What Not to Do When Approaching a Drug Addict Part 1

Many times those that are around a drug addict or drug abuser get these great ideas of being able to save the addict from themselves. However, depending upon what you do to get the drug addict help it could help or hinder the recovery process. If you are looking into getting help for a drug addict here is a look at some of the things you should not do as it could push back the recovery process.

Do Not Bribe, Preach or Punish. It can be hard not to offer a bribe to the drug addict but it could be the worst thing that you can do. Bribes rarely work because the addict will take the bribe and not go through with the recovery process.

Do Not Add Emotional Guilt. Many supporters feel if they guilt the addict into feeling bad for their actions they will get the help they need. However, addicts will rarely get the help they need when they feel guilty. In fact, they will often turn to drugs to deal with the guilt they are feeling. When you do approach an addict about their addiction talk to them rationally and try no to get emotional during that time. Those can often lead to feelings of guilt.

Do Not Cover Up For the Drug Addict. Many supporters will help the addict by covering up situations that they got into. They will handle the legal aspect and talk the addict out of any trouble that they are in. This will only validate the addict’s behavior and allow them to continue to engage in dangerous behaviors.

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What Not to Do When Approaching a Drug Addict Part 2

Approaching a situation where someone you are close to is suffering a drug addiction can be tough. There are certain things that might seem right at a glance that can really make the situation even worse. Here is a look at some of the things that you should not do when approaching a drug addict that could potentially make the situation worse than it was before.

Do Not Take Over Their Duties. It might be hard not to take over any of the drug addict’s responsibilities but you need to try and leave them there. Many addict’s will feel as if they don’t have any responsibilities they are not important or have any type of dignity. It is a good idea to leave any of the addict’s responsibilities until the very last minute so that they feel they have some type of worth.

Do Not Hide Drugs. When comforting someone with an addiction the first instinct is to toss out all the drugs or hide them. This is not recommended. Many addicts feel that because the drugs are not visible they do not have an addiction to the drug. It is a good idea to not toss out the drugs or hide them from the addict.

Do Not Argue With An Addict. If you plan on confronting an addict it is a good idea to try to do it when they are sober. Drugs will often lower the brains ability to process information or see reason because of this it is not a good idea to argue with an addict because there is no reasoning with them.

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Advice for Supporters of Drug Addicts

It can be hard having a friend or family member suffer from a drug addiction or drug abuse problem. Many times those that are around the addict will suffer just as much as the addict themselves. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do for yourself should you suspect that a family member or friend might be going through a drug abuse problem.

Here is a look at some of the things you can do for yourself and your friend or family member to make sure that you are handling the drug addiction.

Say Something. Many supporters of drug addicts or drug abusers rarely say anything to the addict. However, the best thing that you can do is try to speak up and say something to them. Try to voice your thoughts and fears about the problem. It is a good idea to make sure that you offer your support and let them know that you are there for them should they need it. If you do plan on saying something to the addict you must be prepared for them to come up with a number of excuses and reasons why they do not have a problem.

Make Sure You Are Taking Care of Yourself. Many supporters of drug addicts or drug abusers get so wrapped up in the person’s addiction that they forget to take care of themselves. It is important to make sure that you take care of yourself if you are around a drug addict or drug abuser. Ways to take care of yourself include surrounding yourself with a support system, staying away from dangerous situations and taking care of your emotional and physical needs.

Don’t Blame Yourself. Many supporters that are around drug addicts will often start to blame themselves for the drug addict’s behavior. It is a good idea to make sure that you remind yourself that you cannot change the drug addict’s behavior or decisions and that anything they did was on their own and not your fault.

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Support for Family Members of Alcoholics

Alcoholism not only adversely affects the person doing the drinking, but also the family of that individual. The effects can be especially hard on children. Family members have support available to them to help deal with the effects of the addiction, especially if abuse or other negative consequences occur. There are a number of support groups that families can turn to, which provide both support and teach the family members strategies for dealing with it. One of these is Al-Anon, where family members can meet with others who are going through a similar situation.

The group members tell their stories to one another, and the meetings are framed on the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step process. The meetings help the members to learn how to forgive the person who has been drinking and to detach themselves from the situation. This helps to give them a healthier framework for their everyday lives and to heal. For teenagers who have a parent or parents who drink, they can attend Alateen. This group follows the same basic guidelines as Al-Anon, but is more specifically focused on this age group.

There are numerous other support groups that may be available in your area. You can often find listings for them in your local phone book and your family doctor can give you a reference to one as well. Getting help for the family is as important as getting help for the substance abuser. This is especially true if the alcoholic has to go into rehab for a long period of time, which may cause more hardship for a family. A general atmosphere of support, forgiveness and acceptance can help to remove the addiction and keep it gone. It is also key for everyone to heal, which creates the best path for beginning on a new course for the entire family.

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Getting Help for Everyone in Need

Having a drug addiction or mental health problem can reek havoc to a family and cause a multitude of problems. When a person seeks help for their problem many times it is the other family members that may need help also. Many times, the family members that have had to cope with a family member with an addiction or a mental health issue, be it transporting them around, supplying shelter, food, or money, or helping them with legal issues, are the ones that are left out of getting the much needed counseling and help they need.

When a family member is getting treatment such as prescription drug treatment, drug detox, alcohol detox, cocaine treatment, heroine treatment, OxyContin treatment, Crystal Meth treatment, drug rehab and more The family member getting the treatment is well on their way to recovery with the treatment provided at LaPalomaTreatment.com but there are also programs for family members that have had to deal with all the issues surrounding their family member where they can restore some sense of sanity to their life and begin to live normally again.

 LaPalomaTreatment.com has a mission to promote integrated programs of treatment to individuals that have co-occurring substance abuse and mental health issues with the help of their well trained staff members that consists of drug and alcohol abuse counselors, clinical social workers, psychiatrists and nurses. Treatment is provided to individuals with mental health problems and addictions on their campus through a series of detoxification services that are medically supervised and provide life skills classes, individual and group therapy, and an introduction to 12-step principles. Some of their facility amenities include:
* Opportunities for daily activity
* Quiet time and meditation
* Nutritious and delicious menus provided
* An exercise and weight room
* A detoxification unit that is state of the art
* Separate residential units for women and men

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California Alcohol Rehab: How to Really Help Your Loved One

One of the most painful things to watch a loved one struggle with is alcohol addiction, or any type of debilitating addiction for that matter. Addictions have a way of completely taking over the addicts they attach themselves to. While the addict is making the decision to take another drink, he is being driven by the addiction itself. This is why it’s so important that loved ones involved in the addict’s life know how to really help the addict and not contribute to the problem.

Many loved ones of addicts understand how debilitating an addiction can be, but they make the mistake of letting the addiction become an excuse for their loved one. For example, many close friends or relatives of an alcoholic knows that the alcoholic is really a great guy at heart, but that the alcohol causes him to lose control which is why he can’t hold down a job. So, to help the friend or relative out when he’s between jobs, they will give him money to “get buy.” However, this isn’t really helping their loved one because most likely, he’s taking that money straight to the liquor store. The only way to help an alcoholic, or any addict, is to get them in a rehab center.

California alcohol rehab centers and other rehabs around the country have proven to be beneficial in helping addicts beat their addictions and regain control over their lives. This is what an addict really needs help doing – beating the addiction and reclaiming their life. This is only something that can be done when in rehab because rehab centers are run by professionals who know how to help addicts fight, and beat, their addictions. So, if you have a loved one who is an alcoholic, get him or her into a rehab center. This really is the only way you can truly help your loved one.

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Someone to Watch Over You

Research on Iran. by Negar Mottahedeh Social M...
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For the person in recovery from their substance misuse, one of the biggest obstacles to making it through that recovery and staying clean is loneliness. If this is you, you might recognize the following profile. Best buddies are still using, and are therefore not in a position to be able to support. In fact, for the sake of survival, they are really best avoided. Family members, if they are still in the picture, have heard it all and are suffering from compassion burn-out. Believing in yourself and defeating the temptation in low moments to give in to the old ways is tough; sometimes it just feels impossible.
There are support groups in every centre of population, and no doubt you have been put in touch with at least one of these. You might have joined one, and certainly support groups which you can attend personally are the front line facility for those going through recovery.
The good news today is that there is also online assistance and support for each of the specific addictions; often these offer one-to-one confidential consultations. Online services mean of course that you are not limited to your geographical area, and you could, conceivably, receive support from a mentor anywhere in the world.
Some online support services have a strongly religious bias; others are dedicated to a particular age group or gender. Some charge, while others are free.
But the additional help strand which has arrived courtesy of social media sites like Facebook is proving to be a just as powerful lifeline. With self-help groups on these sites being created constantly, and, less formally, friendship links being forged between one ‘recoverer’ and another, access to a listening ear has become a good deal easier. The professionals will sound a cautionary note, however, reminding the individual who is dealing with withdrawal from substance(s) not to dispense with specialist intervention or abandon the course of treatment they are on. There one other warning to bear in mind: social network sites can be addictive!

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