Battling Addiction

[altlover85]

I don't have much experience with this at all, however, I think the best you can do is not enable them by helping them to buy whatever it is that they are addicted to.

You can offer emotional support, maybe try and show them some shows like Intervention, and tell them how their addiction is adversely affecting their life.

I don't think they will change until they are ready though.

I hope whoever is addicted in your life can get help soon.

 

[Seasoned]

The only person you can change is yourself. If someone else's issue is making you crazy you may need a co-dependency program. Reading books on co-dependency can be a big help. Lecturing an addict is counterproductive. Interventions need to include a wide number of people and aren't always successful. Most addicts don't recover and most recovering addicts relapse. Good luck to you both.

 

[altlover85]

Cigarettes are a pretty strong addiction. I wouldn't call it as life-wrecking as alcoholism or drugs though.

 

[LiveForLove]

You should watch the show 'Intervention'. It deals with addiction and how it affects everyone who knows someone who has an addiction. At the end of every episode the person who has an addiction is given the opportunity to get the help and treatment they need by going to a rehab center, but it has to be their own decision.

It's hard seeing someone you love struggle with an addiction, but there are things you can do to help the situation. Don't give them money or whatever they're addicted to if they ask for it; in other words, try not to enable their addiction.

 

[kenth02]

Speaking from my own experience they must help themself first.Addiction is a powerful and personal matter.The person must be willing to give it up.You can help with finding help but they must want it.It can take many attempets as it did with me.Some friends stay some did not it came down to a life style changes to break it.Stay with your friend but do not get involed to much as you will be the one to lose.Rock bottom is sometime the only way they will repair their life Take care

 

[Alistair]

you don't... other than being there for them when they're ready, you can't fight their fight for them.

QFT. I've been through it in my personal life. I had to get out of the relationship before it took me down too. My feelings for the person haven't changed and I'll always be waiting when they are ready for help.

 

[G-Lexington]

I second the "cutting off" routine. I've told an addict "Look, I really care about you, and I want to be there for you. But I can't bear to watch what you're doing to yourself anymore. So I'm cutting contact unless you get help." And then, that's what I did.

He did.

Lex

 

[Nomenclature]

I do believe nicotine is more addictive than [...] heroin

Far from it, unfortunately.

Heroin - and other opiates - affect the brain far differently; they make you feel incredibly happy, euphoric and "rewarded" while you're on them, but the withdrawals are severe depression and pain. It's absolute hell NOT to take them anymore, so people can't stop. If an ex user is around them again, there's a huge chance that will power alone will not be enough to keep them from re-lapsing.



Nicotine and cocaine, on the other hand, can be quit with will power alone according to brainscans:

Brain Scan Study Shows Cocaine Abusers Can Control Cravings


When asked to inhibit their response to a "cocaine-cues" video, active cocaine abusers were, on average, able to suppress activity in brain regions linked to drug craving, according to a new study at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091130121439.htm



For what it's worth, I quit nicotine cold turkey one year ago this month. The withdrawals and cravings were bad for the first six months, but I can honestly say that my will power alone has been able to keep me off of it. I would actually have to WANT to start again in order to relapse, the same way I got addicted in the first place.

 

[Chadknowslaw]

I've been sober for over 11 years and been to thousands of AA meetings. One common thread among alcoholics is that there was absolutely no way we could overcome our addiction until we were ready. Usually, being ready meant being completely, totally and fundamentally beaten down until the only solution was to surrender and quit. What family or friends wanted for us did not matter -- the only thing that mattered was the next drink.
Telling someone you believe there is a problem is a good start, but that is about the limit of what friends and family can do. Forcing someone into treatment before they are ready to quit usually fails. Don't lend money, don't take care of messes, don't cover for someone that doesn't make it to work.
It is painful to see someone you care about destroying his life and not be able to do much about it.

 

[CUMMINGS]

Tried to help a few good friends thru addiction. But you learn some lessons along the way.

"You have a problem. I love you, and I will be here for you, when you are ready."

Meaning, when they reach the rock bottom point, no money, kicked out of apartment, in jail, estranged from family and friends, and they stop denying they have a problem, then we can talk. Rehab or treatment or something.

If they are still in the "I can handle it, it's all under control" phase, just take a step back. Let them crash. Tough to do. But they won't "get it" till they reach that point.