Our Journey with Substance Use: A Personal and Research-Based Reflection
Substance use disorder (SUD) is something we often hear about in the news or read in textbooks, but for me, it became personal. Some of my closest friends struggled with it not because they were careless, but because they were overwhelmed. due to academic pressure, and unemployment stress, they used substances to get relief. They were in the final semester, with dreams ahead of us, but for a while, it felt like those dreams were slipping away.
I didn't want to lose them to the habit, and thankfully, neither did they. That’s when our journey of healing began not just theirs, but mine too, as a friend walking beside them.
Understanding What We Were Facing
I did a deep study and soon learned that substance use disorder isn’t just a bad habit. It’s a condition that affects how the brain functions, changing behavior and making quitting incredibly difficult (National Institute on Drug Abuse [NIDA], 2025). My friends weren’t weak they were caught in something deeper. As I am in a mental health and addiction worker course so I know that addiction changes the brain’s reward system, making people crave that temporary relief more and more. Going through this I was able to know how people with diabetes or heart conditions have to manage their health continuously. Recovery from addiction works the same way. In both scenarios the individual needs support from their family and friends.
What Helped Us Move Forward
What helped us the most was realizing there were actual treatments that work. We didn’t have to figure everything out alone.
1. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): as they started using prescribed medication which helped them to reduce withdrawal symptoms . One of them, who was trying to quit smoking, used nicotine replacement therapy and said it really helped (NIDA, 2025).
2. Behavioral Therapies: one of my other friend began therapy sessions that focused on recognizing triggers and learning how to respond to them. We talked a lot about these sessions, and I could see how much stronger they were becoming mentally (NIDA, 2025).
3. Holistic Recovery: I thought that not just medicine could help them, so I made a plan to convince them to join a gym, start eating better, and even start going to temples. Moreover, I also encouraged them to practice deep breathing exercises and mindfulness exercises to keep them away from stress.
4. Staying Strong and Avoiding Relapse
There were days when it felt like they were slipping backward. A stressful exam week, family problems, or even boredom could become triggers. But we learned that relapse doesn’t mean failure it means the process needs adjusting (NIDA, 2025). We kept each other accountable. Sometimes, just talking or going for a run together helped release the pressure. Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous were also a safe space for some of my friends, where they met others who truly understood.
Looking Back, Moving Forward
they were near graduation, I look back and feel proud. Not just of my friends, but of all of us for choosing recovery, for choosing hope. This journey taught us that addiction isn’t the end of the story it’s just a chapter. With the right support, treatments, and personal determination, recovery is possible.
And the best part? We’re not just surviving we’re dreaming again. We’re focusing on our careers, building healthier habits, and learning to find joy in everyday life. We still visit temples, we still do our breathing exercises.
References
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2025, January 8). Treatment and recovery. National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addicti…
Stokes, M., Schultz, P., & Alpaslan, A. (2018). Narrating the journey of sustained recovery from substance use disorder. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention and Policy, 13(1), 35.