their parents not only by serving them, but also by having more social meanings, namely inheriting their parents’ aspirations, achieving something and even glorifying the family. Therefore, in the process of children’s growth, they are expected to become brilliant and bring honour to the family; children should meet their parents’ requirements or expectations in a form that conforms to social norms. On the contrary, when children violate social norms, they not only consider the illegal aspect of individual behaviour, but also the negative impact of their behaviour on the family, resulting in a sense of guilt over their parents’ upbringing.

A long time after I used drugs, I felt ashamed in front of my parents; they gave me life, no matter how, they raised me, and it didn’t seem like a good thing to do this … It was like doing … an impossible bad thing, the worst thing that could happen. (DF)

From this point of view, “filial piety” in a broader sense also includes all the norms of behaviour that conform to traditional ethics, so that parents will not be humiliated by them. As the old saying goes, “following virtue will be good for your relatives while doing evil will upset your family”. In other words, any behaviour that is not good or that worries parents is unfilial [ 101 ]. Under the influence of traditional filial piety, people even believe that it is evil for a person to break the law because it will bring harm to his/her parents’ personality or reputation [ 102 ]. Therefore, a person who is filial to his/her parents will never engage in illegal and criminal activities, because it is not conducive to filial piety to his/her parents, and makes his/her parents feel anxious and even discredits their reputation.

I felt guilty when seeing my parents save me again and again and never give up on me. I also felt sad when seeing they still work hard. I felt that if they go on like this, they may experience the death of their child and be criticized by everyone. Behind them people will gossip that, “how is the son of this family?” I don’t want my family to deal with this kind of gossip. (IM)

Similarly, from the perspective of the parents’ role in the family, their responsibility of caring for children is not limited to financial support and life care, but also means that they should not discredit their children; that is, they should be responsible for their future. In China, under the influence of traditional concepts such as the “severe punishment doctrine”, the public generally show resistance and rejection toward criminals and even their families. Drug use is undoubtedly a violation of social systems and norms, and this behaviour will also cause serious harm to individuals, families and even the whole society, which makes it more difficult for drug users and their families to be accepted by the public, and they generally suffer discrimination and exclusion. At the same time, due to the implementation of political censorship in the recruitment process for specific positions such as joining the Party and civil servants in China, the illegal and criminal situation of immediate family members will have a certain impact on individual development. Therefore, in order to avoid the stigmatization effect in daily life or try to make up for the negative impact of the joint effect on their children in the formal system, substance users will solidify their belief in drug rehabilitation by taking their children’s reputation and future into consideration.

After I went into the compulsory detoxification centre, it was my wife and my daughter who really gave me confidence to “quit drugs”. It was my wife’s words and deeds that saved my soul! She told me, “I care about you, and my daughter needs a complete family!” Ever since she talked to me, I’ve been thinking about it and even poked my soul! How could I face my daughter in the future? She’s definitely going to grow up. You can’t let her carry the heavy cross all the time, and be criticized by others that her dad is a substance user!” I’m so sorry for her! So I thought, “I can’t do this, I want to live again, don’t touch it!” Therefore, if it were not for the re-education this time, I may still be taking drugs, or I may already even be dead, right? Smoking to die! You were crazy out there! Crazy!!!! People may think of stealing wallets, stealing, robbing and so on; rich people like me, I was floating, floating all the time, there is an incredible feeling of floating up high all the time. When you get inside, you have time to settle down and reflect on the journey you experienced and everything in the past. (KM)

When I was sorting things, I suddenly saw my daughter’s diary. I cried when I read one of them. The teacher asked her to write an application for joining the Party, she wrote, “How can I?” Three times, “How can I? How can I? How can I?” Three question marks, I know it was my fault and I felt very uncomfortable. Besides, she was looking for a job, and it seemed that the company had a good impression of her, but finally she didn’t take the job because of this. I have let my daughter down many times, so I can only be nice to her … (FF)

4.2. Practical Orientation and Behavioural Constraints of Family Intergenerational Ethics

As a kind of behaviour norm, family intergenerational ethics not only lie in preaching and introspection. People will also take this as a code of conduct, forming some kind of responsibility constraints [ 103 ]. In Chinese society, the influence of filial piety ethics on daily life practice is particularly prominent. It is emphasised that treating parents well and ensuring parents’ life is a responsible and binding duty for adult children [ 104 ], and most people in the society will fulfil this behaviour according to the convention [ 105 ]. Under the guidance and restraint of family responsibilities and obligations, substance users can reflect on their own role in the family, and then regulate their behaviour, before clarifying the direction of behavioural change.

4.2.1. Responsibility Assumption from the Life Cycle Perspective

In contrast to the “relay mode” of the family life cycle in the West, the core feature of the family life cycle in China is a “repayment mode”, in which the next generation needs to undertake the obligation of supporting the previous generation in return for the kindness of their parents [ 106 ]. This means that the relationship between parents and children is a contractual relationship [ 107 ]; at different stages of family life cycle, parents and children meet their needs and take care of each other by raising young children and supporting elderly parents, respectively. According to the interview data, the situation of guiding substance users to take care of their families is mainly reflected in the later stage of the parent–child relationship when the parents are old and need to be taken care of, which may be related to the profound influence of the “filial piety” culture on Chinese people.

Under the influence of traditional filial piety and family values, the basic function of supporting the elderly in China is mainly undertaken by families, and the social expectation of providing for the elderly by adult children far exceeds the expectation of government welfare policies [ 108 ]. Even in the case of great changes in family structure and the heavy burden of family welfare, the concept of obligatory support for the elderly has always dominated [ 109 ]. In fact, this is closely related to Chinese people’s feelings and life values. It implies that the reason why everyone exists today is because our parents gave birth to us and raised us to grow up [ 110 ]. Naturally, children should take on the role of caring for their parents when they become old, and do their best to care for and serve them. In this regard, the traditional “filial piety” culture clearly stipulates how children should treat and serve their parents based on the ethical relationship within the family [ 111 , 112 ]. By defining family ethical responsibilities and obligations that they should assume as children’s identity and role, the filial piety of “caring for parents” can stimulate the conscience and ability of substance users and thus restrain and guide their behavioural change.

My parents are old and need companion. Without a companion, their hopes for life may be shattered; at the very least, your companion is good for their health … It’s my duty to be there and accompany them, to make them healthier and happier. (GM)

The last time I came back home and I saw a table full of dishes, and I said, “Is anyone visiting today?” My father said, “No, just waiting for you.” Later, my daughter told me that my father had prepared this meal for three days, and the seafood was bought at the wholesale market in the early morning. The other day I saw my father and I suddenly felt, how is he so old? I was thinking, taking care of my parents was my duty, but my daughter helped me. Am I going too far? So, for the next two or three years when my father was sick, I took care of him and actually repaid him. (FF)

On the other hand, from the perspective of the parent–child relationship and ethical obligations, in addition to “being born with courtesy”, the basic norms of “caring for parents” also include the fact that children needed to have their parents “buried and sacrificed with courtesy” after they died. Furthermore, the ideology and etiquette norms concerning this can be transformed into the concrete actions of people and have a real impact on them, which is mainly reflected in the concepts of “raising children as a guarantee against old age” and “serving the parents while living and arranging a proper burial after their death”. It is generally believed that whether children can provide and care for their parents’ retirement is an important aspect of their filial piety, and an important embodiment of whether parents could die a natural death. Therefore, children should fully serve and take care of their parents in their old age, and also repay their parents’ kindness by paying tribute and offering sacrifices after their parents’ death.

I thought it all over when I was in the compulsory detoxification centre, and I told myself, I can’t go this way anymore, why? There is a Chinese saying, “serve the parents while living and arrange a proper burial after their death”. Nowadays Mum and Dad do not need your financial support, but you must arrange their funeral after their death. So I thought that when I came back and they didn’t pass away, I would never go this way again. (EF)

The expression “children want to serve but parents are no longer alive” aims to guide people to cherish the present opportunity of filial piety and take good care of their parents while they are alive. It can be seen that children’s caring for their parents is a kind of civilised behaviour, and there are usually different forms of “filial piety” instilled in children’s growth [ 113 ]. On this basis, personal emotions are actually transformed into normative emotions in roles [ 100 ], and children’s support for their parents is mainly based on social responsibilities stipulated by laws or relevant cultural traditions. In other words, children must support and honour their parents after they grow up, which is the moral responsibility and obligation they must assume as their children. Thus, the standard of filial behaviour and the role norms as children, which are perceived and gradually enhanced, will transcend the individual’s own attitudes or concepts [ 114 ], and form a basic value and cultural orientation for their daily behaviour and social relations [ 115 ]. As a result, when parents reach the age when they need to be taken care of, the identity role of substance users as the children in the contractual relationship and the corresponding responsibility norms will stimulate their motivation to change.

My father came to visit me at the compulsory detoxification centre on crutches and told me that he missed me very much and was afraid he would never see me again. This kind of scene, which could usually only be seen on TV, actually happened in my life at that moment. For the first and only time in my life, I saw my father cry that day. After the interview, looking at my father’s trembling figure, the feeling of guilt for my parents was aroused spontaneously. In this world, there is a regret that cannot be made up for, that is, “the trees prefer calm but the wind will not stop, the children want to serve but the parents are no longer alive”. At that time, I prayed in my heart: don’t let this regret happen to me! At this moment, what I need to do is “quit drugs” and do my duty as a daughter. (Data collected from the life story written by participant LF during her participation in the drug treatment social work service project)

What’s the biggest reason to “quit drugs”? My parents are quite old now and they always work hard for us. I feel they are too old, too old. This time if I go the same way again, maybe I will never see them again once I get inside. (JM)

4.2.2. Responsibility Assumption under the Perspective of Intergenerational Mutual Assistance

In China, family provides the most fundamental welfare support and life security for individuals, and forms a virtuous cycle of intergenerational mutual assistance tradition between parents and children [ 116 ]. Even in current Chinese society, family mutual assistance is still widespread and its intensity even exceeds government assistance [ 117 ]. As a result, different generations form a community of shared interests, which can maintain the overall operation of the family through the flow of resources between generations. Thus, the obligations relationship between generations will take the principle of reciprocity into account, emphasizing that it is not only giving that is important, but also that what is given will be rewarded [ 118 ]. To sum up, giving has two meanings: one is supporting and caring for elderly parents as children; the other is nurturing and supporting young children as parents. The reward is more the expectation that their children will repay when they grow up, so that they can receive the same family care when they are old. In other words, important elements of intergenerational relationships also include expectations and demands formed within the family that individuals need to rely on the family to provide care and support for them.

However, some substance users do not form new families or raise children, which means that the family-centred intergenerational “repayment mode” in China cannot form a closed loop when they become old. In this case, their expectations of family care and support are more likely to fall on their parents. Even for families with siblings, once their parents die, the original family network will collapse [ 119 ] and there is no guarantee that they can obtain help and support from their siblings. At the same time, it is important to recognize that when substance users become old, their parents will have become even older, nearing their time of dying, or already have. As a result, substance users have to manage the situation of how to think about their future when their families are unable to care of them after the death of their parents.

Why do I stop using drugs? My brother and sister are very kind to me and help me all the time. My mother is alive, my brother and sister would help me for the sake of my mother of course. But what if my mother is gone? Who will take care of me? In fact, I know, my mother is over 80 years old, she certainly will pass away, and then who will care about me after she has gone? (CM)

Specifically, as parents become aged or die, substance users will gradually realize that they can no longer rely entirely on their parents for their love and that others around them will not support them as much as their parents, so they can only bear all the consequences of their choices, decisions and actions on their own. In fact, we all know this very well in our daily life, that no matter how old we are, as long as our parents are alive, we can always be their children. When parents are about to leave or have already passed away, however, we can only face the future by ourselves. Without the family protection of intergenerational mutual assistance, substance users need to take corresponding moral responsibility for their own life and future, which will encourage them to realize “self-responsibility” through positive changes in behaviour.

The last time I came out, my brother said to me, “Now the situation is getting tighter, you will enter the compulsory detoxification centre again if you are not careful, aren’t you tired? You’re 48 years old now. Can you do anything? Anyway, it’s your own life, if you want to go on like this, we can’t help you.” That is to say, if you go on like this, no one will support you anymore. We are all old, right? Mum’s gone, and you can only rely on yourself, right? (MF)

5. Discussion

This qualitative study explored how cultural and normative elements within the family affect substance users to enhance the motivation for drug detoxification. A total of fifteen rehabilitants were interviewed, seven of whom were female and eight were male. At the time of the interviews, the youngest participant was 35 years old and the oldest was 63 years old, with an average age of nearly 52 years old. Most of them have children (except CM, DF, GM, HM and LF) and many of the participants’ parents were older (e.g., AF, BF, CM, EF, FF, GM, HM, JM and LF) or deceased (e.g., MF) at the time when they made their determination to put an end to drug use. Analysis of the interview data revealed that the events/situations that motivated participants to develop strong motivation were related to their parents or children, and themes related to family intergenerational ethics began to emerge.

Among the fifteen participants, eight were motivated by family intergenerational ethics at the value level, which led them to realize the need to compensate for their missing family responsibilities through behavioural changes. There are two categories under this theme, namely, the compensation of intergenerational deficit and sharing of intergenerational reputation. Among them, five participants (AF, BF, HM, NM and OM) determined to put an end to their drug use because witnessing the growth of their children or their parents’ aging led them realize that they have owed to their family too much and decided to take family responsibility, and prompted them to reflect on their drug use behaviour. Three participants (DF, IM and KM) were motivated by the negative impact of their drug use on their parents’ or children’s reputations and began to come off substance use with this sense of guilt.

The motivation of the other seven participants for detoxification came from the correction of family intergenerational ethics at the practical level, which created constraints on how they should and could make changes and assume family responsibilities. This theme can also be divided into two categories: role norms constraint and intergenerational care expectation. Among them, five participants (EF, GM, JM, LF, FF) were guided by ethical norms related to intergenerational responsibility to initiate behavioural changes, two participants (CM and MF) chose to achieve self-care through putting an end to their drug use due to the constraints of family intergenerational mutual support norms.

5.1. Why Can Trigger Events/Situations Motivate Drug Rehabilitation?

Some researchers suggest that trigger events/situations are usually a kind of “hitting rock bottom” experience [ 120 , 121 ] or a “worst of all” dilemma [ 122 ], which can enhance the strong willpower of substance users [ 123 ]. We strongly agree that the behaviour change motivation of substance users is associated with the occurrence of major life events or life turning points. Moreover, although most of these events/situations are associated with various negative outcomes derived from drug use, they can still be a source of motivation for substance users to receive treatment [ 124 ]. Therefore, it is necessary to ask further why some specific events/situations can be the turning points for substance users to decide to change.

Previous studies suggested that the difficulty of turning points brought dramatic life changes that substance users had never experienced in their past life, and this difference and impact could help these substance users rethink the negative consequences of drug use [ 18 ]. Other studies suggested that compulsory supervision by the judicial system was also an important turning point in substance users’ life, as they provided sufficient time and space for self-reflection that led to active motivation and behaviour [ 125 , 126 ]. It can be seen that both the direct impact brought by the event itself and the turning point induced by the passive situation actually be emphasised that the internal thinking and reflection caused by the event/situation was more critical than the external event/situation itself. This ability of reflection and self-consciousness is crucial for substance users to fully rid themselves of their drug addiction. If they take action without deep reflection, they may use drugs again under the promotion of certain conditions [ 127 ]. In our study, the reason why triggering events/situations arouse participants’ deep reflection was related to the family ethics and intergenerational responsibility that are emphasised in Chinese society.

In fact, a number of studies found that substance users’ discontinuation of drug use was related to their family roles, particularly their new family roles and responsibilities [ 128 ], or their new understanding of those roles and responsibilities [ 129 ]. Some researchers also suggested that the role and responsibility of substance users in the family should be strengthened [ 130 ], and the special family ethical values in Chinese society should also be emphasised [ 131 ]. Consistent with previous findings that, although the development of the nuclearisation of family is one of the important characteristics of the family with the social transformation [ 132 ], institutionalized family roles and corresponding responsibilities have often been understood as traditional and underdeveloped in the past. Actually, however, the foundation of familial internal order and family culture has not been eliminated, and the family is still the moral source of virtue and has the religious function of securing one’s life [ 133 ]; this study found that, as a member of the family, an individual’s consciousness and action would inevitably be affected by the family. Therefore, the assumption of family roles and responsibilities needs to be examined back in the family order or family norms. Family order and family norms are collectively called “family ethics” by Liang Shuming, who defined Chinese society as an ethics-based family society [ 134 ]. Our findings indicated family ethics not only led to cognition and internalization at the value level, but also to constraints and norms at the practice level, which enabled substance users to eliminate the influence of elements that do not conform to the requirements of family ethics, and place the focus of life and the support of value on the responsibility within the family, so that they could make up their minds to put an end to their drug use and return to society.

5.2. Implications for Policy and Practice

The results of this study showed that in order to stimulate substance users’ intrinsic motivation to change, in addition to unilaterally intervening directly against the substance users themselves or their external family environment, it is necessary to bear in mind that substance users have their own initiative as a member of the family, and they have their own understanding and interpretation of the family under the influence of the family environment. It is important to help substance users realize the importance of family to them and guide them to appreciate their roles and responsibilities within the family. In this way, individuals and families can be truly connected, rather than separated from each other. Family is not just an objective external factor for substance users, but they are a part of the family and deeply influenced by it. This influence is not only reflected in the ideological level, but also internalized in action. Therefore, it is necessary to help substance users to see in what ways they are influenced by their families and how they themselves understand these influences.

Existing anti-drug laws and regulations in China, such as the Anti-Drug Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Drug Rehabilitation Regulations, mainly stipulate the duties and tasks of governments at all levels, as well as the public security organs, judicial administration departments and administrative departments for health, in assisting substance users to put an end to their drug use; however, the important role of family in drug rehabilitation has not been emphasised in related policies. Therefore, families need to be included in the implementation of various rehabilitation measures, such as voluntary drug rehabilitation, community-based rehabilitation and compulsory isolation. This means not only stipulating how families should participate in drug treatment as entities and their corresponding responsibilities, but also specifically promoting the education and publicity of traditional Chinese family culture in relevant drug rehabilitation facilities. For social workers providing drug rehabilitation services on the front line, it is necessary to recognize that in addition to the improvement of family relationships and the construction of a good family support system, it is also necessary to give attention to the significance of traditional culture in fostering individual values and behaviours, and cultivating individuals’ sense of responsibility and consciousness. For example, services such as writing life stories and taking photos of life can be adopted to guide substance users to think about their relationship with their families and their position in the family, or to design family education service projects with the theme of intergenerational family ethics. This research can provide directions for the services described above with the topics of ethical value-oriented family responsibility deficit and family reputation damage, ethical practice-oriented family role norms and family mutual assistance norms.

In addition, consistent with previous studies, this study found that significant events/situations and the resulting reflections are motivations for drug abuse behaviour change. Therefore, when providing social work services for substance users, social workers need to be highly sensitive and grasp the important turning points in the life of substance users, which can be used as the starting point for thinking about and discovering the possibility of change. At the same time, some similar simulation scenes can be established in the practical process, such as places to experience activities isolated from reality or role-play activities showing family members’ interaction, and creating “sitcoms” about family intergenerational responsibility, etc., which all aim to provide space and time for substance users to become calm and review their own lives and think about their future development. This is what substance users cannot do while using drugs, but it is essential for drug rehabilitation.

6. Conclusions

This study demonstrates the original motivation of 15 Chinese substance users to end their drug use and analyses how their motivation is guided and constrained by family intergenerational ethics.

The research found that certain events/situations triggered the internalized family ethics virtue of substance users, which implied the dual orientations of ethics in the family: On the one hand, when the events/situations made the individual perceive that they were in debt to their families for not taking the corresponding responsibilities during drug use, or their family members’ reputation and future were negatively affected because of their previous drug use behaviour, it would involve an external value judgement. In other words, based on the internalized ethical requirements and the recognition of their values, the rehabilitants would make judgements on their own behaviour, which would arouse a strong sense of reflection, thus stimulating the desire and motivation for behavioural change. On the other hand, when the events/situations prompted individuals to clarify their identity and role in the family life cycle, or when the family mutual assistance system failed to work normally, the responsible subject’s self-orientation would involve the ethical norms in specific practice scenarios, thus constraining themselves to make the corresponding behavioural changes in order to conform to the role orientation and responsibility norms of the parent–child intergenerational relationship in family ethics (see Figure 2 ).

The mechanism of family ethics facilitating the motivation for drug rehabilitation.

Whether it is the guidance at the value level or the constraints at the practical level, these triggering events/situations ultimately lead to the assumption of family responsibilities in fact—that is, to realize that one needs to assume the family responsibilities or to clarify what kind of family responsibilities one should undertake. It is this commitment to family responsibility that enables them to find some external support from their family, and then leads to their own internal feelings about the need and courage required to fight against the suffering of drug addiction and other difficulties related to detoxification, thus stimulating the motivation for self-change.

This study explores how intergenerational family ethical contribute to the enhancement of motivation for drug rehabilitants in an ethic-oriented society such as China. Actually, this is still an exploration of the relationships among family members in a broader sense, only that the focus of this study on family relationships is different from previous studies. Therefore, this study enriches the discussion dimension on family relationships, and for some other countries and regions, it can also be used as a basis for further exploring the role of responsibility-taking among family members in promoting the motivation for drug rehabilitation. On the other hand, although the cultural paths of the West and China differ from each other, few countries and regions place as much emphasis on family ethics as China does, which extensively permeate into the relationship between individuals and society. However, family is not unique to the Chinese and the relationships and mutual care between family members of different generations is not a unique issue that only exists in Chinese society. In other words, in any culture, there must be responsibilities and obligations among family members, but varying in degrees. Thus, our study actually provides a reference for exploring how to promote the formation of drug detoxification motivation from the perspective of intergenerational responsibility-taking. Furthermore, as mentioned above, what matters is not these particular ethical norms and their specification of what and how family responsibilities should be assumed, but rather how substance users understand and interpret family ethical norms and the assumption of responsibility, and the consequent impact on individual behaviour. In this regard, the study reminds us to change the concepts and perspective whenever we carry out relevant research or provide drug treatment. That is to say, we should notice that substance users are not passive recipients of the influence of particular factors in the family, and we must see the agency of substance users in the process.

The current study has some limitations. First, most of the participants in this study were born between the mid-1950s and mid-1970s, and the type of drugs they used was predominantly opioid. Therefore, this research has not yet focused on the characteristics of substance users in the new period and the rehabilitation environment they faced, particularly the significance of the family to the individuals and its impact on their drug use behaviour change. Second, this study takes Shanghai, China, as the field site, and does not provide an in-depth comparative analysis of possible differences in family-influenced motivation for substance users in terms of geography. These are all relevant topics that can be pursued in the future, or some issues that need to be addressed when applying the results of this study.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, P.H. and Q.D.; data curation, P.H. and Q.D.; formal analysis, P.H. and Q.D.; funding acquisition, P.H.; investigation, P.H. and Q.D.; methodology, P.H. and Y.Y.; project administration, P.H.; resources, P.H., S.L. and Y.Y.; validation, S.L. and Y.Y.; visualization, P.H.; writing—original draft, P.H. and S.L.; writing—review and editing, P.H. and Y.Y. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

This research was funded by the Ministry of Education of Humanities and Social Science Project, grant number 21YJC840002.

Institutional Review Board Statement

The study protocol was approved by the School of Social and Public Administration, East China University of Science and Technology Institutional Review Board.

Informed Consent Statement

All participants were informed about the study’s purposes and confidentiality, and each interview was done with their consent. The results of the research will be disseminated to the public through academic conferences, academic papers and newspapers.

Data Availability Statement

Conflicts of interest.

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study, in the collection, analyses or interpretation of data, in the writing of the manuscript or in the decision to publish the results.

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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Why are Drugs so Hard to Quit?

People can heal from an addiction—especially when they get the support they need to relieve withdrawal symptoms, navigate triggers, and make positive changes. This video explores why many people find it difficult to control or stop drug use and how research conducted and supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) can help people find prevention and treatment strategies that work for them.

Video length: 3:58

[Male voiceover]

Addiction and substance use disorders are often misunderstood. Some people believe continuing to use drugs even when they cause harm is a sign of weakness or poor character—but that’s far from the truth.

Many years of research show that substance use disorders are complex, chronic, and treatable medical conditions that involve changes in our brains. Researchers think it works like this:

Our brains have what scientists call a “reward system.” Behaviors that help us survive and stay healthy produce small increases in naturally occurring brain chemicals called “neurotransmitters” in parts of the reward system related to pleasure. That helps explain why biting into a favorite food, seeing someone you love smile, or learning something new can all feel so rewarding. 

When we engage in new, rewarding behaviors, the brain also builds connections between that behavior and related “cues,” like sights, sounds, or feelings that remind us of that reward. That’s why just walking by a restaurant that smells good can make us hungry.

And that’s a good thing. This system motivates us to repeat behaviors that help us survive, such as eating, caring for each other, or honing new skills.

Drugs are chemicals that mimic the neurotransmitters of the brain’s reward system—but in many cases, using drugs can affect the reward system more powerfully than other activities. 

For some of us, using drugs repeatedly can change the way certain areas of the brain work and communicate with each other. These changes can make it harder to enjoy healthy activities, and people sometimes start to need to use drugs to feel good or okay. Suddenly stopping or significantly reducing regular drug use may even cause withdrawal symptoms that can range from powerful negative emotions to flu-like symptoms to life-threatening emergencies. Many withdrawal symptoms are treatable, though for many, using drugs may feel like the only way to alleviate them. 

With repeated drug use, the brain may also build much stronger connections between drugs and cues associated with them—cues that may be difficult to avoid. Some people call these “triggers”—or people, places, things, and feelings that remind a person of using drugs and can make them really want to use them again. 

Repeated drug use can also weaken circuits in the brain that help people exercise self-control and tolerate stress. This can make it even more difficult for people to control their drug use—even when it causes harm, when it doesn’t feel the way it used to, or when it gets in the way of other parts of someone’s life.

These can be signs of a substance use disorder.

While certain factors make substance use disorders more likely to occur in some people than in others, anyone can develop a substance use disorder, whatever their race and ethnicity, sex and gender, or economic status.

Addiction can make quitting drugs or controlling drug use very difficult without support—no matter how much someone wants to stop or cut back.

When someone tries to stop using drugs, the strong associations between drugs and related cues and new or ongoing experiences of stress may lead them to experience cravings and use drugs again. Returning to use after stopping, or relapse, is not uncommon. And like addiction itself, it’s not a sign of weakness.

While drugs can change the brain, treatments—and time—can change it too. People can heal from an addiction—especially when they get the support they need to relieve withdrawal symptoms, navigate triggers, and make positive changes. Researchers have developed therapies to support recovery, including safe and effective medications for some substance use disorders like opioid use disorder. 

And because each person, and brain, is unique, researchers continue to learn more about how drugs and addiction work. They are always looking for new and better ways to prevent, treat, and manage substance use disorders in every person and every community.

If you or someone you care about has a substance use disorder, you can learn more about getting help by calling the National HelpLine at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or by visiting findtreatment dot GOV 

To learn more about substance use and addiction research, log on to nida.nih.gov

clock This article was published more than  2 years ago

Opinion Paying people to stay off drugs works. So let’s keep doing it.

A welcome addition to the widespread problem of treating addiction is the concept of using a paid incentive to encourage abstention from drug use as revealed in Emefa Addo Agawu’s April 3 Opinions Essay, “ She was paid to stay off drugs. Here’s why this approach could help many others. ” The primary tool in that prevention program is frequent drug testing to verify the addict’s cessation of drug use.

This new strategy called “contingency management” is similar to several other successful drug prevention programs that use drug testing to confirm qualification for receiving valued incentives, such as continued employment or continued participation in a favored activity, such as school sports. It’s also used in drug courts to qualify for official expungement of a permanent record of drug-related illegal activities. Although often opposed under the influence of lucrative addictive-substance industries, drug testing has been approved by the courts and widely used for decades. The technology has improved to where a simple inexpensive single oral swab drug test can detect up to a dozen different drugs, from tobacco to opioids including fentanyl, within about 10 minutes.

Thus, the direct cash payment incentive revealed in this valuable article is a welcome addition to the nation’s drug prevention arsenal to help reverse the current tragic soaring rates of drug addiction, incapacitation and overdose deaths that are a blight on society today. As the essay stated, “With so many people in the United States battling addiction, why is a tested, effective treatment still barely used?”

DeForest Rathbone , Leonardtown, Md.

The writer is a drug-use prevention activist.

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Court To Rule On Whether Relapse By An Addicted Opioid User Should Be A Crime

Deborah Becker

Julie Eldred is back at home in Massachusetts now. But she was sentenced to a treatment program for opioid addiction as part of a probation agreement, then sent to jail when she relapsed. Some addiction specialists say that's unjust. Jesse Costa/WBUR hide caption

Julie Eldred is back at home in Massachusetts now. But she was sentenced to a treatment program for opioid addiction as part of a probation agreement, then sent to jail when she relapsed. Some addiction specialists say that's unjust.

Julie Eldred has been struggling with addiction to opioids for more than a decade and she says the criminal justice system punishes her for it.

Eldred, a part-time pet caretaker in Acton, Mass., was put on probation last year for theft. She knew staying drug-free would be tough — especially at first, when she was going through opioid withdrawal. But, she says, she didn't have much of a choice.

"I was in the midst of active addiction, so I was actively using. But you're forced to go into this saying I'll be drug-free or you go to jail," Eldred says.

She complied with her probation conditions, she says — she found outpatient treatment, addiction medication and a therapist — but she failed a drug test. Eldred told her probation officer that she had just started treatment and had relapsed, but was now back on track.

Eldred says her probation officer didn't care.

"She didn't look at that picture," Eldred says. "She didn't look [to see] that I had just gotten started getting everything in order. She just saw that I had a 'dirty urine,' and she just sent me in front of the judge to go to jail."

The judge sentenced Eldred to jail for the probation violation; Eldred says she received no treatment.

"I had a cellmate in there for murder, but she wasn't sentenced yet," Eldred says. "You're with people who know they're going to be sentenced and they know they're going to be in there a long time, so they don't care. There is a lot of violence — girls will jump you. It's scary."

Ten days later, Eldred was released from jail when her lawyer found a bed in a residential treatment facility. That lawyer — Lisa Newman-Polk — brought Eldred's case to Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, arguing that the courts should not punish people for having the disease of addiction.

"This idea that a court can order a person to stop using — with the threat of punishment — is not grounded in reality," Newman-Polk says. "If it worked to punish people for addiction and relapse we would have a cured nation."

Finding America

Tennessee recovery court provides drug addicts an alternative to jail.

Newman-Polk argues that courts should take into account scientific research about addiction, and apply it in practice — much as courts have done with the science about brain development and juvenile offenders. She says addiction is a medical condition, so it's unconstitutional to incarcerate someone for relapsing — because that's part of the disease.

"An order to be drug-free is an order that a person with a substance use disorder needs to be in remission or cured of addiction. It's not practical or reasonable, in view of what we know about the brain science and what we know about addiction," Newman-Polk says.

The science of addiction is mentioned in all the legal briefs filed in this case — many focus on what research says about how much control patients like Eldred have over their drug use, and whether consequences like jail actually motivate patients to stop using .

A brief from the Massachusetts Medical Society says relapse is a symptom of addiction that needs to be treated, not punished.

"Even Lindbergh bounced down the runway a couple of times before he became airborne," says Massachusetts Medical Society President Dr. Henry Dorkin , "and we would not want to incarcerate people at the first sign of relapse if we're treating this as a chronic disease."

But the opposing briefs argue that there is not consensus about whether addiction is a brain disease that leaves someone powerless over drug use. The National Association of Drug Court Professionals says supervision and drug testing help keep people in recovery. It says specialty drug courts are effective and already work to get help for addicted defendants, rather than incarcerate them. It warns the Massachusetts court not to allow "any particular theory of addiction to influence its decision."

Eldred, at home with her dog, Bubbles, says she's committed to her recovery from opioid addiction. "But," she adds, "I can't say that I won't ever relapse again. Right now I feel strong, but this is a lifelong journey." Jesse Costa/WBUR hide caption

Eldred, at home with her dog, Bubbles, says she's committed to her recovery from opioid addiction. "But," she adds, "I can't say that I won't ever relapse again. Right now I feel strong, but this is a lifelong journey."

One of those writing on that side is Gene Heyman , a senior lecturer in psychology at Boston College. He cites studies that say that many people stop using drugs and alcohol on their own — oftentimes because they face negative consequences if they don't.

"The empirical question at stake is, if you ask someone not to use drugs and you provide a reason not to use, can the person respond ?" Heyman says. "And the data say yes they can — they can stop using drugs."

The Massachusetts attorney general points out that Eldred was on probation for theft — and that she did eventually go into drug treatment because otherwise she would go to jail.

During the state's supreme court hearing on the case this month, the justices asked tough questions of both sides. Justice Barbara Lenk asked Newman-Polk where judges should draw the line if someone can't control their behavior.

Shots - Health News

To save opioid addicts, this experimental court is ditching the delays.

"Now, if somebody didn't have the ability to resist the urge to use drugs, how is it that she could resist the urge to commit other petty crimes in order to support her drug habit ? How is it that she could have the self-control to continue in a treatment program that presumably doesn't want her to use drugs?" Lenk asked.

Crimes should be punished, Newman-Polk responded, but committing crimes is not a symptom of addiction. Maria Granik , a Massachusetts assistant attorney general, argued for the state, saying that addiction is not a defense for a probation violation or for criminal responsibility in general. Granik also argued that incarceration is one tool judges can use if necessary.

But what if a judge decided to use the probation violation to sentence Eldred for the underlying crime of larceny, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gantz asked Granik.

"What you need to come to grips with — and I don't hear it frankly," Gantz went on, "is, is it appropriate for a judge under these circumstances, recognizing that relapse routinely occurs in these circumstances, to impose a two-and-a-half-year sentence in the House of Correction for her probation violation?"

"I don't think we could go that far," Granik answered.

Gantz says the high court will likely issue guidelines for all courts so judges can determine how to handle what has become a revolving door in the criminal justice system for those addicted.

"This is a really challenging issue, and each side needs to come to grips with it, because judges have to do this each and every day," Gantz says.

The Massachusetts Bar Association expects the high court's ruling will cause state lawmakers to fund more addiction treatment. Martin Healy , the association's chief legal counsel and chief operating officer, believes the ruling will set a precedent.

"It is probably going to be one of the most important cases that our court will bring down — over the last decade," Healy says. "And I think it will result in some dramatic changes to the way that society treats addiction."

As for Julie Eldred, she is no longer on probation and says she's committed to working on her recovery.

"Hopefully this is it," Elred says. "But I can't say that I won't ever relapse again. Right now I feel strong, but this is a lifelong journey. Some people think you get clean and that should be it. It's not."

A ruling from Massachusetts highest court is expected by spring.

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Reasons Why Staying Drug-Free is Essential for Health

We can see many people in our surrounding that are victim to substance abuse or are struggling to quit it. Addiction is a condition of mind that develops due to specific chemicals and their interaction with our brain cells. People who suffer from drug or substance abuse are always craving for more, and the thought of quitting those drugs can be horrifying.  

Often people fear to get sober because of the relapse that they might face. Some people seek help through rehabilitation centers, but even they can fall victim to using drugs again. Drug rehabilitations have a designed program to help substance abuse victims. Their first intent is to break them free of the drug influence and overcome the craving for more. There are many detox therapies that they use to help individuals, including medicines, to replace the drug craving. Besides pharmacotherapies, they also get counseling psychologists to help think about their strengths in overcoming addiction.  

Initial drug withdrawal symptoms often result in excruciating body ache that is too much to bear for a victim. Certain painkillers can get them addicted due to their chemical combinations; to avoid these, we can help with the pain medication or pain-relieving patches.  

If you know someone in your circle with a history of substance abuse and want to help them stay clean, you can tell them its impact on health. Many cities in the USA contain such organizations that help save the youth from drowning in harmful activities. Thus, let these individuals know that how staying clean can improve their mental and physical health. ADAPT Drug and Alcohol Addiction Centers, TX , offer various rehabilitation programs to lead substance abusers towards a better lifestyle. People living in Texas or nearby areas can help their loved ones or friends through these programs.  

Here are a few details of why it is necessary to stay drug-free.

• Better Realtionships

People who have become a victim of drug addiction do not care about anything but their carvings. They end up having spoiled relations with everyone who wants to help them to get sober or clean. Their mood swings and thought process makes them think that everyone is their enemy, while the reality is the opposite. If someone has recently come out of rehab, staying clean can help them patch their relations and understand their loved ones' motives. Patching up and communicating with loved ones can improve the emotional and social well-being of an individual. We all need a support system in the form of a friend or family to share things with them and seek help.

• Improved Memory

Chronic substance abuse can lead to memory impairments and irretrievable IQ loss. Many studies show that drugs not only affect our body, but it also affects our brain centers and can lead to memory issues such as forgetting people and surroundings. Using drugs at any age can cause memory problems and may remain for days and weeks until the effects wear off. In chronic uses, you have spent years using drugs, the memory loss is a bit severe, but staying clean can prevent further decay and help form new memories.  

• Boosts Mental Health

Many drugs are psychoactive and fall under the category of psychedelics. Psychedelics are hallucination inducing drug that alters the brain condition temporarily until the effects last. Using these drugs for a prolonged time can lead to the development of schizophrenia or other mental disorders that can deteriorate mental health. It is worth every effort to refrain from using such drugs so that we can prevent mental decay and slow down the development of psychological disorders.  

• Recovery from Infectious disease

When it comes to substance abuse, the individual cares very little about health and hygiene. Their primary motive is to continue the high they get from the drug and do not want to end the euphoria. People often inject drugs through needles and do not hesitate to share it with other addicts as well. Sharing needles can result in infectious diseases like HIV/AIDs. Recovering from such infections cannot happen if the person is still using drugs. Needles can also lead to wounds that can get infected due to microbes, and such victims often suffer from high-grade fevers. The body’s defense mechanism is already weak due to the overuse of drugs, and with little to no detoxification, the body cannot fight infections.  

• Enhances Emotional And Physical Health

Often drug victims are malnourished because they spend more money on drugs then eating health. Malnourishment affects physical health in multiple ways. Food is vital to keep our body functions steady and our organs working in their optimum conditions. The nutrients that we obtain from our food and water are a critical source of energy and fulfill our daily requirements of nutrients. Drug addicts often lack these nutrients , and they are emotionally weak also. They can be cranky ad experience mood swings or can get crying spells. Saying no to drugs or making efforts to stay drug-free will eventually improve health and well-being.

It is easy to start using drugs. Many people do it under peer pressure or create it out of depression or any major failure. Once they taste the high or euphoria and with few uses, if the brain has picked those feelings, they will want to have it more. The person will try every way to keep or maintain that euphoria, which will lead him or her to substance abuse. Overcoming addiction is one of the most demanding things. Many people hesitate to start detoxification as they fear the withdrawal symptoms. For a long term recovery and better health, it is essential to remain drug-free as our bodies take time to heal and rejuvenate.  

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Tagged As: drug abuse , drug or substance abuse , drug use , drug-free , staying drug-free , staying healthy , stop using drugs , substance abuse , using drugs

• Meet the Author • Dr. Lawrence Kindo

I am a Medical Professional with a passion for writing, blogging, playing, computers, and of course patient care. My writing in this medical blog will reflect my passion, and you are welcome to be a part of this venture. This medical blog is a tribute to all the great medical pioneers, and to the ultimate source of wisdom, God.

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Understanding Drug & Alcohol Addiction Expository Essay

It is difficult to understand the complexities that lead people to addiction to drugs and alcohol. Many people assume that individuals who are addicted lack moral principles or the intention to leave drugs.

Ideally, a person who is addicted has a complex disease and a lot of effort has to be made to change that person. Due to the fact that drugs make the brain adapt to it’s routinely use, it makes it difficult for the user to quit drugs. Despite the difficulty in leaving drugs, some scientific advances have been made to make it possible for drug users to quit drug abuse.

Abuse of drugs and addiction pose as a big danger to the stability of individuals in the society. In fact, in the United States alone, the cumulative substance abuse and related damages to the economy is approximately six hundred billion yearly. As much as this statistics show the extend of the damages caused by drug addiction, they do not represent the actual damages caused to the family such as separation in the family, school dropping, family conflicts and child mistreatment.

Addiction is a persistent urge which makes a person’s brain to always want to use and look for specific compulsive drug without any consideration to the consequences to the individual or people around them. The first intention of using psychoactive drugs is voluntary and as time goes by, the brain gets used to it and an individual lacks self control and the will to resist its usage.

Modern scientific approaches have been made available to enable drugs users leave this trend. The proponents of this medication propose that routine medications that go along with behavior changes need to be administered to ensure successful recovery of the people affected. Just like other chronic diseases for example diabetes and asthma, addiction can be treated successfully.

Drugs have chemical components that disrupt the communication channels of the brain to an extent that it affects the way the brain processes and disseminates information. The chemicals present in the drugs disrupt the functioning of the brain in two ways mainly through imitating the natural functioning of the brain and overworking the circuit of the brain. Drugs like bhang and heroin have chemical components similar to those produced by the brain.

This resemblance enables the components of the drugs to deceive the receptors of the brain by sending wrong messages. Drugs like cocaine release these chemicals in large amounts disrupting the normal circulation of the brain chemicals needed for normal functioning. The effect of this on the system by the drugs is adaptations to the drugs which make people repeat the behaviors induced by the drugs. Prolonged use of the drugs cause harmful effects to other parts of the brain functioning.

Some people become addicted while others do not. The explanations given by researchers for this difference are varied. They argue that it depends on the individual’s biological functioning, environment they socialize in and the age of an individual. For instance, factors that determine the extent of addiction of an individual are greatly determined by the genes he or she was born with and environmental influences.

In addition, gender and ethnicity plays a critical role. Apart from biological influences, a person’s immediate environment and social economic status count towards the vulnerability of the individuals. Addiction to drugs can be prevented despite the difficulty that can be encountered. As long as the young people are adequately educated on the negative effects of the drugs, they can strive to leave the habit.

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IvyPanda. (2018, October 31). Understanding Drug & Alcohol Addiction. https://ivypanda.com/essays/understanding-addiction/

"Understanding Drug & Alcohol Addiction." IvyPanda , 31 Oct. 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/understanding-addiction/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'Understanding Drug & Alcohol Addiction'. 31 October.

IvyPanda . 2018. "Understanding Drug & Alcohol Addiction." October 31, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/understanding-addiction/.

1. IvyPanda . "Understanding Drug & Alcohol Addiction." October 31, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/understanding-addiction/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Understanding Drug & Alcohol Addiction." October 31, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/understanding-addiction/.

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Essay on Addiction for Students and Children

500 words essay on addiction.

As we all know that excess of anything can be very dangerous, the same way, addiction of any kind can hamper the life quality of an individual. The phrase states that addiction is a family disease as one person uses and the whole family suffers. The above statement stands true in all its essence as the addict does not merely suffer but the people around him suffer greatly too. However, that does not mean they can’t be helped. Addiction is curable and we must not give up on the person who is addicted, rather help them out for a better life.

Cost of Addiction

Addiction comes at a great cost and we need to be able to recognize its harmful consequences to not let ourselves or anyone become an addict. Firstly, addiction has major health hazards. Intake of anything is bad for our body , and it does not matter what type of addiction it is, it will always impact the mental and physical health of a person.

For instance, if you are addicted to drugs or food, you will get various diseases and illnesses. Similarly, if you are addicted to video games, your mental health will also suffer along with physical health.

Moreover, people who are addicts usually face monetary issues. As they use that thing in excess, they spend loads of money on it. People become obsessed with spending all their fortunes on that one thing to satisfy their addiction. Thus, all these addictions of drugs , alcohol , gambling, and more drain the finances of a person and they usually end up in debt or even worse.

Furthermore, the personal and professional relationships of addicts suffer the most. They end up doing things or making decisions that do not work in their favor. This constraint the relationships of people and they drift apart.

Moreover, it also hampers their studies or work life. When you are spending all your money and time on your addiction, naturally your concentration levels in other things will drop. However, all this is not impossible to beat. There are many ways through which one can beat their addiction.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Beat Your Addiction

It is best to work towards beating your addiction rather than getting beat by it. One can try many ways to do so. Firstly, recognize and identify that you have an addiction problem. That is the first step to getting cured. You need to take some time and understand the symptoms in order to treat them. Motivate yourself to do better.

After that, understand that the journey will be long but worthwhile. Identify the triggers in your life and try to stay away from them as far as possible. There is no shame in asking for professional help. Always remember that professionals can always help you get better. Enroll yourself in rehabilitation programs and try to make the most out of them.

Most importantly, do not be hesitant in talking to your loved ones. Approach them and talk it out as they care most about you. They will surely help you get on the right path and help you in beating addiction for better health and life.

Q.1 What are the consequences of addiction?

A.1 Addiction has very severe consequences. Some of them are health hazards, monetary issues, relationship problems, adverse problems on studies and work of a person. It seriously hampers the quality of life of a person.

Q.2 How can one get rid of addiction?

A.2 A little help can go a long way. One can get rid of addiction by enrolling in rehabilitation programs and opening up about their struggle. Try to take professional help and talk with your close ones to become better.

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How to Quit Smoking

What to know.

• There are proven treatments to help people quit smoking.
• Using counseling and medication together gives people who smoke the best chance of quitting for good.

You can quit smoking: here's how

Quitting smoking is one of the most important steps you can take to improve your health. This is true no matter how old you are or how long you have smoked. The good news is there are proven treatments that can help you quit.

Many people who smoke become addicted to nicotine, a drug that is found naturally in tobacco. This can make it hard to quit smoking. But the good news is there are proven treatments that can help you quit.

Download and print the infographic

You can quit smoking: here’s how infographic

Usted puede dejar de fumar: sepa cómo hacerlo

Counseling can help you make a plan to quit smoking. Counseling can also prepare you to cope with stress, urges to smoke, and other issues when trying to quit.

Seek counseling

• Talk to a quit smoking counselor individually or in a group.
• Get free confidential coaching through a quitline ( 1-800-QUIT-NOW ).
• Use free online resources like CDC.gov/quit and Smokefree.gov .
• Sign up for free texting program .
• Use a mobile app like quitSTART .

Medications

Medications can help you manage nicotine withdrawal symptoms and cravings, which helps you stay confident and motivated to quit.

You can use Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) includes several options.

• Over-the-counter forms: patch , gum , lozenge .
• Prescription forms: inhaler , nasal spray .

You can talk to your health care provider about using a pill prescription medication

Varenicline and buproprion are pill prescription medications you can discuss with your doctor.

You can combine quit medications

Use a long-acting form of NRT (nicotine patch) together with a short-acting form (nicotine gum or lozenge) . Compared to using one form of NRT, this combination can further increase your chances of quitting.

Counseling plus medications

Using counseling and medication together gives you the best chance of quitting for good.

Many treatments and resources may be available to you for free of charge or may be covered by your insurance.

Get help quitting today

If you are ready to quit:

• Call a quitline coach ( 1-800-QUIT-NOW ) or
• Talk to a health care professional

They can help you decide what treatment is best for you and can connect you to quit smoking programs and resources .

Remember, even if you've tried before, the key to success is to keep trying and not give up. More than half of U.S. adults who smoked have quit.

For more information about quitting smoking, visit CDC.gov/quit .

Smoking and Tobacco Use

Commercial tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States.

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creative thinking and problem solving essay grade 12

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Business Studies Grade 12 Essays Questions and Answers pdf

Business Studies Grade 12 Essays Questions and Answers pdf:

Table of Contents

Business Studies Grade 12 Essays Questions and Answers

Legislations essay questions.

Question 1:

The Labour Relations Act (LRA), 1995 (Act 66 of 1995) is a critical piece of legislation that outlines the rights of employees in the workplace. It is expected that businesses have a thorough understanding of this Act to implement it effectively. Many businesses seek legal advice to ensure compliance and avoid penalties for non-compliance with the LRA.

• Outline the rights of employees in terms of the Labour Relations Act , which include the right to join a trade union, engage in collective bargaining, and strike. It also prohibits unfair labour practices like discrimination and unfair dismissal procedures.
• Explain the purpose of the Labour Relations Act , which is to promote and regulate sound labour relations to contribute to economic growth and social development by establishing fair labour practices and procedures.
• Discuss the impact of the Labour Relations Act on businesses , which require compliance with certain procedures and practices to protect the rights of employees, conduct negotiations with trade unions, follow fair dismissal procedures, and ensure no unfair labour practices occur. Failure to comply with the Act may result in penalties, such as fines, compensation for affected employees, and legal action, which may damage the business’s reputation and negatively affect employee morale and productivity.
• Advise businesses on the penalties they may face for non-compliance with the LRA , which may include fines, compensation for affected employees, and legal costs. Non-compliance may also lead to reputational damage and negatively affect employee morale and productivity.

Question 2:

The National Credit Act (NCA), 2005 (Act 34 of 2005) provides a framework to regulate the credit market. It protects the rights of consumers and provides guidelines on how businesses should comply with this Act. Businesses may face penalties for not complying with the National Credit Act.

Write an essay on the National Credit Act in which you include the following aspects:

• Outline the rights of consumers in terms of the National Credit Act.
• Discuss the impact of the NCA on businesses.
• Explain ways in which businesses could comply with the NCA.
• Advise businesses on the penalties they may face for non-compliance to the Act.

Human Resources Function

The human resources manager is responsible for compiling the job description and job specification. Suitable candidates can be recruited internally using various recruitment sources. The interviewees should be familiar with their role during the interview. Businesses must ensure that the employment contract complies with the legal requirements of employment.

Write an essay on the human resources function in which you include the following human resources activities:

• Outline the differences between job description and job specification.
• Discuss the impact of internal recruitment on a business.
• Explain the role of the interviewee during the interview.
• Advise businesses on the legal requirements of the employment contract.

Business Function: Quality of Performance

Businesses implement quality control and quality assurance processes to produce high quality products. They also enjoy the benefits of a high-quality management system. Continuous skills development and total client satisfaction contribute towards the effective implementation of total quality management (TQM). Other businesses prefer to use the services of quality circles to achieve the desired outcome. Write an essay on quality of performance in which you include the following aspects:

• Outline the differences between quality control and quality assurance.
• Explain the benefits of a good quality management system.
• Continuous skills development/Education and training
• Total client/customer satisfaction
• Advise businesses on the role of quality circles as part of continuous improvement to processes and systems. [40]

Business Venture: Management and Leadership

Effective management and leadership play an important role in achieving business goals. Many leaders follow the transformational leadership theory as a guide to lead their employees. Others use the democratic and autocratic leadership styles in the workplace. Some leaders agree that the role of personal attitude is important for successful leadership.

• Write an essay on management and leadership in which you include the following aspects:
• Outline the differences between management and leadership.
• Explain the transformational leadership theory.
• Advise businesses on the role of personal attitude in successful leadership.[40]

Investment Securities

BUSINESS VENTURES (INVESTMENT: SECURITIES) Investing in a fixed deposit provides investors the opportunity to decide whether they want to receive simple interest or compound interest. Investors must also consider various types of shares before making investment decisions. Some invest in companies that are listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE).

Write an essay on investment securities in which you include the following aspects:

• Outline the differences between simple interest and compound interest.
• Explain the advantages of a fixed deposit as a form of investment.
• Discuss any THREE types of shares.
• Advise businesses on the functions of the Johannesburg Securities Exchange

Business Roles: Creative and Problem-solving

Businesses need to identify problems that affect their operations in order to make informed decisions. They must also create an environment that promotes creative thinking to enjoy the benefits of creativity in the workplace. The Delphi technique and the force-field analysis enable businesses to solve complex business problems.

• Write an essay on creative thinking and problem-solving in which you include the following aspects:
• Outline the differences between problem-solving and decision-making.
• Explain ways in which businesses can create an environment that promotes creative thinking in the workplace.
• Discuss the advantages of creative thinking in the workplace.
• Delphi technique
• Force-field analysis

BUSINESS ROLES (DIVERSITY AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT)

Businesses employ people who have different ways of doing things, which may lead to conflict. It is important that businesses identify diversity issues and find ways to deal with them. Businesses should be well informed about handling conflict in the workplace.

Write an essay on the following aspects:

• Discuss the benefits of a diverse work force.
• Suggest ways in which businesses may deal with language and age as diversity issues in the workplace.
• Explain the causes of conflict in the workplace.
• Advise businesses on how they should handle conflict in the workplace.

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS (LEGISLATION)

The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act (BBBEE), 2003 (Act 53 of 2003) (amended in 2013) was introduced to overcome the challenges of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). Businesses are now compelled to comply with this Act.

You specialise in guiding businesses on the implementation of BBBEE. Write an essay on the following aspects:

• Distinguish between BEE and BBBEE.
• Evaluate the impact of BBBEE on businesses.
• Management control
• Enterprise and supplier development
• Advise businesses on penalties they could face for non-compliance with the BBBEE.

List of Business Studies Grade 12 Essays Exam Questions and Answers from previous years

Business management grade 12 question and answers online quizzes.

Revise all the topics under Business Management Grade 12 subject, using test quizzes based on the exam questions below:

• Quiz: Term 1: Macro Environment: Impact of Recent Legislations Quiz
• Quiz: Term 1: Human Resources Function
• Quiz: Term 1: Ethics and Professionalism
• Quiz: Term 1: Creative Thinking
• Quiz: Term 1: Macro Environment: Business Strategies
• Quiz: Term 2: Corporate Social Responsibility
• Quiz: Term 2: Human Rights, Inclusivity and Environmental Issues
• Quiz: Term 2: Team Performance Assessment, Conflict Management, and Problem-Solving
• Quiz: Term 2: Business Sectors and their Environments
• Quiz: Term 2: Leadership and Management
• Quiz: Term 2: Quality of Performance
• Quiz: Term 3: Investment – Securities
• Quiz: Term 3: Investment – Insurance
• Quiz: Term 3: Forms of Ownership
• Quiz: Term 3: Presentation and Data Response

Did You See These?

Why Entrepreneurship may be a Solution to the High Levels of Unemployment in South Africa

Ethics and Professionalism Business Studies Grade 12 Notes, Questions and Answers

Business Studies Grade 12 May – June Past Question Papers That Encourage Progressive Learning Steps

Human Resources Function Business Studies Grade 12 Notes, Questions and Answers

Business Sectors and their Environments Business Studies Grade 12 Notes, Questions and Answers

How Businesses Deal with HIV and Unemployment as Socio-economic Issues in South Africa

2018 Business Studies Grade 12 November question papers and memos download

Business Studies Grade 12 – Term 2 Notes for Revision

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What Is Creative Problem-Solving & Why Is It Important?

• 01 Feb 2022

One of the biggest hindrances to innovation is complacency—it can be more comfortable to do what you know than venture into the unknown. Business leaders can overcome this barrier by mobilizing creative team members and providing space to innovate.

There are several tools you can use to encourage creativity in the workplace. Creative problem-solving is one of them, which facilitates the development of innovative solutions to difficult problems.

Here’s an overview of creative problem-solving and why it’s important in business.

Access your free e-book today.

What Is Creative Problem-Solving?

Research is necessary when solving a problem. But there are situations where a problem’s specific cause is difficult to pinpoint. This can occur when there’s not enough time to narrow down the problem’s source or there are differing opinions about its root cause.

In such cases, you can use creative problem-solving , which allows you to explore potential solutions regardless of whether a problem has been defined.

Creative problem-solving is less structured than other innovation processes and encourages exploring open-ended solutions. It also focuses on developing new perspectives and fostering creativity in the workplace . Its benefits include:

• Finding creative solutions to complex problems : User research can insufficiently illustrate a situation’s complexity. While other innovation processes rely on this information, creative problem-solving can yield solutions without it.
• Adapting to change : Business is constantly changing, and business leaders need to adapt. Creative problem-solving helps overcome unforeseen challenges and find solutions to unconventional problems.
• Fueling innovation and growth : In addition to solutions, creative problem-solving can spark innovative ideas that drive company growth. These ideas can lead to new product lines, services, or a modified operations structure that improves efficiency.

Creative problem-solving is traditionally based on the following key principles :

1. Balance Divergent and Convergent Thinking

Creative problem-solving uses two primary tools to find solutions: divergence and convergence. Divergence generates ideas in response to a problem, while convergence narrows them down to a shortlist. It balances these two practices and turns ideas into concrete solutions.

2. Reframe Problems as Questions

By framing problems as questions, you shift from focusing on obstacles to solutions. This provides the freedom to brainstorm potential ideas.

3. Defer Judgment of Ideas

When brainstorming, it can be natural to reject or accept ideas right away. Yet, immediate judgments interfere with the idea generation process. Even ideas that seem implausible can turn into outstanding innovations upon further exploration and development.

4. Focus on "Yes, And" Instead of "No, But"

Using negative words like "no" discourages creative thinking. Instead, use positive language to build and maintain an environment that fosters the development of creative and innovative ideas.

Creative Problem-Solving and Design Thinking

Whereas creative problem-solving facilitates developing innovative ideas through a less structured workflow, design thinking takes a far more organized approach.

Design thinking is a human-centered, solutions-based process that fosters the ideation and development of solutions. In the online course Design Thinking and Innovation , Harvard Business School Dean Srikant Datar leverages a four-phase framework to explain design thinking.

The four stages are:

• Clarify: The clarification stage allows you to empathize with the user and identify problems. Observations and insights are informed by thorough research. Findings are then reframed as problem statements or questions.
• Ideate: Ideation is the process of coming up with innovative ideas. The divergence of ideas involved with creative problem-solving is a major focus.
• Develop: In the development stage, ideas evolve into experiments and tests. Ideas converge and are explored through prototyping and open critique.
• Implement: Implementation involves continuing to test and experiment to refine the solution and encourage its adoption.

Creative problem-solving primarily operates in the ideate phase of design thinking but can be applied to others. This is because design thinking is an iterative process that moves between the stages as ideas are generated and pursued. This is normal and encouraged, as innovation requires exploring multiple ideas.

Creative Problem-Solving Tools

While there are many useful tools in the creative problem-solving process, here are three you should know:

Creating a Problem Story

One way to innovate is by creating a story about a problem to understand how it affects users and what solutions best fit their needs. Here are the steps you need to take to use this tool properly.

1. Identify a UDP

Create a problem story to identify the undesired phenomena (UDP). For example, consider a company that produces printers that overheat. In this case, the UDP is "our printers overheat."

2. Move Forward in Time

To move forward in time, ask: “Why is this a problem?” For example, minor damage could be one result of the machines overheating. In more extreme cases, printers may catch fire. Don't be afraid to create multiple problem stories if you think of more than one UDP.

3. Move Backward in Time

To move backward in time, ask: “What caused this UDP?” If you can't identify the root problem, think about what typically causes the UDP to occur. For the overheating printers, overuse could be a cause.

Following the three-step framework above helps illustrate a clear problem story:

• The printer is overused.
• The printer overheats.
• The printer breaks down.

You can extend the problem story in either direction if you think of additional cause-and-effect relationships.

4. Break the Chains

By this point, you’ll have multiple UDP storylines. Take two that are similar and focus on breaking the chains connecting them. This can be accomplished through inversion or neutralization.

• Inversion: Inversion changes the relationship between two UDPs so the cause is the same but the effect is the opposite. For example, if the UDP is "the more X happens, the more likely Y is to happen," inversion changes the equation to "the more X happens, the less likely Y is to happen." Using the printer example, inversion would consider: "What if the more a printer is used, the less likely it’s going to overheat?" Innovation requires an open mind. Just because a solution initially seems unlikely doesn't mean it can't be pursued further or spark additional ideas.
• Neutralization: Neutralization completely eliminates the cause-and-effect relationship between X and Y. This changes the above equation to "the more or less X happens has no effect on Y." In the case of the printers, neutralization would rephrase the relationship to "the more or less a printer is used has no effect on whether it overheats."

Even if creating a problem story doesn't provide a solution, it can offer useful context to users’ problems and additional ideas to be explored. Given that divergence is one of the fundamental practices of creative problem-solving, it’s a good idea to incorporate it into each tool you use.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a tool that can be highly effective when guided by the iterative qualities of the design thinking process. It involves openly discussing and debating ideas and topics in a group setting. This facilitates idea generation and exploration as different team members consider the same concept from multiple perspectives.

Hosting brainstorming sessions can result in problems, such as groupthink or social loafing. To combat this, leverage a three-step brainstorming method involving divergence and convergence :

• Have each group member come up with as many ideas as possible and write them down to ensure the brainstorming session is productive.
• Continue the divergence of ideas by collectively sharing and exploring each idea as a group. The goal is to create a setting where new ideas are inspired by open discussion.
• Begin the convergence of ideas by narrowing them down to a few explorable options. There’s no "right number of ideas." Don't be afraid to consider exploring all of them, as long as you have the resources to do so.

Alternate Worlds

The alternate worlds tool is an empathetic approach to creative problem-solving. It encourages you to consider how someone in another world would approach your situation.

For example, if you’re concerned that the printers you produce overheat and catch fire, consider how a different industry would approach the problem. How would an automotive expert solve it? How would a firefighter?

Be creative as you consider and research alternate worlds. The purpose is not to nail down a solution right away but to continue the ideation process through diverging and exploring ideas.

Continue Developing Your Skills

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, marketer, or business leader, learning the ropes of design thinking can be an effective way to build your skills and foster creativity and innovation in any setting.

If you're ready to develop your design thinking and creative problem-solving skills, explore Design Thinking and Innovation , one of our online entrepreneurship and innovation courses. If you aren't sure which course is the right fit, download our free course flowchart to determine which best aligns with your goals.

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T1 W5 Gr 12 Business Studies Lesson: Creative Thinking & Problem Solving

2021 FET Term 1 Week 5 Gr 12 Business Studies Lesson: Creative Thinking & Problem Solving

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• 29 Writing Problem-Solution Essays

Start-Up Activity

Point out that solving problems is how we make advances and improvements in life. Problems might be small, such as the need to fix a broken-down fence in our neighborhood. Problems can also be big, like the rapid loss of forests throughout our world.

Analyzing a problem helps us solve it. First, we look at the factors that cause the problem. Then we look at the effects that result from the problem. A solution might remove some of the problems or some of the effects.

Problem-solution writing can help students think their way through problems and come up with ways to solve them. It helps turn students into critical thinkers and problem solvers, making life better for everyone.

Think About It

“The golden rule of writing is to write about what you care about. If you care about your writing, you’ll do your best writing, and then you stand the best chance of really touching a reader in some way.”

—Jerry Spinelli

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.5
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.A
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.B
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.4
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.5
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.B
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.4
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.10
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.A
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.D
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.D
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.5
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.5

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

Lafs.4.ri.1.1, lafs.4.ri.1.2, lafs.4.ri.2.5, lafs.4.w.1.1, lafs.4.w.2.4, lafs.5.ri.1.1, lafs.5.ri.1.2, lafs.5.ri.2.5, lafs.5.w.1.1, lafs.5.w.2.4, lafs.5.w.4.10, lafs.4.w.2.5, lafs.5.w.2.5, teks covered in this chapter, 110.6.b.9.d, 110.6.b.9.d.i, 110.6.b.9.d.iii, 110.6.b.12.c, 110.6.b.11.b, 110.6.b.11.a, 110.6.b.11.b.i, 110.6.b.11.b.ii, 110.7.b.9.d, 110.7.b.7.d, 110.7.b.9.d.iii, 110.7.b.11.a, 110.7.b.11.b, 110.7.b.12.c, 110.7.b.11.b.i, 110.6.b.11.c, 110.6.b.11.d, 110.7.b.11.c, 110.7.b.11.d, page 210 from writers express, sample problem-solution essay.

Ask for student volunteers to read each paragraph of the problem-solution essay on this page and the one that follows. Then review the features that are called out in the side notes.

Point out the problem (underlined) as well as each topic sentence that addresses a different part of the problem and proposes a solution.

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Page 211 from Writers Express

Sample Problem-Solution Essay (Continued)

Solving Problems Critically and Creatively

Help students improve problem solving.

Page 212 from Writers Express

Writing a problem-solution essay.

Use the strategy at the top of the page to help your students list problems. Then use the problem-solution strategy at the bottom of the page to help students analyze the problem.

You could also use the cause-effect minilesson to help students analyze the causes and effects of the problem. Afterward, your students can devise solutions by getting rid of some of the causes, some of the effects, or both.

Analyzing with a Cause-Effect Chart

Analyze causes and effects of any topic.

Page 213 from Writers Express

Prewriting: organizing your ideas.

Use the listing strategy on this page to help students gather and organize the ideas for their problem-solution essays. The organized list shows one pattern, focusing on major causes and the people who can help solve the problem. At the bottom of the page, you'll find another way to organize details. Have your students choose a pattern that best fits their ideas.

Page 214 from Writers Express

Writing, revising, and editing.

Use this page to help your students fashion effective beginnings, middles, and endings for their writing. Point out the transition words that they can use to connect ideas using order of importance. You can also have them do the minilesson for other transition ideas.

Download and distribute the problem-solution revising and editing checklist to help students check the quality of their text. You also might have peer reviewers complete a peer response sheet, as shown in the minilesson.

Using Transitions to Add Information and Emphasis

Help students add information and emphasis.

Using a Peer Response Sheet

Teach students to write peer responses.

• 01 A Basic Writing Guide
• 02 Understanding the Writing Process
• 03 One Writer's Process
• 04 Qualities of Writing
• 05 Selecting and Collecting
• 06 Focusing and Organizing
• 07 Writing and Revising
• 09 Publishing
• 10 Writing Basic Sentences
• 11 Combining Sentences
• 12 Writing Paragraphs
• 13 Understanding Writing Terms and Techniques
• 14 Understanding Text Structures
• 15 Writing in Journals
• 16 Using Learning Logs
• 17 Writing Emails and Blogs
• 18 Writing Personal Narratives
• 19 Writing Fantasies
• 20 Writing Realistic Stories
• 21 Writing Stories from History
• 22 Responding to Narrative Prompts
• 23 Writing Explanatory Essays
• 24 Writing Process Essays
• 25 Writing Comparison-Contrast Essays
• 26 Responding to Explanatory Prompts
• 27 Writing Persuasive Essays
• 28 Writing Persuasive Letters
• 30 Responding to Persuasive Prompts
• 31 Writing Book Reviews
• 32 Writing About Literature
• 33 Responding to Literature Prompts
• 34 Writing Reports
• 35 Writing Research Reports
• 36 Writing Summaries
• 37 Writing Plays
• 38 Writing Poems
• 39 Communicating Online
• 40 Researching Online
• 41 Staying Safe Online
• 42 Reading Strategies for Fiction
• 43 Reading Strategies for Nonfiction
• 44 Reading Graphics
• 45 Building Vocabulary Skills
• 46 Becoming a Better Speller
• 47 Giving Speeches
• 48 Improving Viewing Skills
• 49 Improving Listening Skills
• 50 Using Graphic Organizers
• 51 Thinking and Writing
• 52 Thinking Clearly
• 53 Thinking Creatively
• 54 Completing Assignments
• 55 Working in Groups
• 56 Taking Tests
• 57 Taking Good Notes
• 58 Marking Punctuation
• 59 Editing for Mechanics
• 60 Check Your Spelling
• 61 Using the Right Word
• 62 Understanding Sentences
• 63 Understanding Our Language
• Mindset Network
• Solving Business Problems
• Business Studies
• Creative Thinking
• Learn Xtra Live 2013
• Impact of recent legislation on business
• Human Resources function
• Professionalism and Ethics
• Devise Strategies for a Business to Use in its Response to the Challenges of the Macro Business Environment.
• Term 1 Revision
• Concept of Corporate Social Responsibility. Human Rights, Inclusivity and Environmental Issues
• Team Performance Assessment and Conflict Management
• Business Sectors and their Environments
• Management and Leadership
• Quality of Performance Within Business Functions
• Term 2 Revision
• Investment - Insurance
• Investment - Securities
• Forms of Ownership and their Impact on the Business Operation
• Term 3 Revision
• Exam Revision

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GRADE 12 . TERM ONE . CHAPTER 4 . NOTES ON CREATIVE THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING . 2019 . TABLE OF CONTENTS . TOPICS PAGES Exam guidelines for creative thinking and problem solving 1 Terms and definitions 2 Differences between problem solving and decision making 3 Problem solving steps 3 Application of problem solving steps 3-4

Business Studies Notes For The Whole Year creative thinking problem solving chapter business studies grade 12 term one revised chapter notes on creative. Skip to document. University; High School. Books; Discovery. ... Business Studies Grade 12 Notes ON Quality OF Performance. 99% (76) 191. All notes. 100% (23) 32. 2024 Revised Legislation Notes.

Notes on creative thinking and problem solving business studies grade 12 term one revised chapter notes on creative thinking and problem solving 2024 creative. Skip to document. University; ... advisors must ensure that this content is adequately taught and assessed in Grades 10 and 11 as it progresses to Grade 12.

GRADE 12 TERM ONE CHAPTER 4 NOTES ON CREATIVE THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS TOPICS PAGES. Exam guidelines for creative thinking and problem solving. 1. Terms and definitions 2 Differences between problem solving and decision making. 3

Revise all the topics under Business Management Grade 12 subject, using test quizzes based on the exam questions below: Quiz: Term 1: Macro Environment: Impact of Recent Legislations Quiz. Quiz: Term 1: Human Resources Function. Quiz: Term 1: Ethics and Professionalism. Quiz: Term 1: Creative Thinking.

It is intended to aid in problem solving and reflective thinking. This will help you on how to take an action for your problem. Identify the problem. Generate possible solutions. Evaluate the solutions. Design an action plan. Implement the plan. Evaluate the results.

3 05 August 2021 15:00 - 16:00 •Creative Thinking & Problem Solving . 3 BUSINESS STUDIES - GRADE 12: MAIN TOPICS & TOPICS Business Environment Business Ventures Business Roles Business Operation 1 Impact of Recent Legislation on business Management and Leadership ...

4. Problem solving requires creative thinking. THE MEANING OF DECISION MAKING. 1. Decision making is a choice made by using one's judgement. 2. It is also aimed at finding a solution to a problem by choosing a best solution or course of action. Need to know. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROBLEM-SOLVING AND DECISION MAKING.

2021 FET Term 1 Week 5 Gr 12 Business Studies Lesson: Creative Thinking & Problem Solving. 2021 FET Term 1 Week 5 Gr 12 Business Studies Lesson: Creative Thinking & Problem Solving ... 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 BROADCASTS . Online, Radio & TV MY LEARNER DASHBOARD ...

Distinguish between problem-solving and decision-making. Name/Outline/Apply the steps in problem Identify and address challenges from given -solving techniques. Apply creative thinking skills to solve complex Explain the benefits/advantages of creative Evaluate the impact (positives/negatives) of creative thinking/problem-solving techniques, e ...

Problem Solving steps. Advantages of creative thinking in the workplace. Application of Force Field Analysis. Impact of the Force-Field Analysis. Advantages: -Employees feel included and understood. -Employees develop and grow with the business. -Informed decisions can be made as forces for and against are critically evaluated.

Distinction between problem solving and decision making. Steps in problem-solving Apply creative thinking skills to solve complex business problems. Benefits/advantages of creative thinking in the workplace. Impact (positives/negatives) of creative thinking/problem solving techniques.

In this video, Creative Thinking & Problem Solving for Grade 12 learners. We look at the following:Timeline:00:00 Intro00:32 Why learn about Creative Thinki...

The State Standards provide a way to evaluate your students' performance. Solving Problems Critically and Creatively You solve problems every day, and not just in math class. You figure out what to wear, what to eat, and how to manage friendships. You can solve even bigger problems using critical and creative thinking.

The technique is based on the notion that everything new is modification of something that already exists. It used to spark creativity and help overcome challenges. •Business Studies (South Africa Syllabus) •Chapter 4: Creative Thinking and Problem-Solving •Final Exam Categorisation: Business Roles (Question 4&9) •Key….

GRADE 12. MARKS: 150 . TIME: 2 hours . This question paper consists of 10 pages. ... PROBLEM-SOLVING TECHNIQUE MOTIVATION ... 3.7 Recommend ways in which businesses could create an environment that stimulates creative thinking in the workplace. (6) [40] Business Studies/P2 8 DBE/2020 NSC ‒ Exemplar

The importance of creative thinking and problem solving techniques to identify strategies to improve the overall performance of the business

Very helpful creative thinking chapter business studies grade 12 term one revised chapter notes on creative thinking and problem solving 2023 table of contents. Skip to document. University; High School. ... 2023 Grade 12 Chapter 4 Notes ON Creative Thinking & Problem Solving. Very helpful. Subject. Maths study material. 57 Documents. Students ...

Grade 12 Business Studies Exam Essay Questions and Answers - Creative Thinking. Grade 12 Business Studies Exam Essay Questions and Answers - Creative Thinking ... Business strategies and problem solving techniques ; Consumer protect act 68 of 2008 ; The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:

Creative thinking and problem solving essay grade 12 pdf download,Creative thinking and problem solving essay grade 12 pdf,grade 12 business studies creative...

Point out that solving problems is how we make advances and improvements in life. Problems might be small, such as the need to fix a broken-down fence in our neighborhood. Problems can also be big, like the rapid loss of forests throughout our world. Analyzing a problem helps us solve it. First, we look at the factors that cause the problem.

Dislike. In this live Grade 12 Business Studies show we take a close look at Solving Business Problems. In this lesson we apply creative thinking to respond to challenges in dynamic & complex business contexts. We acquire advanced problem solving skills. We apply creative thinking techniques to solve complex business problems in case studies ...