If you want to know how to help a junkie, I will give you in this article 10 tips to know how to act and what is the most important thing you can do. Having a friend, family member or loved one with a substance abuse or drug addiction problem is a complex situation, although it can be solved.
The first and most important thing to know is that a drug addict has an addiction; your brain is adapted to certain substances and when you don't have them it reacts. When you do not consume the substance you feel discomfort, and to return to feeling well-being or normality, you need to consume.
For example, if someone is addicted to cocaine, after several hours without consuming they will feel discomfort and to return to normal they need to consume. The more addicted a person is, the more they need to consume to feel normal, and even more to feel pleasure.
Therefore, a person addicted to drugs has a real problem and needs help to get out of it. Not just willpower, but social and professional support.
Sometimes it is difficult to tell whether a person is using drugs or not. If you find burnt sheets of paper, spoons, syringes, pipes or pieces of aluminum foil, these could be signs of the use of different drugs.
Other symptoms that may indicate problematic substance use include:
Sudden mood swings.
Abandonment, inactivity.
Sleep disturbances.
Agitation, nervousness.
Increased expenses, loss of possessions.
Red eyes, dilated or constricted pupils.
Frequent nosebleeds.
Look for detailed information on the signs and symptoms of drug use, to find out if your friend, family member or partner is really using. Observe their behavior closely for a few days or weeks to see if there really is a problem.
It may be helpful to talk to other family members or friends about your suspicions, to speak directly to this person you love so much (I'll tell you how to do it later), or to consult a professional with knowledge of substance abuse for an opinion. objective about this situation.
You may wonder if this person so dear to you really has a problem with alcohol or other drugs, or if you are actually exaggerating and inventing a drama where there is none..
If you notice that this person is having problems in family relationships, in the relationship, at work, with studies or is in a difficult economic situation, if he has had problems with the law or has low self-esteem, then you are not exaggerating: drug use is becoming a serious problem that can negatively affect your life.
Many books, magazines and movies show situations where the drug addict really "hits rock bottom" before getting help to get out of his problem..
However, this is a myth. You should not wait until the situation is terribly serious before you can help the drug addict. Research shows that early identification of the problem and early treatment is the best solution.
Early identification and early treatment means that you don't have to wait for a person to drop out of school, lose a job, have a serious health problem, or become separated from their family because of their addiction to act and start helping. You have to offer help at the first symptoms.
People tend to recover more quickly if they get help and treatment early.
This strategy is very dangerous. Many drug addicts do not seek help until their addiction has become a really serious problem..
Do you really want to see how this beloved person loses his job, suffers a traffic accident, or ruins his health? If you do not ask for help yourself, then the addiction will continue to worsen, and the close environment of the drug addict will also suffer greatly.
You cannot deny that there is a problem. You must face this situation and help your loved one to quit drugs, before the consumption ruins his life and also that of his family.
If the situation comes where you have tried everything and your loved one does not allow themselves to be helped, you will have to make the decision to maintain that relationship or not in the event that it is harming you..
In order to help a drug addict, you will first need to have a great emotional stability, a lot of calm and an assertive communication style, since you will have to face denials, arguments, threats, crises and various relapses.
Seek support from psychotherapy or support groups for family members of addicts. There you will find help for yourself and also tools that you can use to help your loved one overcome the problem of drug use..
You may be afraid to start a conversation with the person you want to help. You may fear that the talk will lead to an argument, a violent scene, or a hasty decision to leave home or school..
However, a calm, calm conversation, without reproaches, insults, or blame, can be a very profitable experience..
Perhaps the drug addict has not yet noticed that his behavior is problematic, that it is negatively influencing his life and the people in his close environment.
To talk to the addict about his problem and that the talk has a positive result, remember that:
Experts recommend that every time you talk to the addict, you repeat the same message: “I care about you because I love you, and I would like you to seek help to get out of this problem, this situation that not only affects you, but also the people who love you ".
If the situation worsens, you can take action. But the moment you tell him what you plan to do, you must be convinced that you will comply with what you say, they should not be just threats.
For example, you can tell the drug addict that he will not be allowed into the home if he is under the influence of drugs. Or that you will not give him more money until he decides to seek professional help to stop using.
You must comply with what you say to the letter, because otherwise your words will lose credibility. In addition, it is good that the addict begins to notice the negative consequences of his behavior.
If you protect him or allow him certain attitudes, these consequences will be less noticeable and will not help him to become aware of the seriousness of the problem.
When the word treatment is mentioned, you might imagine a prolonged admission for detox.
Although this is a common option, there are many treatment possibilities that are adapted to the different physical, psychological, social and emotional circumstances of the addict..
The most appropriate treatment for each case also depends on the severity of the problem..
Look in your environment for the different treatment possibilities that exist for drug addiction cases, to be able to offer concrete help to your loved one in the next conversation.
When a group of people close to the addict meet with him to talk about drug use, it is said to be an intervention. They can be family, co-workers or friends, for example.
Everyone should speak calmly about the specific behaviors that are causing them concern..
Confronting the addict in a group can have a greater impact. The intervention can be performed by everyone at the same time in the same place or on different days, over a couple of weeks.
Something important is to clearly explain to the addict what are the worrisome attitudes and taking advantage of the moment to offer a telephone number or an address of a professional in the area or a rehabilitation center where they can seek help.
Addiction is a chronic disease and as such can be controlled and healing requires a long process.
Therefore, relapses are normal. Quitting drugs is a long and difficult road, but it is not impossible. Do not expect quick results and that relapses do not discourage you.
Offering help, love and support to a loved one who has a drug addiction problem can be a difficult task..
Follow these tips, do your best and don't feel guilty.
If you can help this person you love so much, welcome, but if he decides to continue in his illness, at least you will have done everything possible to help him.
And what are you doing to help someone who is addicted?
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