Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Drug or alcohol abuse is a complex illness. "Addiction" is a condition that disrupts the nerves of the brain's strengthening, motivation, and memory systems. It will cause addicts to seek rewards or trust through the use of drugs, despite the serious risk to themselves, to their health, and to society. There are many factors that contribute to addiction and substance dependence, including the person's profile, personal experiences, social factors, and psychological factors. Due to its complexity, addiction requires specialist treatment.To help others deal with drugs or alcohol, you can learn about substance abuse, provide support, and take care of yourself so you can become stronger.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Becoming strong

1. 

   
   
   Determine that friend subject to change. Trying to change the actions of others often ends with frustration because you have no control over the other person's behavior. However, you can change your own behavior.
   • For example, if your friend is having trouble with alcohol, avoid drinking while with them. Give them other options for socializing, like going to the movies instead of drinking.
   • Remember that you are not responsible for the behavior of others, or the consequences they have on them. For example, if the person's substance abuse is interfering with their ability to keep a job, you have no responsibility to perform tasks they have not completed on their behalf. This will only cause the person to continue to abuse the substance.
   • You don't have to make excuses or cover them up. You should not give the person money to buy drugs.

2. 

   
   
   Set boundaries. A boundary is made to protect both of you. They will help protect you from feelings of violence, manipulation, or danger. They can help your loved one learn about possible and unacceptable behavior.
   • Consider what action you are willing to "travel around," and which behavior you will be dealing with "strictly".
   • For example, the person may be hostile or rude towards you, especially when they are using drugs. This is unacceptable behavior, but depending on your relationship, you may be willing to tolerate it to a certain extent.
   • However, prolonged physical or psychological abuse will cause significant harm. This is especially true if young children are present. While it can be difficult, setting strong boundaries and completely banning this type of behavior is crucial in protecting you and the person affected by the addict's behavior.

3. 

   
   
   Be firm with your boundaries. Maintaining your own health and safety and facing prejudices and assumptions regarding substance use are only slightly apart. It is important that the person with the drug problem knows that you will not allow them to bully or manipulate them to become their supportive with the addiction. However, the person needs to understand that you are their source of help need, rather the behavioral sources they are want.
   • Enforcement of consequences, especially for violations, which you will strictly handle. They can be small things, like rescheduling a trip with the person. Or, bigger things like leaving home or creating a separate bank account.
   • Being flexible and putting yourself in danger are two completely different things. If you believe you are in danger with someone who uses drugs or alcohol, call for help and get out of the situation. You can call 112, emergency services, and many other hotlines. Alcohol and drugs can form unpredictable behaviors even in people who have no history of doing these actions.

4. 

   Seek help for yourself. Caring for or even interacting with someone who is having problems with drugs or alcohol can be emotionally, mentally, and physically difficult. You will find that finding your own resources can be helpful, like a support team or a counselor.
   • Anonymous and Alcohol Addicts Anonymous is a support network for families and friends of people struggling with drugs or alcohol. Anonymous Drug Addicts often hold meetings to help family or friends of the person who is abusing drugs. The Anonymous Alcohol Abuser will have meetings to help family and friends of alcohol abusers.
   • You can also see a therapist, especially if you are feeling guilty or responsible for someone else. In many cases, the person may choose drugs or alcohol over you, and a therapist will help you get through the problem.

5. 

   Practice taking care of yourself. You need to take care of your body, as well as your emotions. Caring for others is a very stressful experience, and can increase your risk of getting sick. Proper self-care will set up good examples for your loved one.
   • Get enough sleep. Try to stay away from drugs at night. Don't watch electronic screens for a few hours and build a regular “routine” before bed.
   • Healthy eating. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, and high-fiber complex carbohydrates. Stress wreaks havoc on your immune system, and the antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables will help improve your body's ability to fight off diseases. Complex carbohydrates, like sweet potatoes, brown rice, and legume, help the brain release serotonin, a relaxation hormone.
   • Do exercise. Exercise not only helps you stay fit, but also minimizes the effects of stress. Exercises that focus on breathing and mindfulness, like yoga and tai chi, can be helpful.
   • Reduce stress. Meditation will help you. Listening to soft, slow music will also help you relax. Breathing exercises, like deep breathing, will make you feel calm and even lower your blood pressure.

6. 

   Accept your limits. Caring for and helping someone struggling with drugs or alcohol abuse can be very tiring. Do not embrace too many tasks at once, or engage in dangerous situations. If you don't take care of yourself, you won't be able to care for others either. Respecting your limits and taking care of yourself is no shameful thing.
   • Alcohol and / or drug users will blame you for their problems. They will try to manipulate you by threatening to use or harm themselves if you don't let them get what they want. You need to remind yourself that you are not responsible for the actions of anyone other than yourself.
   • Drugs and alcohol will make people deny the severity of the problem they are having. They will lie about their behavior to you. They may steal or even threaten or use violence to gain more drugs. Separating yourself from the situation is probably the best option for you.
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Part 2 of 4: Providing help

1. 

   Chat with that person. Above all, you need to show concern for the person. Let them know that you love them and that you are concerned about the behavior you have seen. Offer help specifically, like being willing to help the person seek help.
   • Don't use emotions to make the other person feel "guilty". This will only worsen the urge to abuse drugs.
   • Don't try to talk to the person while they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The person's thinking is not in the right position, and their judgment may be impaired.

2. 

   Seek local help. There are many resources for substance abuse help, and some are completely free or very low cost. The most famous and successful option is the process help group program, like The Anonymous Alcohol Addiction. They are valuable for many reasons, but especially because they emphasize building and strengthening strong social support networks. These networks, which typically include 24 hours of instruction and a community of similar experiences, are often helpful for both people in need and trying to stop using drugs.
   • A “preventive management” program is very helpful in treating alcohol abuse, drug abuse, opioid analgesics, marijuana, and nicotine. These programs are often held at local health clinics and include providing “rewards” or other positive reinforcement to keep addicts away from drugs.

3. 

   Consider going to therapy. Many counselors and therapists are trained to provide help for people struggling with addiction. Because addiction is often accompanied by other psychological problems, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or anxiety, seeking help from a mental health professional will help. It identifies some of the underlying causes of substance abuse.
   • Family therapy can be a good option if the person you're helping is a relative or lover. Research has shown that Family Behavioral Therapy (FBT) changes the pattern of disorders in the family relationship that contribute to or exacerbate substance abuse. It will also guide you and the person struggling to cope with addiction.
   • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) will be effective in treating alcohol abuse habits, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and nicotine. CBT focuses on improving self-control by guiding addicts to identify and challenge their confusing thoughts and behaviors.
   • Motivational Consolidation (MET) therapy can be used to help the person overcome resistance to starting a therapy plan for substance abuse. This remedy is especially effective for people who abuse alcohol or marijuana and does not really work for people who abuse other drugs, like cocaine or heroin.

4. 

   Consider seeking out an inpatient rehabilitation center. If you feel anxious, the rehabilitation center will be the right place. These programs are especially important for people who use drugs like cocaine, crack, heroin, or some specific prescription drugs. Detox them need to is administered by a medical professional; Drastic or sudden changes in the use of these substances will cause serious complications or even death.
   • The recovery center will completely separate the patient from the outside situation. Patients will be "purged" under medical supervision. Usually, these centers coordinate medical management with counseling or other educational programs.
   • The inpatient program will provide 24-hour care and surveillance for addicts, and are helpful for those looking for and abusing drugs.
   • The center will also eliminate social and environmental stimuli. For example, the person will be more likely to use drugs if they are with friends who do this, or if they are in a place where substance use is involved.
   • The detox program can be expensive and requires quite a considerable amount of time commitment. In many cases, the person needs to be ready for treatment.
   • Just "purification" alone is not enough to overcome an addiction. Behavior change, as encouraged by treatment, is essential for full recovery.
   • You can search for the address of the "Detox Center" on many websites such as Detox Centers in Hanoi and Vietask.

5. 

   Consult your doctor. If the inpatient setting is inadequate and too costly, people with substance problems should consult their doctor about a treatment plan. The person needs medical supervision when implementing this plan to avoid serious complications or even death.
   • The Doctor Directory website offers a “Find a Doctor” function. Or you can also search at Vietask page.
   • Your doctor or treatment provider will also help you find ways to help the sick person through the plan.

6. 

   Remember, there is no one absolute solution to this problem. Everyone's situation is different, and so the person's treatment needs to be tailored to his or her situation. You may need to explore a variety of treatments and supports before you can determine the most effective.
   • Keep in mind that this will be a lengthy process, not a quick result. You and your loved one are likely to experience many setbacks and experience relapse. Please be patient.
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Part 3 of 4: Helping the person through the process

1. 

   Organize strong social networks. Research has supported the idea that basically, people need social relationships. Social support networks help personal health, and can be very helpful in situations involving substance abuse.
   • The person's understanding of his or her support network is very important. For example, if people in the “local context” or in the person's community are constantly saying they are “bad people” or they will never get better, that person will want to continue taking the substance. It's addictive because they don't see any other options.
   • On the other hand, a community helping someone who is struggling with substance abuse helps the person feel stronger and encourages them to succeed.

2. 

   Focus on positive results. A focus on small success motivates someone who is struggling with drugs or alcohol. "Preaching" the person or emphasizing his or her failure will not work, and may actually encourage them to abuse drugs to alleviate their guilt.
   • For example, you could ask questions like, "Did something fun happening to you today?", Or "What did you struggle with the most?".
   • Compliment their success and their small efforts. The Anonymous Alcohol Addic is very famous for his motto "Go one by day", which refers to overcoming the addiction day by day, instead of seeing it as a massive task to complete. You should always check with the person and encourage their positive behavior, no matter how small it may be.

3. 

   Pay attention to the person's behavior. A change in their daily routine could be a sign that they are starting to use drugs again. Fluttering mood swings or increased levels of aggression or defense are possible.
   • Frequent truancy from school or work, or poor performance, are also signs of substance abuse.

4. 

   Communicate frankly. Don't assume the person's behavior or attitude was caused by substance abuse. Ask the person directly about issues you notice, but avoid blaming or criticizing them.
   • For example, if your teen is truant from school for a whole week, you could approach them like: “The school just called the mom / dad. They said I didn't go to school for a week. Can we talk about the reason you skipped school this week? ”. This approach will give your partner the opportunity to share their experiences with you, rather than putting them on the defensive.
   • Avoid harsh or blaming language. For example, an ineffective way to confront your child would be: “The school phoned and said I haven't been to school for a week. Are you using drugs again? Mother / Father will detain you ”.

5. 

   Interact in a positive way. You need to show your support for the person without constantly reminding them of your problem. Don't let the only time you interact with the person is when you need to question them about their drug and alcohol use. Interact with the person. Inquire about their lives. Go to the movies or have dinner together. Help them feel comfortable around you, and they'll open up more to you.
   • Providing another opportunity to find fun will also help the person realize they don't have to rely on alcohol or drugs.
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Part 4 of 4: Understanding Addiction

1. 

   Understand the role of biology. Addiction is an extremely complex neurobiological state. Many acts of becoming addicted will bring extreme pleasure, or "high drugs," at first. They will quickly reduce sadness or helplessness, and this may be the reason others turn to them for relief.
   • Most addictive behaviors, like drugs and alcohol, cause a spike in dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain that induces euphoria. This feeling will be seen by addicts as "standard". The person's usual pleasurable behavior no longer can compete with the overwhelming feeling of dopamine caused by drugs or alcohol.
   • Addiction changes a person's reward network. Even when faced with the consequences, the addict pursues the substance's reward or relief.
   • Substance dependence occurs when addicts have to take more doses to get the feeling they want. This situation is very dangerous; Addicts will increasingly consume more drugs, and this will often cause an overdose or even death.
   • Many drugs, including alcohol and cocaine, damage the frontal lobe of the brain, the region that controls impulses and manages delay in libido. Without it, the person's judgment will be greatly reduced and they will have difficulty recognizing the consequences.
   • Genetic factors also help determine if the person develops an addiction.

2. 

   Be aware of the addictive social factor. Research has shown that the presence of a stimulant in society plays a role in the development of addiction. People without many resources, such as people living in isolation or in need, are more likely to use harmful drugs because they have no other option to experience excitement.
   • One study has shown that rats living in a "rich" environment, with an adequate supply of pleasure, entertainment, and social use, are less likely to use or add addiction to drugs than mice that live in "poor" environment.
   • It is important that you understand how someone's living environment can increase or decrease their ability to use drugs.For example, conflict with parents or family, pressure from everyone around, and under a lot of stress, has been linked to increased drug use.

3. 

   Know the psychological side of addiction. Addiction is not just about social or biological stress. Each person's unique psychology, their emotions and desires, can affect their tendency to addiction and how they deal with this problem.
   • Protective factors such as support from family and friends can help increase the addict's "resilience" or ability to cope with the addiction. However, the person must be motivated to improve his or her behavior.

4. 

   Prevent yourself from judging the person. Substance abuse involves many complex issues, and everyone's situation is different. Judging addicts will not help them "wake up" to the dangers of the situation; however, it can cause them to separate themselves from emotional and moral support. You should remember that the person is the same human, not just a mere "addict".
   • Society often makes many rumors about addiction. The popular belief is that people who abuse drugs will "lose their will," or that certain drugs will quickly cause mental illness or mental disorder if they try them "just once." This is a mindset that is not supported by scientific research and can trigger prejudice against people struggling with drugs.
   • Research has shown that people are less likely to sympathize with struggling people if we believe they "deserve" them. Understanding the complexity and the overlap of the many factors that contribute to addiction will help you avoid falling into simple thinking.
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Advice

• Remember that you are only responsible for your choices and actions. It can be painful when the person you love makes bad choices for themselves, but you can only change your own behavior.
• Support groups are a great resource for friends and family of people who are having problems with drugs or alcohol. Members of this group have all experienced the same thing you did. Some advice will help, and at least you will find sympathy and understanding.

Warning

• Offer love and support to the person, but don't put yourself in danger. If you feel unsafe or have been abused, try to get out of the situation or seek help.