adminHabits such as alcohol abuse, drugs, internet, masturbation and sex tend to develop into serious addictions most people struggle to overcome later in their lives.
Addiction is simply when they is a psychological/physical component a person is unable to control without help because of the mental or physical conditions involved.
A person with an addiction does not have control over what they are doing, taking or using their addictions negatively affects their family and friends.
Most youths attempts to alleviate pain, stress and emotional insecurities through bad habits and these develop into addictions without knowing because they want to feel accepted or cushion the stigma of rejection.
Addictions are never a good solution to solve a problem whether it is psychological, physical or emotional.
Student Connect Trust, administration and programmes manager Miss Christabel Psoto said addictions were symptoms of a bigger issue because an addiction is a way to escape or deal with reality.
“They are many different reasons that drive people young people to be addicted such as peer pressure, depression and lack of acceptance, but it goes back to attention.”
“Teenagers desire attention and social acceptance particularly from family and friends, although every parent wants to spend long hours away from their children to make ends meet. I urge parents to spend time with their children and know what is affecting them,” she said.
The first step to overcome an addiction is to admit that you have a problem and inform family or friends you know have the capacity to help you. More Zimbabwean youths by the day are resorting to drug abuse resulting in the moral and social fabric breakdown.
Urban grooves artist Roki who overcame his own drug addiction says youths become addicts because they have too much spare time on their hands and that depression was the source of most addictions.
“It is tragic that some people develop addictions in an attempt to overcome hard situations and for them to overcome their addiction they have to engage in extra curriculum activities such as sport or exercise.
“Identify their goals in life and seek personal strength from within to stop the small vices holding them back, whether its drugs, going out social networking or smoking,” he said.
Junior parliament speaker Kudakwashe Chikondowa said that the young people’s most addiction is the social network phenomenon and advised the youths that to take into cognisance that addiction is not the only way to alleviate stress.
“The best way to overcome an addiction is to find a positive alternative way to overcome what you addicted to. Focus on the positive things that you can do in the time you are supposed to be doing what you are addicted in,” he said.
A conscious decision to make a life change is the first important step one can make to overcome an addiction.
A person who is addicted should not undermine his/her ability to overcome the addiction. The fact of the matter is that overcoming an addiction is a painful experience that requires all the help one can get from kin and kith.
Under the influence of their addictions youths lose the moral compass and become social misfits and law breakers in the process. Progression adviser to Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children Mr Musa Chibwana said that most teenagers become addicted without looking at consequences of the addiction.
“There is need to educate the youths on the repercussions of an addiction as some teenagers are become social misfits and break the law in the influence of their addiction,” he said.
Whatever addiction you are facing it can be dealt with just get help fast.
Online Reporter