HABIT FORMATION IN DRUG ABUSE RELATION. Top of the day to you. Thank you for finding out time to read our piece. I am Most grateful. Last week we examined the role of the Hand in drug abuse, this week in furtherance to that under the SILEC e-Campaign Against Drugs, let me share a brief story of a young boy with you to drive home my message this week on Habit Formation In Drug Abuse Relation. A story of this boy the only son of a mother by profession a civil servant. This was a decent , and brillant boy whose academic records and performance from primary to secondary school was excellence. Fast forward, gained admission into one of the Nigerian universities to further his education but In the process began to habitually engage in drugs with peers worsening the situation, told him that he will be more wild and brillant with the intake of a particular drugs. This was the journey of this boy into taking drugs without knowing the consequences. One day, the said boy came back home and the mother noticed that he no longer exhibit that decency and respectful nature but unnecessary quieteness and isolation of himself always became the order of the day. The mother was happily attributing the quieteness and isolation as a sign of higher education character and godliness for a successful life but unknowingly to her , it was drugs gradually eating-up the young man's life and future. One day, the mother decided to check at him in his room. Guess what she discovered? Marijuana and some other poly drugs . Hmmmm ! This was the genesis of the boy's problem. The University was no longer environment for learning but rather a freedom avenue to engage the more in this act. This was how addiction gradually set in and threw the family into a state of helplessness. While the father was far from home, the mother became uncomfortable with the son situation and began to look for solution. She eventually reached out to me (SILEC) for solution after narrating this story crying profusely on the phone . The mother of the boy retired from civil service after 35years with savings and some landed property acquired. That was a good retirement plan for her right? The sad story was that the savings was empted and eventually sold her landed properties just to save the boy. Did this boy got himself back to his original state? Sadly No. This is how drugs and substance abuse brought the family back to a state of poverty. Habit is easy to form but hardly to break. Break that habit that can break YOU evetually. In psychology, a habit is a learned behavior that's repeated regularly and requires little thought.Habits can be mental, physical, or behavioural. How is habits formed . Habits are formed through repetition and reinforcement. Habits can be formed based on a single experience, especially when emotions are involved. Type of Habits. Habits can be active or passive. Active habits are developed through intention and effort, while passive habits arise from exposure. Tips that can help in Healthy Habit Formation. The psychology of ‘habit-formation’ and to Make a new healthy habit are thus presented below. 1. Decide on a goal that you would like to achieve for your health. 2. Choose a simple action that will get you towards your goal. 3. Be patient...New habit forming takes time and cosistency. 4. Rewarding Yourself. Postive reenforcement help to solidify our habits. Appreciate yourself when you get that successful result. Etc. In Conclusion , Lets form good habits that can lift one another and not the ones that can destroy self or ourselves. My name is Sunny Irakpo Drug Use Prevention Advocate ,Founder/President Silec Initiatives. (IVLP USA) , Certify by United Nations On Drug Prevention ,Treatment and Care Sensitization. #stopdrugs #habitkills #silecinitiatives #youth #drugsandhand #sunnyirakpo #advocate #saynotodrugabuse Please kindly share. Thank you. www.silecinitiatives.org.ng