1. Join a Support Group- Joining a support group can make a big difference between staying sober and falling back into substance abuse. AA is one of the most well known support groups, and NA is also available in most areas. There are support groups for every type of addiction possible.
2. Get A Sponsor- Find a sponsor who can help you stay sober. A sponsor is a mentor who can help you get through the tough times. Your sponsor has been in your shoes, and they can help guide you so that you stay in recovery and do not fall off the wagon.
3. Avoid Old Places And Friends- If you want to stay sober then it is important to avoid the locations and people associated with your substance abuse in the past. Make new friends, ones who support your desire to stop drinking or doing drugs and who want you to succeed in this goal.
4. Use Available Medications- There are medications that can help curb cravings and minimize your impulse to drink or take drugs. Talk with your doctor about whether or not these medications are right in your case. In some cases your medical history may make certain medications inadvisable, but there may be other drugs that will work instead.
5. Perform An Honest Self Evaluation When The Urge To Use Strikes- If you want to stay sober and you feel the urge to drink or do drugs then you should perform an honest self evaluation. Compare your behavior and life while you used with the changes now that you are sober, and be brutally honest. These memories may be enough to keep you on the straight and narrow.
