Drug Abuse

One of the highest growing problems in America is drug abuse. The definition of drug abuse or addiction is when someone is in a state of periodic or constant intoxication produced by the repeated consumption, injection, use, etc of a drug. Drug abuse has some characteristics which include: An extremely powerful desire or need to continue taking the drug and to obtain it by any means necessary even if it means stealing other person’s property or items to sell or trade for the drugs, a need to increase the dose of the drugs, and a psychological and physical dependence on the effects that the drug causes.

Denial

Most people who would be considered a drug abuser usually don’t consider themselves a drug abuser and are in denial for the most part. Admitting to drug abuse or addiction is the first step to getting on the road to recovery. The problem with a drug abuser is admitting that they have the problem in the first place because they always say that they hardly ever do it or when they take the drug, they hardly take much of it. These are some of the signs to look out for when you suspect that you may have a drug problem or that someone else you know may have a drug abuse problem. My mother-in-law was dating a man that was an alcoholic but would never admit that he drank too much. He always smelled of alcohol and when he would sweat you could easily smell it all over him. Trying to confront him about it always resulted in him saying he only had a couple of beers per day but all you had to do was look in the trash can and see that there were lots of empty beer cans in there. He was in denial from the day they met but her mother did nothing about it, and of course you cannot expect a substance abuser to take the first step in most cases. Sadly, this man passed away only 3 days after being married to my wife’s mother and left her mother with a hefty hospital bill for the rest of her life. Do not let the denial thing stop you from helping them. If you know they have a problem, try to do everything you can to help them and it usually starts with a detox program.

Get prepared

If you are trying to help a drug abuser, you have to get mentally prepared because it’s going to be a hard fight most of the time and always expect them to lie to you because it’s a normal thing to do for people who are hooked on drugs. You have to be ready for them to yell at you and hate you. If you are a parent of a teenager, son or daughter, don’t give up on them but do understand that it will be the toughest thing you’ve ever had to deal with in your life. As I mentioned above, the only thing that provides the best results for treating drug abusers is a detox program. There are many government agencies that will help you with this. You can normally call any police station and they will give you all the information you need on the local detox and drug abuse centers. Most of the time these are free services so take advantage. Don’t let this loved one of yours start crying and making you feel like you don’t love them and “how could you do this to me” etc. This is all normal, just stick to your guns and make them go to one of these detox drug abuse centers. They will be allowed to call you on the phone and you can have visitation rights to see them but don’t let them tell you how bad it is there and how mean everyone there is being towards them. This is usually very false and is a way for them to try to trick you into getting them out of the detox drug abuse center.

After they return

Once your ex drug abuser is back home with you, do not feel bad about watching them like a hawk and spying on them. The last thing you want is to wait 30-60 days of not having your loved one around to only find out that they still have a drug problem and you thought they were all better now but failed to notice until it was too late because you were not spying on them. Believe me, I don’t want to spy on anyone in my family but when you have teenagers or any loved that were on drugs and just got out of a rehabilitation or detox facility, the last thing you want is for them to be back on the phone with their drug dealer or going over to his or her house to get more drugs. This is the time when you need to watch them and spy on them like never before. The 1st week of them being back is always the most crucial time because if they are still feeling the need inside to go and get their high from the drug then they will do it almost right away. Try and get the 1^st week off from work but do not tell your loved one that you are taking off. Let them think you are going to work but don’t really go. It’s time for an old fashioned stake-out. Remember it’s only for the first week and after 2-3 days you’ll know if they are really clean and not wanting drugs. You wouldn’t believe how many people go and get drugs the very first day home from being in a drug rehab center. Try to not get caught spying if at all possible because then they will really try to be sneaky about it but at least if they pass the first week then you know they just might be off to a great start and not wanting any drugs. If they are supposed to be home and you notice them going out without telling you, it will be a very good idea to follow them and the very second you feel like they are going out to get drugs since they are heading over to so-and-so’s house which is where they always got the drugs then you need to stop them right away and see what’s going on. If you think for one minute that they were going to get drugs (since they lied to you about not leaving the house) then take them right back to the rehab center.

What to do if they are not clean

Do not give up on the drug rehab centers! Take their butt right back to the center and ask the center what they suggest since your loved one is still not clean and wanting more drugs. If you have to call the police in order to help get your loved one to the rehab center, by all means do it. Don’t let them get that drug in their hands at any cost. If the rehab center says that your loved one needs more time or some other style of rehabilitation, do what they say, these people are the professionals. Your loved one will say they hate you for the rest of your life, blah blah blah. This is all a last attempt effort for them to get you to feel bad and let them stay home. Do not give in at all. When your loved one is finally clean and off of drugs I guarantee that they will thank you like never before and you will know you made the right decisions even though it was the hardest thing to do.

Comments

[Stacey Johnson]

Good article, I have experienced much of this myself with a family member. We eventually sent him to a drug rehab called Narconon Vista Bay and he is doing quite well now. He was using tons of meth and staying up all night acting wierd. One night was terrible we found him in the closet! Thank god that's over now and he got help.

[Drug Rehabilitation Program]

Great post! It's definitely hard to enroll a family member into a drug rehabilitation program especially if my cousin keeps on saying that the people from the drug rehabilitation center will not treat him nice. I kept saying to myself that this will be for his own good. I hope that the drug rehabilitation program will bring back my old cousin. I really miss him. -Sara

[drug rehabilitation]

Very good article. I have much of this experience with an aunt who was really repulsive about going to a drug rehabilitation. She didn't admit there was something wrong and said her drug use was primarily to comfort her. During her lowest, she finally agreed to be sent to a rehab and the days went on smoothly for her. Thank God, she is okay now!

--charie

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[yunisa akeem]

i need an to help me in partial fufilment of my project work on drug abuse

[robert borges]

my speed addiction will kill me.I guiess thats what my mind wants.Sorry for my wife of 25 years and my 2 daughters.NONE of the programs out their work for me.I"v tried them all.So I"ll just quit trying.

[DrugRehabsCenters]

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[Craig]

Hmm drug issues are intense around where I live, its like everyone does it :/