How Do You Approach Someone Who Has A Drug Addiction?

Whether it's a family member, close friend, or coworker, coping with drug addiction is never easy. Substance misuse is a worldwide epidemic that impacts countless lives regardless of gender, age, or socioeconomic status.

While the addict mostly feels an addict's struggle with substance abuse, it has far-reaching consequences on those closest to them.

This helpful manual discusses the tough but important topic of talking to someone with a drug problem. Learning to interact with them helpfully and sensitively can make a world of difference in their journey to recovery.

How To Approach Someone About Taking Drugs

It's never easy to broach the subject of someone else's drug abuse, but you must do so from a place of compassion and understanding. No one ever intends to start abusing substances. 

Abusing drugs is frequently an unsuccessful strategy to address emotional or psychological distress. Insulting, criticizing, or condemning your loved one will drive them away and may encourage them to seek additional solace in substance misuse because stress tends to fuel addictive behaviour.

When a loved one, especially a kid or teenager, develops a substance abuse issue, the news can cause a range of emotions, from astonishment and fear to fury.

Because of these strong emotions, communicating with a drug user can be challenging at best. It's best to have this conversation when you're relaxed, sober, and uninterrupted. Don't pass judgement as you offer assistance.

• Don't delay. In other words, you shouldn't wait for your friend or family member to reach an absolute low point before speaking up. The earlier a person receives help for an addiction, the better.
• Speak openly about your worries. Make it clear that you're concerned about the person's well-being and that your concern is genuine. Cite concrete instances of your loved one's drug-related behaviour that have caused concern, and be forthright about how you feel.
• Listen. Take in what the other person is saying, even if you disagree with them, and refrain from interrupting or arguing. Your ability to listen to a loved one will increase their perception of you as a kind, trustworthy person.
• Give them information on where they can get help for their substance abuse problem, such as a toll-free hotline, a treatment centre, a doctor or counsellor, a SMART Recovery or NA meeting, or any other resource you know of.
• It would help if you counted on hearing no. If your loved one is furious or defensive about their drug usage, they may refuse to talk to you about it. When faced with their behaviour, many people try to deny they have a problem out of a sense of shame. Don't argue with them; just come back to the topic later.
• Don't try to teach them a lesson or intimidate, bribe, or penalise them. Anger or emotional appeals will likely make the addict feel worse about themselves and increase their need to use.
• Don't think that talking about the issue will solve it. This is the first of many talks you'll need to have with your loved one about their drug use. Addiction recovery is a process that cannot be rushed. It may take multiple conversations before they admit they have a problem, which is the first step towards improving.

If the individual decides to seek treatment, you can provide a hand by giving tangible assistance like meal delivery and regular check-ins. Recognise even tiny improvements and continue assisting even if they relapse.

Recovery from substance abuse is a process that often requires multiple attempts. Boundaries need to be established with the individual as well. Don't make empty promises of help; instead, give as much as possible regarding time, energy, and money.

What Exactly Is Alcohol And Drug Abuse?

Substances that alter the way the body works are called drugs. The effects of illegal narcotics like ecstasy and heroin can be devastating. Any government agency does not monitor the quality and quantity of active components in illegal medications in the same way that licenced pharmaceuticals are.

But not every medication is off-limits. Even though it's not illegal, excessive or chronic alcohol consumption can have negative health effects. Even prescription medications pose risks if used incorrectly or for purposes other than medical treatment.

What matters more than how often or how much someone uses drugs or alcohol is the toll it takes on their daily life. The use becomes problematic when a person's relationships, decision-making, or health are negatively impacted by their substance use. It can make individuals lose focus on important things like education, work, and family.

Abuse of both drugs and alcohol is widespread. One-third of Australians have problem drinking habits. Over 20% of Australia's population has experimented with illegal substances. This includes the use of medicinal drugs for recreational purposes.

Recognising Signs Of Drug Use In A Loved One

Recognising when a loved one is engaging in drug abuse can be difficult. Mood swings are a common symptom of adolescent depression, which can be easily mistaken for drug use.

Moreover, no cutoff point for either quantity or frequency of drug usage should raise red flags. The frequency of your loved one's drug use is less important than its negative effects on their life. Here are some warning signals that your loved one may have a substance abuse problem:

• Being plagued by issues at work, in class, or at home. They might fake being high more often or miss more days of work or school. Their academic or professional performance declines, they fail to meet their domestic obligations, and their relationships deteriorate. They might even be fired, stop going to class, or end up in a bitter breakup with their long-term partner.
• Changes in sleep patterns, an exhausted or listless appearance, glassy or bloodshot eyes, a significant loss or gain of weight, and memory loss or other cognitive difficulties are all signs of a new health concern. Behaviours such as nosebleeds, sniffing, and trembling are common among drug abusers.
• Modifications to their disposition and conduct. You may notice increased secrecy and deception from your loved one as they attempt to hide their substance use. If you try to converse with them about their drug usage, they may become defensive or angry easily. Substance abuse can cause one to lose interest in once-enjoyed activities, grow lethargic and withdrawn, and experience increased sadness. They may stop caring about how they look or feel and go through withdrawal if they cannot get their fix.
• Repeated issues with money. To fund their habit, your loved one may rack up credit card debt, apply for loans, or repeatedly ask you for money for no apparent reason. They can even resort to stealing to fund their drug habit.
• Warning signs of drug paraphernalia. The introduction or increased use of drug paraphernalia can be another telltale sign of substance addiction by a loved one.
• Drugs are typically packaged in paper wraps, tiny plastic bags or thin pieces of cling film. Whether through the use of rolling papers, bongs, pipes, or even perforated plastic bottles or cans, drug use is widespread. Burnt foil, syringes and spoons, can detect heroin usage. Those who abuse prescription drugs may frequently need refills or obtain bottles of medication illegally.

Helping A Loved One Recover From Addiction

Drug addiction treatment is rarely simple or fast, and no universally applicable method for dealing with this problem exists.

Although you can advocate for your loved one and encourage them to get help, you cannot dictate their actions or choices for them. One of the most helpful things you can do to help a loved one get sober is to let them take responsibility for their actions and decisions.

• Just lower your standards a bit. Individuals vary greatly. For some, recovery is nothing less than complete sobriety. For some others, it can mean reducing their drug use or giving up drugs altogether. Even if your loved one regains their footing in life, setting unrealistic expectations might leave you feeling like a failure.
• Urge the one you care about to get some assistance. Some people can overcome their drug addiction without assistance, but those odds are far lower. Propose accompanying a loved one to a doctor's appointment, counselling session, peer support group meeting, or sitting with them while they call a helpline.
• See to it that they deal with any comorbid concerns. Your loved one's drug use was a symptom of underlying issues that would disappear because they stopped using. A person who has turned to drugs to cope with mental health concerns like anxiety or depression should seek out alternative methods of resolving these problems. Long-term sobriety requires simultaneous treatment of the mental health condition and the addiction.
• Facilitate preparation for relapse and cravings. Your family member has to develop strategies to resist drug use when it becomes tempting. They must take responsibility for their sobriety, but you can help them by distracting or encouraging them to learn how to escape the temptation.
• It would help if you encouraged them to try new things. When a loved one stops using drugs, they may find themselves with a lot of free time on their hands. Relapse can be avoided by encouraging them to pursue pursuits that are meaningful to them but do not involve drugs. Activities that don't result in a trigger to use include things like volunteering, trying out a new sport or pastime, taking a class, or spending time in nature by going hiking or camping.
• Recognise that relapse is likely. Despite your best efforts and those of those closest to you, relapse is a common part of the recovery process. Support them while they make another attempt at sobriety and urge them to recommit to the process. Keep your cool. Your loved one's relapses are simply opportunities for growth and reinvention.

What Happens If Alcoholics And Addicts Refuse Help?

It is ultimately up to the individual to consult a specialist. Many people who have a problem with substance abuse struggle with reaching out for help at first but eventually realise they need assistance. If you 'annoy' the individual too much, they may become defensive and stop talking to you.

Spell down the specific actions you want to see or don't want to see from the other person. You may have a zero-tolerance policy about drug usage in your household. Advocate for safe use practises, such as needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) or opioid replacement programmes, so the individual can reduce the likelihood of injuring oneself.

When Should I Need Urgent Assistance?

The effects of drugs and alcohol are highly individual. Possible symptoms of a severe medication response include:

• having trouble breathing
• extreme fatigue or restlessness
• seizures
• completely lose consciousness
• grunting, choking, or gurgling sounds, or heavy snoring
• Having or Showing Signs of Paranoia or Hallucination
• Getting worked up or baffled
• vomiting and nausea
• pain in the chest, stomach, or back
• Coordination issues
• Having blue nails or lips
• turning pale, sweating, or both

Even if you're afraid about the person getting in trouble for drug use, getting them medical help immediately is essential. Only in the event of serious bodily harm, serious injury to others, or death would emergency personnel contact the police.

Conclusion

How to talk to someone with a drug problem is hard, but it's an important topic to talk about because it affects so many people and has far-reaching effects on those closest to them. Abusing substances like alcohol and drugs changes how the body works, and the results can be very bad.

Even though not all drugs are illegal, drinking too much or too often can be bad for your health. Over 20% of the people living in Australia have tried illegal drugs, including prescription drugs, for fun.

It can be hard to tell if a loved one is abusing drugs, but it is important to notice how it affects their everyday life. Some signs of drug abuse are mood swings, changes in sleep patterns, changes in attitude and behaviour, and the use of drug devices, either for the first time or more often.

The best time to talk to someone about their drug use is when you are calm, sober, and not interrupted. Don't make assumptions and don't wait. When someone needs help for a problem, the sooner they get it, the better.

Talk freely about your worries, giving specific examples of how they have behaved because of drugs, and be honest about how you feel. Even if you don't agree with what the other person is saying, listen to them and don't talk over them or argue.

Give them information about where they can get help for their drug abuse problem, such as a toll-free hotline, treatment centre, doctor or counsellor, SMART Recovery or NA meeting, or any other resource you know of. If the person is angry or defensive about how much they use drugs, they may not want to talk to you about it.

Don't try to teach them a lesson or scare them; anger or emotional appeals will likely make the user feel worse about themselves and make them want to use more.

Recovering from drug abuse is a process that often takes more than one try. Set limits with the person and don't make empty claims to help. Instead, try to give as much of your time, energy, and money as you can. By figuring out what a loved one who is addicted to drugs needs and meeting those needs, you can help them beat their addiction and improve their general health.

Treatment for drug addiction is complicated and needs a mix of help and encouragement. It's important to let the person you care about take responsibility for their actions and choices and to lower your standards of them. 

It is important to deal with people's multiple problems and urge them to look for other ways to deal with their mental health problems. Preparing for a relapse or a desire can help them come up with ways to avoid using drugs. Get them to try new things, like work, sports, or activities in nature. Recognise that relapse is a normal part of the process of getting better, and help them keep trying. 

If alcoholics and users don't want help, it's up to them to talk to a professional. It is important to have a policy of "zero tolerance" for drug use and push for safe ways to use drugs, like needle and syringe programmes (NSPs) or painkiller replacement programmes.

Severe drug and drink reactions, like trouble breathing, extreme tiredness, seizures, paranoia, hallucinations, and problems with coordination, need help right away. Getting medical help right away is very important, and emergency workers should only call the police if someone is seriously hurt, hurts someone else, or dies.

Content Summary

• Coping with drug addiction in a loved one can be challenging.
• Substance misuse is a global epidemic affecting people of all ages and backgrounds.
• Talking to someone with a drug problem requires sensitivity and understanding.
• Substance abuse includes both illegal narcotics and excessive alcohol consumption.
• Problematic drug use can negatively impact relationships, health, and daily life.
• Drug and alcohol abuse is prevalent, with a significant portion of the Australian population affected.
• Recognising signs of drug use in a loved one can be difficult.
• Warning signals of substance abuse include changes in behaviour and appearance.
• Drug paraphernalia can indicate a loved one's addiction.
• Approach someone about their drug use with compassion and without judgment.
• Insulting or criticising a loved one may drive them further into substance misuse.
• Communication about drug abuse should happen in a relaxed and sober environment.
• Don't wait for a loved one to reach rock bottom before offering help.
• Express your genuine concern and share specific instances of drug-related behaviour that worries you.
• Be a good listener and avoid arguing or interrupting during the conversation.
• Provide information on resources for getting help with substance abuse.
• Be prepared for the possibility of the loved one rejecting help initially.
• Avoid using anger or emotional appeals to address the issue.
• Understand that talking about the problem is just the first step in the recovery process.
• Offer tangible assistance and support during the individual's recovery journey.
• Recognise that drug addiction treatment varies for each individual.
• Lower your expectations and focus on incremental improvements.
• Encourage your loved one to seek professional help for their addiction.
• Address any underlying mental health concerns alongside substance abuse.
• Help your loved one develop strategies to cope with cravings and potential relapses.
• Encourage them to explore new activities and interests to stay engaged during recovery.
• Be understanding and supportive if a relapse occurs; it's part of the recovery process.
• Encourage the individual to consult a specialist for professional help.
• Be patient, as some people may take time to accept they need assistance.
• Clearly communicate your expectations regarding drug usage in your household.
• Advocate for safe use practices to reduce harm.
• Recognise symptoms of severe medication response and seek urgent assistance if needed.
• Signs of severe medication response may include difficulty breathing and seizures.
• Paranoia, hallucinations, and confusion can be signs of drug-related problems.
• Seek medical help immediately in case of serious bodily harm or risk to others.
• Emergency personnel may be contacted in critical situations involving drugs.
• Approach the issue of drug addiction in a compassionate manner.
• Empathise with the struggles that come with addiction.
• Encourage the individual to take responsibility for their actions and decisions.
• Avoid enabling their drug use by setting firm boundaries.
• Offer support and understanding during their journey towards sobriety.
• Promote a healthy and drug-free lifestyle.
• Understand that recovery from addiction may involve setbacks and relapses.
• Be patient and encourage them to keep trying to overcome their addiction.
• Show love and support throughout their recovery process.
• Be prepared to provide practical assistance during their recovery journey.
• Understand that addiction recovery is a gradual process.
• Encourage them to seek professional treatment for the best chance of recovery.
• Offer help and support in finding resources for recovery.
• Keep a positive and encouraging attitude, even during challenging times.