How to Help an Addicted Person. Points to Remember

Posted by Tony Bylsma on February 23, 2011 under How to Help a Drug Addict | 2 Comments to Read

To help a drug addict, any addiction counselor can tell you, the first hurdle is to get the addict’s agreement to receive help. No amounts of advice or friendly mannerisms are going to make a difference if there is no willingness to quit drugs.

This can be difficult; it often is, but definitely not hopeless. This is called intervention and can be the most difficult part of their recovery from addiction. The good news is this, there are things you can do or say to bring them to the realization that help is needed. Here are some very important points to keep in mind:

They must see a good enough reason to quit.

Drug intervention is a very delicate process. It is important to remember that the drug addicted person is not fully aware of their condition. Their assessment of their own condition is almost always much rosier than what people around them perceive. Abusing drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, alcohol, methamphetamine, or even pot leaves users with lowered self awareness while leading them to believe they are in full control. For this reason they seldom take their own addiction as seriously as do loved ones. It is imperative that they be helped to see the damages drugs are doing to them and others.

It may seem incredible that they are not aware of these effects, but that is an aspect of addiction.

You must keep your cool.

When emotions flair, the thought processes dwindle. There will likely be more than enough emotional baggage and turmoil while you’re talking to the addicted person. Make sure that you are not adding to it. If you remain calm and stick to your plan of action without being pulled off into some blind alley, you can keep the discussion on track.

If you choose to have some other family members or loved ones present during your intervention, realize that they may not be able to keep their emotions in check. Whatever—just make sure that you are in control and staying calm. Your composure will act as a point of stability which will help everyone focus.

Keep the attention on the future.

Going through drug withdrawal and rehabilitation is not an easy process. For the addict, the mere prospect might be terrifying. It is, however, necessary.

So the attention must be on the purpose of that process, the goal of treatment, namely, a repaired, capable and able individual who no longer uses or needs drugs to function. This is, after all, what the addict and all those who care enough to help him or her through this process are after—rehabilitation from the destruction of drug abuse and addiction.

Get the addict into treatment. Now.

You should have the treatment center chosen and ready. People on drugs are not stable and can change their minds completely in a matter of hours, so once the user is ready to accept help, don’t waste any time. Have things ready to go and even the flight booked if possible. Get them into a good center now and let the rehabilitation process begin.