| It seems pretty weird when someone who drinks | | | | you own anger and disappointment in check, you will |
| themselves into a stupor three times a week and the | | | | not give him anything against which to fight. This |
| rest of the time, drinks "responsibly"... meaning only | | | | could be the make or break of the whole attempt. |
| to the point of staggering a little would say they | | | | 2. Do Not Make the Addict Wrong. |
| have control of their drinking. Or somebody who | | | | Even though getting stoned and drunk all the time is |
| smokes grass every morning to "get going" and then | | | | completely counterproductive and destructive, there |
| after lunch to "mellow out" and again after dinner to | | | | must be enough good in it in the eyes of the addict |
| relax considers they are still in control of their drug | | | | to continue doing it. |
| use. | | | | They are still going to the bar or the parties and |
| One of the initial factors of drug addiction is denial | | | | getting wasted for a reason. We may not know |
| that goes so deep, the addict truly believes he or | | | | what that reason is, and the addict might not know |
| she has a handle on their drug use. This is one of the | | | | either, but THERE IS A REASON. And getting wasted |
| reasons they let it get out of hand in the first place, | | | | has become a solution to whatever the problem is. |
| they really do not see it coming! They did not start | | | | To tell the addict that they are wrong accomplishes |
| their addiction career by smoking or drinking every | | | | nothing but starting a fight. Let him or her know that |
| day, it was only for parties at first. | | | | together, you would like to help find that reason and |
| But drug addiction is progressive, meaning it will | | | | solve the problem without destructive drugs or |
| continue to escalate on its own power as long as the | | | | alcohol. |
| effort to stop is not sufficient to break the cycle. | | | | 3. Focus On the Future. |
| And it is almost always true that when drug use gets | | | | Look at the possibilities for the future, what could be |
| to the point that friends or family are suggesting to | | | | accomplished, what goals might he or she have and |
| the user that there might be a problem, effort to | | | | what would it take to achieve those. Sometimes it |
| quit will be required. So... how do you deal with these | | | | helps to look at dreams the addict once had, plans |
| deniers? When just bringing up the subject of their | | | | that you made together or that were once burning |
| drug or alcohol problem guarantees a flare-up, what | | | | ambitions. These were things that made him feel |
| can you do? | | | | good and have hope for a life that meant something. |
| 1. Be Calm. | | | | Guaranteed those plans did not include being drugged |
| The last thing you need is for tempers to flare. That | | | | into oblivion. Point out that these things are still |
| will stop any meaningful communication with the | | | | possible. |
| addict. Realize that when the addict blows up, it is | | | | If, in this way, you can bring the user up to seeing |
| the addiction talking! You are not reaching the person, | | | | where they could be headed, they might just be able |
| you are just running headlong into the resistive | | | | to look at where they are headed if the drugs and |
| nature of drug addiction and there is no logic or | | | | drink do not stop. Give it a try. Speak to the person |
| judgment in that. | | | | without anger or accusations and focus on hope for |
| When you bring up the drug use, you are running into | | | | a better future and they may just come around to |
| any previous fights on the subject. If you can keep | | | | seeing that possible future themselves. |