This post from The Antidote Clinic blog highlights a common theme in addiction and relapse – boredom. It’s something we’ve observed throughout our son’s addiction, and something we keep a watch for during his recovery. Take a read and see what you think … and stay tuned for an updated blog from Midwestern Mama on this exact topic.
One of the main reasons many people begin taking drugs or drinking is simple boredom.
Believe it or not, it’s also a significant cause of relapse. Those who are bored are more likely to experiment, or heed the call of the substance they are avoiding. This holds true no matter the age of the user, from teen to adult experts say. A Columbia University study found that teens who are “frequently bored” increase the risk of substance abuse by 50%.
Being under a lot of stress and having $25 per week spending money or more increased a teen’s chances of substance abuse by 300%, as opposed to those who weren’t stressed or didn’t have such funds. This was determined by researchers at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia. British and South African studies have found that a dearth of stimulating leisure time activities for teens…
View original post 183 more words
