Where to find info for families of drug addict?

Question

Any information you can give would be greatly appreciated. We need help finding out the best way to help our loved one.

Answer 1

Call the local rehabilitation center, or the police for help...they coudl help do an intervention.

Answer 2

the best way to help your addict is to hold him/her accountable for his/her actions. Would you put up with such behavior from a stranger in your home? No? Then don't put up with it from your addict. Until you find the strength and real love it takes to hold them accountable, they will never learn accountability. While on drugs, your addict IS a stranger, not the person you know and love, treat your addict that way......or not, and live with the results.

Answer 3

This is very hard to find a right answer....
Each day is different to deal with.
So many ups and downs for a family.
They are a saying...they must hit rock bottom...I do not agree with this....how can you let your loved one fall like this.
All you can do is pray,hope,show your disappointment, but let them know you love them.
♥Blessing♥

Answer 4

Calm down. You guys could get him to stop by urselves. You dont need to send him anywhere unless he does more then weed.

Answer 5

Its difficult to help because you have not specified what drug it is. Firstly you have to understand that if it is a heavy drug as opposed to cannabis commonly known as weed - then this person is completely 100% married to their drug of choice. It will be very dificult to help them if they dont want help. Also please please dont call the police - a substance user does not view the police as a form of support - they see them as the enemy and you wont win the trust of the person using. Rehab is a good place to start and talking to your family doctor. In Australia we have drug support groups for family and friends of drug addicted persons. If you type in the drug the person is using into the internet you will get all the information you need. I have listed a couple of types - Australia is experiencing a epidemic in the drug abuse of "ice", crystal meths or Methamphetamine. ICE is the biggie at the moment and its very very addictive and dangerous. If Ice is the problem you need to find out about it. A drug is a broad label given to any substance that changes the way your brain works. Drugs can be broadly classified into three groups: depressants, stimulants and hallucinogens.
Some drugs have a "depressant" effect and slow down your reaction to things. Taken in small amounts they may make you feel more relaxed. Taken in large amounts they may cause you to pass out as they slow down your breathing and heart rate or may cause nausea, vomiting and even death. Mixing depressant drugs may be dangerous and increases the likelihood of overdose.

Amphetamines and mental health
Research has shown that amphetamines can cause psychosis, which may mean you experience paranoia as well as delusions, hallucinations and bizarre behaviour. If you use amphetamines heavily you can develop an acute paranoid psychosis. This means you may hear, see, and feel things that do not exist. You may also have delusions (irrational thoughts or beliefs), become paranoid and/or violent. Amphetamine use can also lead to delirium, which is a state of mental confusion and disorganization.
There are several treatment options available for drug dependence. These differ in their aims and outcomes. Elements of these treatment options are often combined.

1. Self-help
Self-help options vary but most involve the individual being responsible for their own treatment. Books, videos, telephone and on-line support are some of the self-help options available. Typically, self-help materials involve some form of assessment of drug taking behaviour and associated consequences, monitoring of drug taking behaviour (including the conditions in which the drug is taken and the physical, emotional, and behavioural consequences of taking the drug), education about drugs and their effects, modification of drug taking behaviour, and access to support. Self-help components are commonly incorporated into other forms of treatment.
Self-help groups are managed and run by people with drug issues. Because the members have drug issues, these groups can offer great insight, understanding, and support. An example of a self-help group is Alcoholics Anonymous.

2. Counselling
There are many different types of counselling techniques. Although they each have different theories and methods, they often address common issues.

a. Motivational interviewing
Motivational interviewing techniques concentrate on increasing motivation to change among individuals who have not yet made a decision to change or are not sure that they can change. Motivational interviewing aims to make the client accept responsibility for their problems and the consequences of those problems, and tries to help the client commit to particular treatment goals and strategies. Motivational interviewing is relatively time-limited and often incorporates feedback, advice, and empathy.

b. Family therapy
Family therapy involves all family members in the treatment process. This is because drug problems are thought to be related to dysfunctional family relationships and interactions. Family therapies often involve other people in the person’s social network, such as teachers and friends, who may affect the person’s drug use. The goals of family therapies are to improve family communication, provide education about drugs and their consequences, enhance problem solving, identify parental substance abuse problems, and improve family relationships.

c. Rational emotive therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy
These therapies aim to challenge and change the irrational and negative thoughts (cognitions) that are hypothesized to be responsible for drug taking and to change and reduce drug taking behaviours. You can read more about this type of therapy in the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy fact sheet.

d. Skills training
This approach is based on the belief that substance dependence represents a means of coping with difficult issues and stress. The training of skills is thought to provide more functional and healthier options for coping with stress. A variety of life skills are developed, including social skills, assertiveness, drug refusal skills, problem solving skills, relaxation, and managing crises. Training involves presenting the rationale for learning the skills, modeling, practicing, and feedback.

e. Relapse prevention
Relapse prevention involves the development of strategies to help maintain drug abstinence. Various techniques are used to prevent “relapse” or the re-initiation of drug use. These techniques include the identification of high-risk situations for relapse, instruction and rehearsal of strategies for coping with those situations, self-monitoring, strategies for recognising and coping with cravings and thoughts about the drug, planning for emergencies, and coping with lapses and relapses. Training involves rehearsing skills, role-playing, and homework tasks.

7. Pharmacotherapy
Pharmacotherapy, which refers to drug therapies, can be used in a number of ways to treat drug dependence. Drugs are sometimes used for suppressing withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings, stabilizing symptoms, and blocking the effects of specific drugs. Pharmacotherapies are most commonly used for the treatment of coexisting psychological problems, such as depression and anxiety. The types of drugs used to treat coexisting psychological issues need to be selected carefully, as they may be addictive and can affect recovery. Pharmacotherapies are often combined with counselling. Combining drug therapies with counselling has been found to improve a broader range of problems, increase adherence to treatment, and overcome many of the problems of each approach (Carroll, 1996).

Factors affecting treatment
1. Treatment settings
Treatment can occur either in in-patient settings, such as hospitals and residential units, or in out-patient settings. Where treatment takes place depends on a number of factors, such as the presence of psychiatric problems, family and social supports, the severity of the problem, and previous treatment efforts.

2. Treatment goals
There are two major types of treatment goals – abstinence and reduction. Abstinence involves never taking the drug again, whereas reduction (or harm minimization) involves reducing the amount of the drug taken to a relatively safe level. Each approach differs according to difficulty level and types of outcomes. Which goal is chosen depends on the type of treatment option, whether you think you will be able to stick with your goal, the outcome you would prefer, and how much support you have.

Which treatment option should I choose?
It is important to realise that not all treatments are suitable for everyone. The treatment option that is best for you depends on how long you have had the drug problem, the severity of the problem, and the type of drug used. For drug dependence problems, it is recommended that you seek the help and support of a mental health professional.

Answer 6

http://www.nationalinterventionreferral.org/
http://www.addictionintervention.com/intervention/what_is_int_fa.asp
http://www.intervention.com/
http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/
http://www.familytx.org/