Don't do it

Don't even start. I know it's not that easy, but we can't give into addictions. Whither it be physically, mentally, virtually or even spiritually. Once you start, it's hard to stop. It's like eating at a buffet; you know you shouldn't but you just have to have more. You can stop, but it won't always be easy. I believe that there are at least 3 steps to stopping an addiction. There are probably more, but this just the simplified version.
1) You have to want to change
2) Getting help
3) Doing something about it

So, you need to want to change. You can't really change without having the desire to. If you do it halfheartedly, it will not work. It goes along with what Santosh Kalwar said in his book Quote Me Everyday, "We cannot change anything if we cannot change our thinking.” This statement is so true and so important to remember. Let me repeat what I've already said, you have to desire to change. It's the first and one of the most important steps.

Getting help. That can be easier said then done. When I say, get help, I mean that we need support. When we want to drop an addiction it's very important that we have supportive friends and family who'll help us. It's like this, you're at the mall with some friends. All of you have money, but you don't want to spend a lot since you'll need it later. Your friends decide to spurge and of course, you really want to as well. They say things like, "Come on, it's okay," and "really, you don't have to spend every penny." Now, say you're with another group of friends at the mall. Like before, you all have money but you'd rather save; right now you're just browsing. Which group of friends are you must likely to save money with? The first group or the second? Most likely the second one. In a way, it's like peer pressure. Now, it is possible to resist spending money with the first group but it would be extremely hard. This is the reason we need supportive friends and peers.

You've got to take action next. I mean, you can't just stand back and hope that you're going to be addiction free. That's just not how it works.

I think that there are no good addictions. Now, don't get me wrong there are good things to want to do; for example: reading good books, doing school work, hanging out with friends and playing sports. Here's the thing, if you're focusing too much time reading, playing a sport, beating a high level on the computer or updating your life on Facebook then it's an addiction. Especially if doing that thing is getting in the way of others or more important activities.There are some things that seem a little in between like service, but I still stay by what I said. Let me explain; if you're doing service, that's great. If you're doing it so much that you're not getting anything else done, then you need to change some stuff around. There's a really fine balance between liking to do something a lot and obsessiveness. And I think that each of us has our own point where we cross the line. For example, some of us may be able to check Facebook all the time and still get stuff done while some don't.That may not be the best example but hopefully you get.

Addictions aren't things we should take lightly; some addictions, like smoking and drinking, end up being harmful. In C.S. Lewis's book The Great Divorce, a man from hell visits heaven where he sees many bright and godly angels. This man is never alone; a red lizard sits atop his shoulder. Sometimes he fights with it saying he'll get rid of it but never does and he does whatever the creature tells him. As the man is leaving heaven an angel approaches him and offers to get rid of the lizard. At first the man makes all sorts of excuses but in the end he agrees. The angel takes the lizard and throws it to the ground, killing it. The man then transforms into a heavenly being and the lizard turns into a beautiful white horse. The man mounts his new stead and rides off.
The lizard was the man's addictions and temptations.
Sometimes, like the man, do we find ourselves wanting to get rid of our addictions but thinking, "no, I can't live without smoking" or "I can't live without a beer" or even "one more minute, I just have to post something on Facebook"? Getting rid of addiction is hard, but it is also worth it. Once we get rid of it, we can become free.
When the lizard turned into the white stead, it represented that the man could now bridle, or control, his addictions.

Everyone has some sort of addiction, big or small. Everyone can fight their addiction. Sometimes we may need help and that is perfectly okay, there are people out there who've had the same problems you have and a lot of them are willing to help. Especially with drugs and smoking. Once you get rid of addiction you'll find new found freedom; you'll be able to gallop off on your white stead a changed person.