how to help a friend with a drug addiction
By suehan1
@suehan1 (4344)
Australia
April 24, 2008 6:12am CST
i am at my wits end at the moment worrying about a friend who is addicted to prescription drugs.this person has had a drug problem for many years and has been off them for several months until now.her behaviour has become irratic and sometimes very manic,shaking and can not remember one conversation from the next.she has been ringing all hours of the day and night and even calling my daughter 17 all the time.i have directly asked her if she is taking anything and she flatly denies,so until she admits it i really can not help her.i am exhausted from the last few days of her being here at my place and really do not know how to deal with her anymore.any advice gladly accepted.cheers sue
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4 responses
@caramello (4377)
• Australia
25 Apr 08
This is a very hard situation to be in and one that requires some thought as to what to do for the best.....for BOTH of you! As a friend all you can do is advise what you think and the rest is up to her. It seems like it has gone too far with the addiction as being told she is no longer on anything is where the lies come in. A person has to get "sick" of living the way they are for them to seek help as at the moment this is maybe all she knows. What about her family, are they involved in her life? The only thing I could advise is to talk to her about her situation and tell her you are worried about her (even if you have said it all before) and then the rest is up to her. SHE is the one that needs to want help as much as we do not like sitting back and watching it all happen, hard as it may, not much else can be done from you. Good luck sue and this is my opinion only as not an expert on these things.
1 person likes this
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
25 Apr 08
i value your opinion caramello.yes it is hard to see your friend going down this road.she has no family support,but has a wonderful man in her life,which she is keeping this from,i don't want to speak with him yet as she is in denial about her problem,it is a tricky situation which needs a lot of thought.cheers sue
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
25 Apr 08
You are right, you can't help someone if they don't want help. You can be there to support her when she does, and you shouldn't help anything that aids in her addiction such as loaning her money, taking her somewhere to buy her pills, etc. She needs to admit her problem and seek help. The only thing you can do is to support her when she wants help.
Pablo
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@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
24 Apr 08
It is hard dealing with someone with an addiction. Like you said until she admits it and wants help, there's nothing anyone can do for her. I hope she wakes up and see's the problem she has.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
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