Seeing a friend struggle with drug use can be a very difficult experience. Unfortunately, illegal drugs damage the brain, making it difficult for your friend to make rational decisions. This can result in very self-destructive behavior. Therefore, providing effective interventions is very important for your friend's health. Contrary to popular belief, a person does not need to have a severe addiction before being able to receive treatment. In fact, the earlier your friend receives treatment, the faster the healing process will be. Therefore, intervention should be carried out as soon as the problem is identified.
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Part 1 of 3: Talking to a Friend about Drug Use
Step 1. Pay attention to your suspicions
If you suspect that a friend is using drugs, even in small doses, someone should intervene early. This step can prevent things from getting worse and turning into a full-blown addiction. If he is already addicted, he will need more thorough help.
Step 2. Prepare a list of problems caused by the drugs
Before discussing with your friend, it's a good idea to write down all the problems related to their drug abuse. Making this list allows you to stay focused throughout the discussion. However, be sure to keep the list as concrete as possible. For example, it's better to write "You damaged the car while driving under the influence of drugs" than to write "You were so irresponsible when you were high."
Step 3. Choose a private place to talk
Make sure that the place you choose is free from distractions and will respect your friend's privacy. Inviting him to eat in a quiet restaurant may be better than trying to talk to him in the middle of a party. Also, you may want to try to talk to him in a place other than his home so he can't engage in distracting activities to avoid the discussion.
- Only start the discussion when the friend is conscious. If you try to talk to him while he's on drugs, he won't be able to have a coherent conversation.
- The friend may become defensive when you first approach him or her about your concern. Avoid throwing accusations or arguing. Stick to the facts and remind yourself to stay calm.
- If he's trying to turn the conversation over to you, you can respond by saying something like, "I know you don't agree with things I do and I'd be willing to talk things over with you later. your safety."
Step 4. Tell the friend that you are concerned about his or her drug abuse
Of course this is easier said than done, but talking about it is very important. Make sure not to bring up the topic in a judgmental sense. Always start the conversation by letting your friend know that you're worried about him or her. You need to let him know that you really care about his well-being and health. Use statements that are polite but also clearly state your concern.
- For example, you could say "Lisa, I'm here right now because I was worried about you."
- You could also say "Andi, I'm afraid you smoke weed. You're an important person to me and I'm afraid of the impact your habit will have on your life…"
- Avoid critical and judgmental statements like "You're disgusting, Lisa!"
Step 5. Know the negative consequences that arise
Focus on concrete, non-judgmental statements that reflect your experience with the friend's behavior. Don't discuss what other people may feel or have said as this is often unproductive. Also, avoid making generalizations like "Everyone thinks you're a problem." Always only use facts that you've experienced yourself.
- Use a statement that your friend can't argue with. For example, you could say "You left a party with two people you didn't know yesterday. I was really worried for your safety."
- Always distinguish between your friend as a person and his behavior. Focus on the behavior your friend is doing and not on their personality. Avoid statements like "You are so irresponsible" or "You are a real bad influence on your children"
- Emphasize the difference between his behavior when he is conscious and when he is unconscious. For example, you might say, "You always like a challenge and I like your personality. But when you use drugs, you often do things that are very risky and dangerous."
Step 6. Give your friends the information
Your friend may not see illegal drugs as a bad thing, so sharing scientific information can help open their eyes. Once your friend learns how much drugs can affect her brain, body, life and relationships, she may be more motivated to quit on her own.
- You should do some research on drugs before talking to your friend so you have some scientific information during the conversation.
- Don't accuse or berate your friend. Just share the information politely. For example, you might say, "Did you know that ecstasy can give you seizures? It can also cause your heart to beat abnormally."
Step 7. Encourage your friend to seek treatment
Suggest him talk to an expert or give him some reading material. Let him know that you will be willing to accompany him to the appointment for treatment or you can offer to accompany him to visit a treatment facility. If the friend knows that you are supportive, he or she may be more receptive to treatment.
- Even if the friend is reluctant to seek treatment, you can still explore various healing options for him or her. If you find a treatment facility that appeals to him, he will be more likely to consider the treatment.
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Tell a trusted adult if the friend is immature and if he continues to abuse drugs. Keep in mind that the friend may be angry with you or even feel betrayed for a while. However, involving an adult is the best way to help. Eventually he will come back to you and understand that you really care about his interests.
Remind yourself that addiction is a disease of the brain that usually requires treatment to heal. Just like when your friend sees a doctor if she has a physical illness, she will also need a specialist to help her recover from addiction. Viewing addiction as a disease that must be cured can motivate you to seek help from a trusted adult
Step 8. Support your friends
Knowing exactly how to give him support can be difficult because the friend may not want to hear what you have to say. The drugs used may have affected his mind and he may have fallen into the wrong circle of association. However, here are some ways you can support your friend:
- Listen to your friends. If he pours his heart out to you, be sure to listen to him without judgment. Opening up about her drug abuse can be a difficult step for her friend.
- If your friend is a teenager, encourage her to get help from a trusted adult such as a parent, teacher, sibling, counselor, religious leader or coach.
- When he's ready, help him find a support group or substance abuse counselor near you.
Part 2 of 3: Intervention
Step 1. Form an intervention team
The team should include four to six people your friends like, love, admire, respect and depend on. Everyone involved must genuinely care about your friend and must be willing to look him in the eye to tell him that he needs help. This step will not be an easy process so the team must be strong and committed to helping the addict. Try to include a mental health professional or addiction specialist as part of the team. Professional help can help the team stay focused on facts and solutions and stay away from emotional responses that don't always help. Remember that having a professional on your team is an important step if your friend has any of the following conditions:
- Have you ever done violence?
- Have a history of mental illness
- Have a history of suicidal tendencies or have recently talked about suicide
- Have you ever taken a number of drugs or chemicals to change your mood?
Step 2. Develop the plan
Make sure you have a specific plan in place before the intervention takes place. Take the time to find out about the specific addiction so you can familiarize yourself with the types of treatments that usually work for those addicts. This step is important because the type of treatment will vary depending on the particular drug and the degree of addiction. Keep in mind that more severe addictions may require hospitalization or admission to an inpatient facility. However, whether outpatient or inpatient is required, a specific treatment program that is immediately available to your friend must be identified before the intervention is initiated. Here are some examples of resources that can be used:
- Local clinics
- National organizations offering treatment programs
- Local mental health service provider
- Support group programs for narcotics addicts, alcoholics, shabu addicts and other similar programs
- If the treatment must be accomplished by travel, ensure that all arrangements are made prior to the intervention.
Step 3. Determine any consequences beforehand
Each person on the team must determine what the individual consequences will be if the friend refuses to be treated. This often results in a number of difficult decisions and usually includes a break up for some time. Be prepared to tell your friend that you will no longer be in contact with her until she agrees to undergo treatment. Remember, this step is a strong expression of affection but for his own good.
Step 4. The team is responsible for determining the date, place and time of the intervention
Try to choose the least possible time for the friend to be under the influence of drugs. Each team member should come to the meeting with a pre-rehearsed message.
- The focus of this step is simply to help your friend get treatment. Do not be confrontational during the intervention. The friend should be treated politely throughout the meeting. Having a practice meeting before undergoing the actual intervention can be very helpful.
- The message you have prepared in the exercise should include specific incidents when the addiction has resulted in problematic behavior. Make sure your message is structured in a way that expresses concern for your friend. For example, you could start by saying, "I get sad when you do drugs. Like last week…"
- Make sure you stick to the rehearsed script. Anything that gets in the way can thwart the intervention quickly. You can take notes to take with you during the intervention session if necessary.
Step 5. Ask for an immediate decision
Inform him of available healing plans and ask him to give you an answer right away. The intervention team should not give the friend a few days to think about whether or not he wants to accept the offer of treatment. Giving extra time will only strengthen his mind which is denying the problem. Worse yet, he may go into hiding or use drugs excessively and dangerously. Ask him to give an answer right away and be prepared to take him to a treatment facility if he agrees to the plan.
- Anticipate objections from previous friends. This way the intervention team can provide prepared responses to their resistance to treatment.
- Not all interventions are successful, so prepare yourself for the possibility of failure. However, if your friend rejects the treatment plan, you should be prepared to face the consequences that have been identified in advance.
Step 6. Follow the friend's progress after the intervention
Once your friend agrees to the plan being offered, be sure to continue to support him or her. This support can include being willing to accompany him to counseling sessions. In addition, it can also mean helping him to change the habits that support his addiction. Consider what you can do to support your friend through the healing period and provide that support.
Part 3 of 3: Supporting Mindfulness
Step 1. Tell the friend that you support them
Don't take it easy by thinking that your friend already knows you're there for them. Tell him that you are proud of his accomplishments; however, it takes a lot of hard work to recover from the effects of drugs. Tell him how much you enjoy being around a friend who has just recovered from the influence of drugs.
- Don't forget to be a good listener. The friend may find it difficult to lead a sober lifestyle without the influence of drugs, especially during the first year of recovery. Just being a good listener can provide great support for your friend.
- Resist the urge to be judgmental when talking to your friend. The last thing the friend needs is a talk about how bad his past mistakes were and how they ruined his life.
Step 2. Help your friend find a support group
Do an internet search with your friend to find a support group near you. Most people who are in the healing process benefit from being part of a support group after they have completed the treatment process. Support groups can prevent addiction recurrence. Spending time with other people who are also healing, in a healthy and supportive environment can help your friend get back into her normal routine. Some good support groups include:
- Alcohol Anonymous or a support group consisting of alcoholics/ex-alcoholics
- Crystal Meth Anonymous or a support group consisting of crystal meth addicts / former addicts
- Narcotics Anonymous or a support group consisting of addicts / former narcotics addicts
- Cocaine Anonymous or a support group of cocaine addicts/former addicts
- Marijuana Anonymous or a support group consisting of addicts / former marijuana addicts
- You can also ask for a referral from a doctor, friend or community service organization.
Step 3. Engage in a new healthy habit with your friends
The friend needs to develop new behaviors and activities that will replace old habits. You can show support for his new, healthier lifestyle by sharing it with a friend. These new activities could include:
- Volunteer
- New sports regimen
- Take skill classes
- Starting a new hobby
Step 4. Keep the surrounding environment free of addictive substances
Make sure the places you visit with your friend are free of addictive substances. It's important that you set an example of a substance-free lifestyle for your friend. Don't drink in front of him and try to avoid restaurants and other places with bars that offer open bars. If the friend visits your house, get rid of or store the liquor in a place that is not visible to the friend. Being around an addictive substance, especially in the first year of recovery, can cause your friend to relapse.
- Both of you should always avoid environments that provide addictive substances. Even celebratory occasions should be free of addictive substances.
- If the two of you are in a restaurant with a bar, ask to be given a seat away from the bar.
- You should not visit the friend when you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs yourself.
Step 5. Help your friend come up with more productive addiction coping strategies
People in recovery are more susceptible to stress than other people. Stress can come from various areas of his life including from relationships, family, finances, work or health. Suggest some things she can do to help her cope better with life's stresses. Here are some examples of strategies that can help:
- Journal writing
- Take a deep breath
- Exercising
- Meditation
Step 6. Watch for warning signs
Don't wait for a full-blown addiction to relapse before helping your friend. Know the signs of a potential relapse and prevent it immediately. Here are a number of warning signs that a relapse has or is imminent:
- The friend started not attending support group meetings.
- He spends time with old friends who are still on drugs.
- He used other kinds of drugs. For example, if your friend is being treated for cocaine addiction and now consumes alcohol, this is a red light.
- Your friend starts saying things like "It's okay, just this once."
- Your friend suddenly shows symptoms of choking.
Tips
- Always remember that addiction is a brain disorder. When you talk to a friend who is under the influence of drugs; You're not talking to the friend, you're talking to the disorder that overwhelms him.
- Avoid fighting, lecturing or moralizing the friend when you approach the problem. Simply stick to the facts in a non-judgmental manner.
- Don't cover up or excuse your friend's behavior. In the long run, ignoring your friend's drug use will only make things worse.
- Don't give up on your friends. Even if he or she is reluctant to seek treatment at first, it's important that you bring the issue back up the next time.
- Your friend doesn't need to have a severe addiction before you intervene. In fact, the earlier he gets treatment the sooner the chances are for him to recover.
- Make sure there is one person all team members can easily contact when planning interventions.
- Before intervening make sure you have done your research. It is important that you know the facts about your friend's addiction.
Warning
- Interventions can be very emotional. Your friend may feel angry, hurt, and resentful of you for a while, even though you are actually trying to help them.
- Never intervene suddenly without planning. Most likely it will only result in more harm than benefit.
- When conducting an intervention, it must be done properly. Interventions done the wrong way will make the friend feel attacked and are likely to do more harm than good. Stick to what your team has trained together so that interventions don't go into dangerous areas.
- Don't include anyone your friend doesn't like, someone who could sabotage the intervention, someone with an unresolved mental problem, has an addictive substance abuse problem of their own, or has difficulty sticking to an approved plan into the intervention team.
