Sometimes we witness someone’s addiction to drugs. Sometimes he is a very close person to us, which means that we ourselves struggle with the problem of co-addiction. How to help a drug addict in such a situation? What actions to take to make it an effective help for a drug addict? And what definitely not to do if we want to support a drug addict? You will learn from this article …
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Help for a Drug Addict – What Can We Do?
When we see that a loved one has a drug use problem, we should take steps to help him or her. It happens that addicted people do not want to take up this topic at all. They avoid confrontation or reject attempts to talk. So let’s choose the right moment for the conversation and prepare for it properly. Here are some tips for helping the drug addict:
Talk directly about the problem – Ask if the person notices their addiction? How is this approaching? What is going on in her life that makes her use drugs? Explain that we see his problem and want to help him. It is good to approach such a conversation “coolly”, without making accusations or moralizing. During one conversation, we will not change the situation, or at least we can give the other person the impression that we want to understand them and help them.
Refer her to a specialist – provide information about the nearest addiction treatment clinic. During the conversation, you can encourage the addicted person to consult a therapist. It is also worth providing a leaflet informing about the harmful effects of taking drugs – you can get them in addiction treatment centers. Remember that the decision to start treatment must come from the addicted person, and our “emphasis” may be rejected. Therefore, inspiration will be more effective than compulsion.
Show concern – explain that we are concerned about her condition and situation. We care about her health and well-being. It’s good to say that we would like to help this person and ask what they need? Before fulfilling the addict’s requests, however, let’s check if he is trying to manipulate us to deepen his addiction.
Talk about ordinary matters without touching the problem of addiction – it often happens that the addicted person denies his problem or does not want to discuss this topic with us. It may be that we are not competent to deal with addiction. We can then, as a close person, offer her a conversation on a different human topic. Talk about work, family, school, or personal problems. It is important that this form of support can build a sense of trust on the part of the addicted person. Remember, however, that an ordinary conversation should not be an attempt to hide the problem and that the intentions of referring you to a specialist are behind it.
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Go to a specialist yourself and ask for help. – There is a method of Intervention against an Addict that can be used with the immediate family or friends of a drug addict. However, it is good to prepare for it under the supervision of a person dealing with addiction treatment.
Drug And Alcohol Addiction – What Not To Do In Order Not To Harm A Loved One?
Unfortunately, drug addicts tend to cheat, lie, and manipulate their loved ones to stay in their illusion and maintain their addiction. Therefore, effective help for a drug addict requires a certain sobriety and offering him only the support that will really help him overcome the addiction. Here’s a list of things to avoid when giving help:
Helping to alleviate the effects of addiction – Any difficulties that arise from addiction may provide the drug addict with feedback that his behavior is causing him harm. So you shouldn’t take responsibility for the addict’s debts, clean up after parties or fights, or cheat others to protect that addict.
Making a call when the person is under the influence of drugs – It is unlikely to work anyway. It can lead to a brawl. A person under the influence of drugs has a lot of defense systems activated and will not allow himself to think about his problem. Even if he does, he won’t be able to think soberly about his situation. Therefore, it is better to prepare for such a conversation and hold it when the person is sober.
Organizing drugs or alcohol “for the convention” – The end of the action of drugs is often associated with a very difficult mental and physical “exit”. There may be a number of unpleasant physical sensations during it: from sweating and fatigue to vomiting and convulsions. They vary depending on the substances you take. Watching a person close to us “gets tired” is not pleasant. However, we can guarantee her safe conditions, or if we are worried about her health, we can call an ambulance. Giving the addict drugs or alcohol to reduce these symptoms only exacerbates the problem.