The truth is… It takes a couple of seconds.
Anybody can stop.
To quit something is not a problem.
The problem comes later when you need to STAY stopped. After you stop using a substance you are going to experience a lot of discomfort for a bit. Discomfort that comes from your body experiencing withdrawal from the substance that you have been abusing.
The physical, mental, and emotional discomfort can be so great, that it is the main reason why people keep going back to using and eventually continue to abuse substances, after having quit. It’s very hard.
As hard as battling any serious illness.
Having medical help for the physical discomfort, therapy for the mental discomfort, and support, increases the chances of staying stopped greatly.
And, the good news is that even if you are dependent (what people call addicted) on a drug or alcohol, no matter how severe the problem, if you can stay abstinent from that substance for 16 months to 18 months, your brain will recuperate to the point that it will resemble the brain of someone that never used anything. At that time you can call victory and know you really quit.
So, how long does it take to quit? Seconds.
How long does it take to completely heal from the abuse? 16 to 18 months.