Occasional drug abuse can very easily turn into a serious and life-threatening drug addiction. It can be difficult to get help for drug abuse if the substance abuser will not cooperate and doesn't believe there is a problem or refuses assistance. There are steps you can take to get help for drug abuse and to learn how to deal with the effects of the disease.
Step 1
Learn to recognize the signs of drug abuse. Watch for changes in behavior that include missed work, lower grades, sneakiness and lying. Prepare for a defensive attitude when you confront the friend or family member you suspect of using drugs.
Step 2
Allow the drug abuser to experience the consequences of his actions. Be prepared to let him sit in jail or lose a job. Oftentimes, it takes a disaster to get a person to be ready to receive help. Making excuses and bailing him out only enables the behavior to continue.
Step 3
Arrange for an intervention with a professional. Find a trained counselor to lead the confrontation through your doctor, clergy or sites such as Addict-Help, a nationwide referral service. Gather as many friends and family members as you can to attend the intervention and speak to the addict about how his behavior is affecting everyone.
Step 4
Find a treatment center that has an open bed where you can take the addict following the intervention. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration offers referrals through its website or hotline. Many health insurance plans cover inpatient drug rehabilitation or intensive outpatient services. SAMHSA reported that in 2007, 62 percent of drug facilities charged patients on a sliding scale based on income and 52 percent of facilities offered free care to patients who could not afford treatment.
Step 5
Encourage the substance abuser to attend follow-up counseling and 12-step recovery groups like Narcotics Anonymous once they leave treatment. Relapse prevention programs and 12-step recovery groups can significantly increase the success of a long-term recovery, reports the National Institutes of Health.
Tips and Warnings
- Get involved with a support group for yourself. Organizations such as Nar-Anon provide support for family members of drug abusers. Through meetings and relationships built inside the groups, you can find experience and strength to understand the path of recovery and learn how to take care of yourself in the process.
- Be prepared to deal with relapse once the addict has left treatment. According to the information passed on through Nar-Anon, you must learn how to detach emotionally from the addict to maintain your own sanity. Understand that the addict's relapse is not your fault, nor is his recovery your success.
Things You'll Need
- Treatment Center
