Motivation to quit drugs

We present four (4) exercises on how to find motivation to quit drugs. Spend one hour of homework and increase your chances of sustained recovery here.

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minute read

So, why do you want to quit drugs?

If you are relying on external motivations to get clean, LISTEN UP. A nagging parent, girl/boy friend or probation officer may initially motivate you to quit drugs.  Friends and family of drug addicts are notorious for co-dependence.  But without being personally motivated, the likelihood that you will quit drugs and STAY QUIT is rather low.  So how can you get motivated to quit drugs from the inside-out?

Take one hour of your time to complete these exercises and get motivated to quit drugs.  Self treatment for drug addiction is possible. Start here.

1. Learn about TTM – Google “Transtheoretical Model of behavior change” to learn about TTM. Basically, there are stages of change that you go through as you try to quit drugs. In the TTM model, you may fluctuate between these stages from time to time, which include:

  • Precontemplation
  • Contemplation
  • Preparation
  • Action
  • Maintenance

Then, get out of the Precontemplation Stage so that you can start a life free of drugs. Once you have made a strong commitment to a drug-free life, you can easier maintain abstinence.

2. Complete a Cost Benefit Analysis – A Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) is a simple exercise that helps you evaluate what you gain and what you lose when you stop using drugs.

Take a sheet of paper and draw a line down the center of the page, and one across the center of the page to make 4 squares. At the top of the page, write: Using Drugs. In the top left box, write: Advantages (Benefits & Reward). In the top right box, write: Disadvantages (Costs & Risks). Just above the bottom two squares in the lower half of the page ,write: Quitting Drugs. In the bottom left box, write: Advantages (Benefits & Reward). In the bottom right box, write: Disadvantages (Costs & Risks).

Now start to fill in the blanks.

Advantages of using drug might include euphoric effect, social activity, stress reliever, etc. Disadvantages might include legal problems, health conditions, relationship problems, work problems, etc. Then, label each item in your list with an ST (short-term) or LT (long-term). Now, compare the short and long-term items. Usually, the “Benefits” of using drugs are short-term, while the “Costs” are long term. Then, carry this paper with you wherever you go. If a craving to use or an opportunity to use appears, review the list to remember that the long-term costs outweigh the short term benefits.

3. Complete a Hierarchy of Values – To complete a Hierarchy of Values, list the five most important things in your life, in order of importance. These will vary by person, and may include family, job, health, faith, finances, happiness, etc. (STOP READING HERE UNTIL YOU MAKE YOUR LIST.)

Now ask yourself, “Where is using drugs on my list of values?” Did drugs make the Top 5? Even though you may not value using drugs as one of the most important activities in your life, drugs often have a major impact on each and everything that is valuable to you.

Now, consider the impact that drugs have on each of your top five values, and make plans to focus on the things that are most important to you. Compare this with continuing to use drugs. Instead of using, make a decision to do something different. Exercise. Get involved with your family. Talk to a friend or do something else that can enhance the values on your list.

4. Plan and visualize change – Complete a Change Plan Worksheet to help you to “map out” the changes you want to make as you quit drugs. This is an important step when starting to get clean. You will list what changes you want to make, why, how, who can help you, signs of success and how likely you are to achieve the change. Once you have a map of what you want to do, you can put a plan in place for making those changes happen.

Can you quit using drugs?

Absolutely. These are just four (4) tools from SMART Recovery® that will motivate you to quit using drugs. SMART stands for Self Management And Recovery Training. This program is sometimes known as an alternative to 12-step programs and teaches self-help techniques based on psychological principles. As a scientific recovery program, SMART is recognized by the NIH, by the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Society of Addiction Medicine as an addiction recovery resource.

For more ideas about staying motivated to quit drugs, check out the FREE motivational ideas available on the SMART Recovery website. Plus, the SMART Recovery Handbook has additional tools to help you to build and maintain your motivation.

Questions about quitting drugs

Are you having problems quitting drugs? Need some support? Please let us know. We’ll be happy to answer real questions or concerns about getting off weed with a personal and prompt response.

 

 

 

About the author
SMART Recovery® offers free, self-empowering, science-based mutual help groups for abstaining from any substance or activity addiction. SMART stands for Self Management And Recovery Training. The SMART Recovery 4-Point Program helps people recover from all types of addictive behaviors, including alcohol, drugs, substance abuse, gambling addiction, and addiction to other substances and activities. SMART Recovery currently offers more than 650 face-to-face meetings around the world, and more than 16 online meetings per week, including a weekly online meeting for Family & Friends. Phone: 866-951-5357 OR 440-951-5357
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