When Helping a Drug Addict, Never Waste a Crisis

With Drug Addiction, you should not waste a crisis. We’re not trying to be political here , but when the addict has an “episode”, meaning they’ve been arrested, or overdosed or crashed the car while stoned, something that brings the consequences of Drug abuse home to them, it can serve to raise their awareness of what the drugs are truly doing to them and how bad the situation has become.

While they were stoned, thinking that all was fine, they were actually much less aware of the truth of their situation. But when something like a car accident or worse occurs, now they take a look at what they’ve been up to and how risky their behavior has been. This is a time when the addicted person will be more able to make a good decision regarding their future actions; they are more likely to seek professional help while the consequences of addiction to drugs are undeniable and staring them right in the face.

If you wait until they are stoned again, you may have wasted an excellent opportunity to get this person into treatment.   

Again, while addicted , drug users are in a state of lowered awareness regarding their actions. You’ll see otherwise intelligent people making the most illogical, bone-headed mistakes, such as taking chances that anyone who is exterior to the situation can see are completely self-destructive.

During this time the addict is unaware of his or her true situation, of how risky their behavior really is.

When an “episode” occurs, a dangerous Overdose or a car accident, the loss of a friend or just a really disgraceful incident, it can shock the user into a higher awareness of the truth. It is harder for them to deny that they have a problem.

This is a very opportune moment, a chance to get this person into treatment and actually stop the downward spiral of addiction they are in.

Now is the time to jump in and intervene. You are more likely to have the addict’s agreement that something is seriously wrong at this point.

It’s surprising how fleeting this heightened awareness is. So instead of just helping the addict to mop up his or her latest calamity, use it as an opportunity to bring an end to the nightmare. Get them into treatment, now .

Tony Bylsma CCDC