People who abuse and later become addicted to drugs tend to exhibit strong signs of impulsive behavior and a relative disregard for the long-term implications of their actions. Current research indicates that these characteristics have very little to do with the moral fiber of drug users and quite a lot to do with underlying brain tendencies that make many abusers and addicts unusually susceptible to limited, short-term thinking. According to findings reported in 2012 by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, much of this susceptibility stems from lack of an ability to effectively use memory and recall the consequences of previous experiences. When given a course of memory training exercises, drug abusers and addicts show signs of memory improvement that may contribute to their ability to resist future impulses toward drug use.

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The moment your loved one’s drug-related incarceration began, you knew your life would forever be changed. Over the course of the jail term, you have seen firsthand the evidence of their desire to change their life. Now it is time for them to return home and you sense your life is about to change again. You wonder what you can do to ease their transition back into life. What assistance can you give them to help them stay sober and return to the community?

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