What should you do if you want to help someone who is addicted to drugs, but you don't know how to help them? There are many misconceptions about how to help people who have addictions. You can't get him to conquer his addiction, and you can't be the one to deal with his addiction. Your focus is on providing support in creative ways. To be able to help people who are addicted to drugs, you have to realize that addiction is a complicated thing. You can't fix the person; and more importantly, people who have addictions are ordinary people, not just drug addicts as written in the title of this article. Her struggle with drug addiction will be tough, but your support will have a positive impact on her recovery process.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Providing Support
Step 1. Be the best friend
Some friendships are quick and some last forever. Helping a friend when he or she is going through a difficult time such as a drug addiction can strengthen friendships. When friendships are being built, you tend to care more about them. When critical times arise, you will want to help him.
- Help him when he needs help and listen to what he has to say. He has his own reasons why he abuses drugs. Listening can help him convey his thoughts and feelings. This can help both you and him understand the root cause of addiction.
- Be loyal, dependable, and respect him. Expressing feelings is an act that requires courage. However, when telling his feelings, addicts realize that it has its own risks. You can implicitly tell him that you understand the risk by saying: "I know this may be a tough one and I'm glad you wanted to share this. I appreciate your effort. I'll listen if you want to talk."
- Helping people who are addicted to drugs can probably be the most difficult thing to do and will take a lot of time. However, you will get great satisfaction if you manage to help him.
Step 2. Show empathy
Being heard and understood is a major component of personal growth. The emotional experiences of a drug addict force him to grow and that may be painful. You can help reduce the pain he is experiencing by continuing to listen to him.
- Put yourself in that person's shoes. Learn to show compassion and accept the situation, not judge it. This stage may be difficult, but you can keep trying.
- Treat the person as you would like to be treated by others. You may have had problems in your life so you know what works and what doesn't.
Step 3. Express your concern
It is very painful to watch someone suffer or when he makes the wrong choice that has a bad impact on his life. There are times when you have to let him know that you care about his health and happiness. He may or may not want to hear what you have to say. This shouldn't be a problem because you really are genuinely helping him and have shown him that you care about his condition.
- Ask permission to be involved in the recovery process. If a person is experiencing excruciating pain caused by his addiction, he may not realize that he needs help. However, if you offer to help, he may accept it. You might say something like this: "It sounds like you're having a hard time dealing with drugs. I'll help if you need help. Would you mind if I helped?
- Don't be afraid to ask difficult questions to answer. It is very difficult to ask questions on difficult-to-answer topics that can threaten a relationship. You should ask honest direct questions like: "Are you addicted to this drug?" and "This is hard to talk about, but I have to know, are you willing to damage your health and relationships with other people because of your drug addiction?"
Part 2 of 4: Understanding Drug Addiction
Step 1. Observe the attitude of people who are addicted to drugs
Know the signs and symptoms of drug addiction. Significant personality changes may indicate that the person is abusing drugs. Personality changes are a common sign of all types of drug dependence, including alcoholism, addiction to prescription drugs and opium abuse.
- Signs of an opium addict: Needle marks may be visible on an opium addict's arm. However, many smart addicts inject drugs into invisible areas of the body, such as between the toes, to hide marks and evidence of intravenous drug use. People who abuse opium may also appear sweaty or unusually thirsty, and their pupils may be as large as dots.
- Signs of an alcoholic: smells of alcohol in the mouth, is easily irritated, likes to talk, his eyes look unusually bright or his eyes look droopy and have difficulty expressing thoughts and ideas logically. Alcoholics often try to hide physical evidence of their addiction, such as empty bottles and cans.
- Signs that people who abuse drugs have: Individuals who are addicted to prescription drugs may look like a person who has lost consciousness, such as looking careless, slurring, and their eyes may look droopy.
Step 2. Keep an eye on whenever conflicts or other problems fueled by drugs arise
If a problem occurs more than a few times, you may be seeing an addiction pattern developing. It is very difficult to predict whether this pattern will exacerbate the problems faced by addicts or not. You should have a thorough preparation.
Maybe he's been on drugs to excess and constantly passed out at parties. Has he ever been summoned to court because he was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or committed drug-inspired vandalism? Was he ever involved in a drug-driven fight?
Step 3. Identify the drugs the addict uses or likes
Using various drugs is a very common thing for addicts. This can be very obvious or difficult to pinpoint. If someone is secretly taking drugs, you may only see the signs and symptoms of the abuse. You can ask when in doubt. The following drugs are abused, but not limited to: amphetamines, anabolic steroids, club drugs (drugs that are often used in nightclubs), cocaine, heroin, inhalants, marijuana, and prescription drugs.
- Each type of drug gives different effects to its users.
- There may be various types of drugs that are in the addict's body so it is difficult to determine the type.
- If the addict has a drug overdose or a medical emergency, you may need to tell the medical professional what kind of drugs the addict is taking so that he or she can provide appropriate treatment.
Step 4. Determine the addict's level of dependence
You should immediately help the addict before his behavior can get out of control because this can make the situation at hand and his relationship with other people irreparable. He should seek help immediately to help overcome his addiction before the consequences of this bad habit arise, such as losing his job, molesting and abandoning loved ones, and financial difficulties.
- Ask him, "What have you done to stop using drugs? Why do you think you haven't been able to stop using them?"
- Does the addict look and sound motivated to make a change, but have trouble sticking to a plan? Are drugs controlling it?
- If he is a college friend or family friend, try calling his family to let them know when the problem is getting out of hand. Don't face this problem alone.
Part 3 of 4: Taking Action
Step 1. Make sure the addict wants help
Human rights allow a person to ask for and receive help. Some of these rights also allow him to refuse any help he may need. This can lead to discord among everyone involved in his life; the worse the situation, the more desperate you will feel.
- To what extent do you want to be involved in this recovery process? If you are reading this article, you are probably dedicating your time and energy to making a difference in someone's life.
- Many people don't want to help people who are addicted to drugs, so it's great for you to want to be involved in the recovery process.
Step 2. Discuss and set boundaries
To set healthy boundaries, you should discuss what kind of help can help the addict without having an enabling effect (an attempt made to help someone, but indirectly supports and reinforces the bad habit). The following attitudes have an enabling effect on addicts, but are not limited to: ignoring unwanted behavior; to prevent the addict from stealing, you lend him money so he can buy drugs; sacrificing one's own needs and wants in order to continue to help him; you have difficulty expressing your feelings; lying to protect her; You continue to help him even if your efforts are not appreciated or recognized.
Tell the person who is addicted that you will help and support their efforts to fight their addiction, but that you don't want to get involved in anything that encourages them to use addictive substances
Step 3. Persuade the addict to seek help
Signs that appear indicate that he needs help. Now is the time for you to show the reality of the situation at hand to the addict. Sometimes you have to force him to consider the consequences if he doesn't seek help. Even if you insist, you should still show him affection.
- If you know that he needs help, but he refuses, you can call the police to see him so he will be surprised and realize that he needs help. He doesn't have to know that you called the police.
- Warned him by saying, "Prison is a terrible, dangerous and disgusting place. There nobody cares about you. You don't want to go there. You will lose your identity there and may never recover."
- Show him statistics and videos regarding drug overdoses and deaths in traffic accidents caused by drunk drivers.
- Do not flush drugs down the toilet as they can contaminate the aquatic system with hazardous substances. Water exposed to hazardous substances can also contaminate food supplies.
Step 4. Hide the addict's vehicle keys so he can't use his vehicle
Driving with a person in possession of drugs results in everyone in the car being called to court and possibly arrested. The case is a good example of the effects of one person's dependence on the lives of others.
Step 5. Intervention
Help can be given in a variety of ways, and sometimes you have to force it. This is a difficult decision to make, but one that is important when the addict's addiction has become difficult to control and could put his life in danger. Although the intervention can make him feel depressed, the purpose of this intervention is to make him less defensive. The people involved in the intervention must be selected carefully. Loved ones of addicts can explain how drug abuse affects their lives.
- Before intervening, come up with at least a treatment plan that can be offered to the addict. Make a plan in advance if the addict will be immediately taken to a drug rehabilitation center after the intervention. The intervention will not mean much if he does not know how to get help and does not get support from loved ones.
- You may have to trick the addict into getting him to come to the intervention site.
- Be prepared to point out specific consequences if the addict refuses treatment. The consequences should not be mere threats, so loved ones must consider the consequences of not wanting treatment, and they must be willing to participate in this intervention process.
- Interventions can also involve fellow addicts and religious leaders (if appropriate to the conditions at hand).
- People involved in these interventions should prepare specific examples of how their loved one's drug abuse can hurt relationships. Often the people who intervene choose to write letters to addicts. The dependent person may not care about his self-harm, but realizing that his pain can hurt others, his heart will be moved to seek help.
Step 6. Provide advice on drug rehabilitation programs
Contact several rehabilitation clinics and ask questions about the services offered. Don't be afraid to ask specific questions about the clinic's daily schedule and how the clinic deals with addicts whose health conditions are declining. If intervention isn't the thing, help the addict seek information about rehabilitation and recommended medications for treatment. Continue to provide support and allow him to feel that he has control over his rehabilitation.
Study the program the clinic recommends and note that the more open the addict is to the treatment plan, the greater the chances of success in overcoming addiction
Step 7. Visit the addict if conditions allow
If addicts follow an inpatient program, there are visiting rules that must be explained and understood. Understand that you must allow him to participate alone in the program without gaining influence from people who are not involved in the program. The rehabilitation staff will advise you when you should visit, and the visit will be greatly appreciated.
Part 4 of 4: Advanced Treatment
Step 1. Accept addicts back into your life
People who have overcome drug addiction will need structure in their lives and you have a big role to play in making that happen. A welcoming attitude towards his presence was probably just what he needed. Everyone has a need for people or places that make them feel welcome or belonging, and you can grow that in them.
- Provide support and suggest a new, healthier lifestyle. Invite him to come with you on a new adventure. Be careful not to do anything that can increase his desire to use drugs.
- The goal of this stage is to help the addict feel less lonely and to make sure he can contact you and others if he needs help. He will feel anxious, afraid and insecure about his own ability to prevent himself from taking drugs again.
Step 2. Ask about progress
Explain that you really care about him and want him to succeed in fighting his addiction. It is very important for her to attend therapy or support group meetings (groups of people with similar experiences or problems who provide each other with support and advice). The following may be requirements that must be met in any rehabilitation program:
- Help addicts to be responsible for the program they live. Ask him if there is anything you can do to help him continue to attend the program. Don't let him slack off.
- Offer him that you would like to attend a meeting with him if you and he are comfortable with the idea.
- Continue to celebrate success. If he doesn't use drugs for a day or 1000 days, every day that goes by deserves celebration.
Step 3. Have enough knowledge so that you can immediately help the addict in the future
Drug addiction is a chronic disease so it can be controlled, but not cured. Deteriorating health conditions may occur, and everyone involved in the recovery process should not view these conditions as failures. However, addicts need treatment whenever their health condition deteriorates.
- After helping an addict in the recovery process, you will have the skills and information necessary to help people who are addicted. Psychologists and psychiatrists located in your area can be found on this website and you can contact the Indonesian Psychiatric Association or the Indonesian Psychologist Association for more information.
- Accompany and provide assistance to the addict (texting, calling, seeing him, doing fun activities together, exercising, hanging out, and supporting his hobbies and interests). Help him to help overcome the desire to use drugs when he is facing a difficult situation.
Step 4. Maintain a positive attitude towards your interactions with addicts; but be honest, serious and outspoken when necessary
He should know that there are people, including you, who support him as he goes through the recovery process.
Tips
- Addiction is a disease that attacks the physical, mental, and spiritual. These three things must be given (in the order listed earlier) while helping the addict deal with his illness.
- Keep hoping that he will recover. Most likely, people who are dependent will feel neglected by their loved ones and feel alone in their lives.
- Show the addict that you will not leave him, even when his health condition declines and the disease recurs.
- Continue to give love and care to the addict. In addition, also show the benefits that can be obtained in the future if he stops using drugs.
Warning
- There are times when you can't help an addict fight drug addiction.
- The addict may appear to be doing their normal activities for years even if he or she has a drug addiction. The effects of his dependence will eventually attack him physically, emotionally or damage his relationships with others.
- If you suspect that the addict has overdosed on drugs, immediately contact the nearest hospital for emergency assistance.
- If violence occurs, withdraw from the situation and contact the authorities.
- If the addict has overdosed on drugs, be prepared to provide information about the type of drug he is using.
- Severe drug addiction can make addicts commit criminal acts, because he focuses his attention on getting money to buy drugs. You can become a victim of his criminal actions.
