Drugs, Substance Use Disorder, and Why Quitting is So Hard

If you have used prescription drugs or street drugs, you are in the company of millions of other women in the United States. Not every woman that uses drugs will become dependent or have a substance use disorder. Each person has different risk factors that may lead to drug dependence. Learn more about the risk factors. Having a mental illness, like anxiety or depression, can make you more likely to become addicted to drugs. Find out more about this here.

Your finances, your job, your legal issues, or your relationships with your friends, family or loved ones may have problems caused by your substance use. These problems may mean that you have a substance use disorder. Asking for help or support can be scary. Finding the right person to talk to about your substance use is important. A recovery counselor can help you decide if you are ready to make a change. The counselor will not pressure you to enter treatment. A list of outpatient recovery programs that are available in Shasta County can be found here.

Why is quitting drug use so hard? The hurdle is both your body and your brain. See the video that explains more about why quitting is so hard.  An article with ideas to think about if you want to quit is "Why Is Quitting So Hard?".  It tells why recovery is more than just quitting drugs. Counselors in treatment can help you deal with the causes of your substance use. They can teach you tools to deal with cravings and triggers. Return to use can happen during recovery. If it happens, it does not mean that you have failed.

Some women find that the key for their success in recovery is joining and staying active in women's support groups. By having support people in the community and completing counseling, you can boost your chance of success.

Local support groups for women can be found on the Women's Support Groups page. You may not know that women are affected by drug use differently than men. They have different needs for treatment. Read more about substance use in women. 

Narcotics Anonymous has a set of questions so you can screen yourself on their "Am I an addict?" page. The page has a helpful discussion of addiction.