Amit got introduced to drinking and smoking in his first semester. It had started off as something he would do at parties, as it helped him feel part of the group. But over the years, the amount he drank and smoked had increased quite a bit. Nowadays, he would find it difficult to start his day or fall asleep at night without taking a drag. It increased further during exams or when he was stressed. Amit was sure that if he really wanted to stop, he would be able to. But as his third year came to an end, he became more and more worried about how much he was using by then, and if it would ever be possible for him to cut down.
If you’re also feeling conflicted or confused about using like Amit, here are some areas you can reflect upon to gain more clarity about where you stand.
Think about the different areas of your life that your substance use has had an impact on (personal, academic, professional) and fill this table:
e.g. I feel socially more confident
e.g. Once the 'high' goes down, I feel terrible.
e.g. I am able to attend classes and maintain my routine
e.g. It will take effort to find new friends who are not into substances.
You probably have a sharper idea now as to where you stand with respect to your substance use.
