Drug Problem Drugs are not "adolescent" or a bad habit that can go away over time. If left untreated, drug addiction is as dangerous as cancer. If someone has a drug problem, it is not always clear what to do. Should we talk to him? Or is it better to leave him alone? Or call someone else for help? 

Consider it this way. If you see someone having a heart attack, you call the doctor. If someone is depressed, you probably try to listen to their problems. If someone wants to hurt themselves, you will try to stop them. You will be by his side for his own sake. This is friendship.

But it is difficult to remain a friend to someone who does not keep promises, forgets to call, borrows money and never returns it, "gets high" instead of talking to you as usual.

You may not know, but your friend needs you now more than ever.

Common fears "Do I need to get involved?"

You know your friend needs help, but every time you decide to talk to him, something is holding you back. Maybe you don't want to "accidentally harm" or you are afraid to seem annoying or not "cool" enough. And if your friend is planning to commit suicide, and no one intervenes, what then? Then he might just bend over in the ambulance or something worse.

Drug addiction is one of the main reasons for death. Your conversation with a friend can save his life.

Do you think your friend will get angry and your friendship is over?

It is always difficult to talk to someone about their problems. Sometimes a person feels ashamed, guilty, and even angry. Try not to pass up in front of negative reactions. Be ready for it. Keep in mind that the drug can really change your friend, make him irritable and obstinate. Concentrate on your goal; try to challenge him to frankness. Do everything to make him believe that you want to help him and that is why you are with him. You will be surprised, but you will find that your friend has been waiting for your help all the time. Get professional advice before trying to influence someone about their problem. Talk to your teacher, doctor, parents. Ensure the privacy and confidentiality of the conversation. Speak in ordinary language, ask for advice yourself. This will help you navigate and choose tactics of behavior.

Conversation with a friend

Make sure the timing is right. Only start a conversation if your friend is not "high", if his head is clear. Otherwise, the conversation will not stick together. Choose a moment for conversation when the day before your friend took a drug and now feels remorse, guilt when the sensations are still fresh. Remember, you need to talk not about a single incident, but about a way of life. It's okay if you can't explain yourself from the first visit. It is better if you meet on neutral territory: in a cafe, park or somewhere else. Keep in mind that alcohol is not acceptable during this conversation.

If you know someone you can trust, such as someone from Narcotics Anonymous, their friends or family members, then you can try to attract them. Just make sure they are competent enough in this matter.

How to say?

• Always speak calmly and caringly, because you are a friend and have compassion.
• Do not play as a connoisseur. Don't start a conversation by accusing your friend of drug addiction. This can lead to the fact that it closes up and just leaves.
• Tell him how worried you are and how you feel when you see him "high". Show him your concern and concern.
• Tell a friend that you notice him when he is "high". Give specific examples and convince him that you want to help him
• Be prepared for the fact that he will be angry, will deny everything and even freak out. Your friend may be convinced that he has no problem and may get angry. This is a typical reaction of people who use drugs. Don't take it personally, remember who exactly your friend is, and focus on the problem, not his position.
• Be ready to give him information on where to get help. Invite a friend to go with him to a consultation or appointment. He will see that you care about him and that you are ready to spend your personal time and energy to organize the help he needs. But offer yourself only if you yourself are ready for it. If your friend has a serious problem, and you yourself cannot convince him that he needs help, contact his parents, teachers, or someone else who is reputable.

One cannot ignore the fact that without assistance, the consequences can be very dangerous. It is very difficult and even scary to admit that there is a problem and ask for help. Your friend will have to realize the pain and the misfortune that he caused himself and other people with his addiction to drugs. This is often a painful process it throws you out of balance. But until a friend realizes that it is in drugs that all his misfortunes, that he is losing friends and self-esteem, then he does not dare to change his life. When your friend is mentally prepared, inform him of the places where he can get help. Visit it yourself first and find out everything exactly, write down phone numbers, appointment times and directions of treatment programs.

The path to recovery

Regardless of whether your friend chooses the path of recovery or not, you must feel the meaning of your decision to help him. The most important thing for you and your friend is to do something. Any attempt to help is a chance for recovery, and it's never too late to start.

When your friend begins to heal, he will have to go through many difficulties. He will have to spend a lot of time in a support group, in counseling, and make new friends among recovering addicts. You may even doubt whether he still remembers you and whether he appreciates your help at all. This is normal and typical of the healing process, although you may not like it. It may even seem to you that you have lost a friend whom you yourself led to the righteous path. But most recovering people return to their old friends and their friendship grows even stronger.

Be patient and give your friend the opportunity to grow stronger.

Finally

No matter how worried you are or how serious your intentions are, it is entirely up to your friend whether he will accept help. The decision to stop taking the drug must come from himself. He must want this for himself, personally for himself, and this will be a guarantee that he can withstand all difficulties. You are not responsible for the success or failure of your friend in the healing process. All you can do is talk to him, show him how dear he is to you, and persuade him to seek help. It is your care and support that can help your friend completely change his life.

10 reasons why you should refuse drugs:

1. Drugs prevent a person from thinking for himself.
2. Drugs push people to theft and violence.
3. Drugs give a false idea of ​​happiness.
4. Drugs often lead to accidents.
5. Drugs destroy families
6. Drugs destroy friendships.
7. Drugs make children ugly
8. Drugs are the source of many diseases,
9. Drugs are an obstacle to spiritual development
10. Drugs make a person weak and weak-willed.

What's the bottom line? If you don't say NO.

• Drug addiction is a disease that is caused by the repeated use of drugs.
• Drug addiction is most dangerous for the young and young. Developing rapidly, it leads to spiritual degradation and complete physical exhaustion of the body. Long-term use destroys all internal organs, the immune system and the psyche, leaving the drug user disabled for life. The young man becomes unable to take care of himself and to produce healthy offspring, often - even after undergoing treatment.
• A drug addict is a slave to a drug; for his sake, he will go to any baseness and crime, which sooner or later will lead him to death. Even one trick is enough to become "addicted".

Physical addiction

They talk about it when the body has turned on the drug in the metabolism, and after stopping the drug intake, withdrawal symptoms (withdrawal) appear - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, joint pain, insomnia, irritability, aggression, etc.

Psychological addiction

It is a state of the urge to use drugs. Even with the removal of physical dependence, psychological dependence is extremely difficult to get rid of. Psychological dependence very often remains for life.

How to convince a drug addict to ask doctors for help? 

The patient will deny, first the fact of taking drugs, then the fact of dependence on them, and then the need to be admitted to a hospital. To resolve the issue faster, you should:

Develop and voice a unified family position on the need to start a new life. If some relatives insist on placing the patient in a hospital, while others - to “protect” him, this will aggravate the situation. It is better if someone is willing to speak to a drug addict whose opinion really matters to him.

Choose in advance a drug rehabilitation center suitable for the conditions and prices.

It is easier to achieve the consent of a drug addict when he is physically ill - during withdrawal symptoms. At this point, you can try to convince him to go to the clinic at least for a short time, it is worth mentioning such an opportunity as anonymous placement.