How do you help somebody with a drug problem that's not addiction, but occasional, recurring, serious mess?

Question

Apropos of yet another bad-news late-night phone call, I'm wondering what can be done for somebody who's not addicted to drugs at all, but, once every month or two, will get drunk beyond the point of reason (the drinking falls under the category of "problem" and "impossible to solve" and "low priority in light of the drugs") and disappear on a cocaine/crack bender for 12-48hours.

He comes home minus hundreds of dollars, a mess emotionally and physically, and hangs out with the worst sorts of people in the worst sorts of places when he's gone. Relationships and finances are suffering, never mind health.

He was arrested during one of these benders a little while back; his court problems are still pending, and I'm amazed that he's done it again while in so much trouble. This isn't a complete screw-up; this is a well-educated fellow with a good career (and employers that might frown on this if they found out).

He's been 'getting away' with it for _years_. But...

EVERY drug treatment program I've seen is designed for actual addicts, not people prone to occasional benders. There's no point in trying to treat a non-existent physical addiction.

They also seem to fall into two categories: those for street people, and those for the very wealthy. Nothing useful is going to be gained _here_ by a program that teaches stuff like how to pay one's rent and take baths, but even if there was the money for those "sober up on the beach in South America in our luxurious compound..." sort of $20k vacation treatments, I have a hard time believing they're effective. And, again, both are for addicts.

He has a kid (1st) on the way, so sobering up is critical. He wants to, & tells his friends he's done with the cocaine; things look great for a period -- right up until when he disappears.

Answer 1

,nothing will happen unless he wants to stop, the cycle will continue until a true friend wakes him up to the reality of his problem i hope you keep the idiot off the road so he dont hurt a Innocent victim

Answer 2

LOL! I've got news for you. It's not what you drink, or how often you drink - it's what it does to you when you drink. Alcoholism is drinking that effects your life. Social drinkers don't have friends that ask this question. Binge drinking is alcoholism. Period. And MOST alcoholics are able to hold jobs and have degrees. (I suggest that you attend and Open AA meeting. Closed meetings are for alcoholics only. Open means anyone can come.) You will be surprised at what you see. Gone are the days that alcoholism was defined by sleeping under a bridge, homeless and drunk everday by 9am. What can you do? Don't enable him. That includes helping him out of any mess he gets himself into. Refuse to speak to him when he is drunk. Set up an intervention with people that love and care about him where you tell him what his drinking is doing to you. And DO NOT tell him that he isn't an addict. He is. And he is telling himself he doesn't have a problem, the least helpful thing that you can do is help him believe that. Interventions can be helpful especially for binge drinkers. The idea is that alcoholics need to hit bottom in order to get sober. That can take years. At an intervention, the family and friends bring the "bottom" up to the alcoholic. It is usually the worst day of their life. When everyone stops BSing and tells it like it is. They are forced to see reality for the first time in a long time. And they are given an ultimatum by their friends and family - get sober or they are cut out of their lives. There is a show on A&E called Intervention - it's a good one - you should watch it. Ala-non is a support group for friends and families of alcoholics. This is a great place to go for more information and how to help or how not to help an alcoholic.
Good luck.

Answer 3

i feel for both this fellow and yourself, i am an alcoholic and my addiction was not 24/7 it was bingeing every 4/6 weeks and i would black out for almost a week at a time, then i would come round sort myself out, put on some lippy and life to me seemed normal again. But not my family, it wasn't until i had found rock bottom that got the help i needed from the AA, who i know will try their best to also help people with drug abuse if *** with alcohol. The issue here for your fellow is that he wants to run away and hide from something deep down which only he knows is the problem and only he can sort out in his own head. To me no amount of rehab will do this or psychological help until he know what it is and tell the truth to himself before he tells others!!! Good luck.

Answer 4

If he cannot stop once and for all, he's an addict, sorry. It is affecting his life, health and finances, that's an addict.
He needs a drug treatment program and support from all of his good, loving friends like you.
If you still have trouble believing he is an addict, follow the link below maybe it will help.
Good luck

Answer 5

regrettably whilst a guy or woman is abusing drugs it may regulate their character. Your sister may be performing this way by using fact she is decrease than the impact of medicine. you will possibly no longer have the means to persuade her to willingly supply up her newborn, distinctly if it helps her acquire funds for an habit. Your nephew desires to be removed from this occasion. regrettably calling CPS would not continually artwork even nonetheless it particularly is nicely worth a attempt. There are different possibilities that would help nonetheless. If she isn't keen to furnish a relative casual custody of her newborn a relative can document a petition with kinfolk court docket for criminal custody. dealing with the court docket places all of this on checklist and carry the court docket accountable in the event that they do no longer get rid of him from a adverse concern so as that they are going to ought to take heed to you. they are going to supply her a drug attempt in case you checklist this as one in each and every of your concerns. As an addict it particularly is quite unlikely that she would have the means to end making use of medicine with a view to bypass till she gets therapy. "If one or the two mothers and fathers do no longer agree that the relative ought to have custody, frequently the relative has to tutor that there are spectacular circumstances to acquire a custody order. spectacular circumstances can comprise parental abandonment, forget, abuse or unfitness between different circumstances. as quickly as spectacular circumstances are ordinary, the court docket will circulate directly to award custody based on the terrific pursuits of the youngster. In in simple terms approximately all circumstances, if the relative obtains criminal custody, the mothers and fathers will nonetheless have the main suitable to circulate to the youngster." as quickly as she will set up that she has complied with court docket ordered rehab or therapy and can stay sparkling they are going to supply her back custody. this could help the two your sister and her son. observe: each and each state has slightly diverse regulations yet you're able to try this in any state.