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| Introduction Most people who use drugs do not go on to develop problems with their drug use, however some people do. This page is designed to help people who have decided that they have a problem with their drug use and want to stop using. The information here can help you work out what type of problem you have and how best to deal with it.  Who are you stopping for?In order to succeed in your attempt to go clean you have to genuinely want to stop using. Not for your parents, your partner, the court or probation office, but for yourself. Of course, all those other people may play a role in making you want to stop using. If you're upsetting your parents, if your partner has had enough and is going to leave or you stand a good chance of being sent to jail, that may well make you tired of using drugs. But for many people it doesn't. If you're not really certain that you want to go clean, perhaps you should think about other options. You could try cutting down or stablising your habit. If you're using opiates you may consider going onto methadone maintenance. If you do try to stop using before you really want to you may be setting yourself up to fail. After trying a couple of times you may lose confidence in your ability to succeed and start to believe you're hooked for life. Try to be clear about what YOU really want, and if you want to continue using try to focus on reducing the negative effects of your drug use. For example you may want to reduce your contact with "the scene" or your other using friends to make it easier to go clean when you make a decision to do so... Options People often go to drug treatment agencies in the hope of finding an easy solution to their drug problem. This is a mistake, there are no easy options. The majority of people can stop using drugs without any help, and most do. But some people find it harder to stop using unless they're in a place where they can't get drugs, for example a detoxification or rehabilitation unit. Some people find the support from a drug treatment worker can be helpful during a detox, others find them annoying and patronisiing. There are some drawbacks to using a drug treatment centre, you can run into other users, who may know you. They may be difficult to get to, especially if you don't have a car. Appointment times may only be during working hours which may be problematic if you're trying to hold down a job. But for some people they're just the ticket, if you have made a firm decision to stop using and are really committed then teaming up with a good treatment worker can make the whole process a lot easier. Either way, whether you decide to go it alone or use an agency for support the only person who can stop using is you. Why do you want to stop? Using drugs has both positive and negative aspects to it. Everyone who uses them experiences both. People usually only stop using when they are aware that for them personally the negative aspects outweigh the positive ones. Here's a list of some positive and negative aspects of drug use:-
Before you decide whether to give up or not, make a list of the positive and negative aspects of your own relationship with drugs. It's different for everyone. Then you can see whether or not you think stopping or modifying your drug use would be a good idea for you.  What are you using?Just as different drugs have different effects, so trying to stop using dope has different effects. Some drugs; Opiates like bake, morphine or heroin are quite physically addictive; when you stop using them you hang out real bad and you can become quite ill. Others like speed, acid, ecstasy and coke just leave you feeling really run down and mentally craving for more. Make a list of all the drugs you're currently using and try to think about which ones might be causing you a problem. use the list below and remember you can lie to everyone you know but there's no pint in lying to yourself. Go ahead be honest... Am I addicted?
If all the drugs you're using regularly fall into the mentally addictive category then you won't need to detox as such. You can stop using them without going through a physical withdrawal. You will however still experience cravings and probably feel run down and unwell. If you find that you are using more than two types of physically addictive drugs regularly then you'll probably find it easier to get professional help with your detox and withdrawal. If you're using one of the physically addictive drugs and one or more of the mentally addictive ones then you may well be a good candidate for a do-it-yourself detox. For more information about home detox CLICK HERE If you're using benzos or barbs you will definitely need medical help with your detox. Stopping using these two types of drugs suddenly can be very dangerous.  Getting HelpIf your doctor is prescribing your drugs for you, then you have an ally in your detox. Talk your plans over with you doctor. If you're using Opiates like morphine, bake or heroin then it may be useful to change over to methadone before you start to detox. Contact your local Alcohol and Drug Service for assistance. CLICK HERE for a list of drug treatment programmes in New Zealand. Many drug treatment programmes are based upon 12-step abstinence based philosophies. Community based 12-step support programmes run throughout New Zealand and can be contacted by looking up "Narcotics Anonymous" in your local phone book. The numbers listed have pre-recorded information about meetings. there are no formal requirements you simply turn up at a meeting. If you can't get a place on a methadone programme or you think it will be too restrictive then a home detox may be a go. CLICK HERE for information about home detox. Your nearest needle exchange can refer you to doctors, methadone clinics or treatment programmes in your area. CLICK HERE for a list of needle exchanges nationally. |