When you reach the point where you feel ready to admit that you have a drug problem and that you need help, you can turn to a treatment center for assistance. Drug rehabilitation centers offer both inpatient and outpatient programs that let you focus on your recovery. Once you leave that center and move back home or enter a sober housing program, you can set some ground rules for yourself to stay on the path to recovery.

Reduce Stress

One reason that addicts fall off the wagon is because they do not know how to handle stressful situations. When they have a fight with a close friend or get yelled at by a boss, they decide to use again because they don’t know what else to do. It’s important that you reduce stress and that you avoid any potentially stressful situations. This may mean changing jobs or limiting the time that you spend with certain people.

Limit Connections to Your Old World

An important rule that you should establish for yourself relates to your old friends and any connections that you have to your past. While you shouldn’t block everyone you knew before you got clean and sober, you should limit the contact you have with anyone you used with before, especially if those individuals still use drugs. Even if you feel confident and think that you’ll never use again, simply being around those people can tempt you back into the world of drugs.

Say No to Relationships

Not everyone who successfully completes a drug rehabilitation program has loved ones waiting for them at home. If you are single and clean, you might feel tempted to start a new relationship with someone you just met. It’s important that you do not start a relationship with someone new or someone you dated in the past until you are clean for at least one full year. You need to give yourself time to recover and focus on yourself before focusing on anyone else. Establishing a set series of rules can help you on the road to recovery.