Ask for help to help you help them

Know that you are not alone in this endeavor and there is no reason for you to feel as if you were.  Your child is not the only one that will be going through ups and downs in their recovery; your entire family will be going with them as well.

Just as your child needs encouragement and support in overcoming their drug addiction problem, you also need help and people to talk to that can give you tips and answers  about drug addicts.  Talking to a substance abuse counselor or drug therapist will give you the support, information and encouragement that you need.  This is not the time to be quiet and keep everything inside.

It isn’t up to you

Possibly the hardest thing to accept is no matter how much you talk about it, how much you love them or how much you want to be helping them fix their problems , they are the ones who will make themselves better.  It is impossible for you to force a drug addict to get clean if they do not want to.

Even thought this might be the single best thing that helps drug addicts, it is especially hard for a mother or a parent to cope with.  You feel that, as the parent, it is your job to guide or ‘fix’ them.  You must step back from this thought and realize that in order for them to get help, THEY must be the ones to choose to overcome their drug addict problem.  In this instance, your job is not to grab the success for them; you just have to only show them where it is so they can reach it themselves.

Forget the word ‘failure’

Don’t forget that your child simply ‘checking in’ or accepting rehabilitation is only the first victory in a long line.  You must prepare yourself that dealing with an addiction is a day-to-day thing and that sometimes the urge will be too great for them to resist.

DO NOT consider this to be a failure.  Most addicts and users are going to relapse in their early recovery and that is why most rehabilitation centers will have some sort of group fellowship or interaction for support.  They will make mistakes and there will be hard times, but the very fact that they are going back and trying to stay clean is a victory in itself.

Once an addict it is impossible to stop use of drugs. It is therefore of importance that seeks the services of a drug and alcohol intervention. The overuse or abuse of alcohol (alcoholism) or other drugs is called substance abuse. It is common and costly. It can cause or worsen many medical problems and destroy families and lives.

Drug abuse includes the use of illegal drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or other “street drugs“; and the abuse of legal prescription and nonprescription drugs. Some people turn to drugs as a way to get a “high” or to relieve stress and emotional problems.

“Drug dependence or addiction occurs when you develop a physical or psychological “need“ for a drug.“

Recovery is the time of personal fulfillment and growth just being happywith yourself.

You are unable to control your use of a drug despite the negative effects it may have on your life. You may not be aware that you have become dependent on a drug until you try to stop taking it. Drug withdrawal can cause uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous symptoms. The usual treatment is to gradually reduce the dose of the drug until it can be stopped completely.

Long-term heavy drinking damages the liver, nervous system, heart, and brain. It also causes high blood pressure, stomach problems, medication interactions, sexual problems, osteoporosis, and cancer. Alcohol abuse can also lead to violence, accidents, social isolation, and difficulties at work and home.

* Recovery occurs over time; it is not a single moment in time.

It is a constantly evolving period that requires work to maintain. Recovery is a new beginning, and can be a time of great personal fulfillment and growth for people in recovery and their families. Signs of increasing health and wellness are that the person with the addiction improves physically and emotionally and in his or her relationship with others.

Recovery requires that the person with the addiction repair relationships damaged through years of drinking and taking drugs. There may be feelings of shame and self-hatred. The person may have to give up the “addict mentality” that is suspicious, secretive, manipulative, and self-centered.

* People in recovery abstain from substance use.

By doing so, they regain their physical health and emotional well-being. Once again, they are able to enjoy everyday activities with energy, enthusiasm, optimism, and confidence. Over time, people will return to being more loving spouses, happier kids, effective parents, good neighbors, and dedicated employees.

One of the hardest types of addiction to face, understand as well as identify, is when a person gets hooked on the medication he supposes to be taking. If your partner or loved one is on a prescription medication and seems to be going through it rather quickly, this is a sign that he is becoming addicted, and it is important to be watching and making accountability of the dosages.  If this is happening, quickly bring it to his attention and get him to see the doctor.

* A lot of times, if a person is on prescription medication, he will deny it.

The truth is, once the person is addicted, he or she falls into the pattern and sometimes to the lifestyle of anyone addicted to any substance. Hiding the amounts taken, getting extra prescriptions from other doctors, going online and getting prescriptions, these are signs.

Living with a prescription drug addict can be extra hard because you have to determine the actual addiction.  You feel bad and sometimes you enable the addiction  knowing the person is on the prescription because of an accident or some other reason that has had him or her in a great deal of pain.

Once you determine an addiction is taking place, such as the person is taking more than recommended or taking someone else’s prescription, or even taking it after the pain has subsided and seems depressed, then immediately get the person’s doctor involved, so your loved one can be medically supervised during withdrawal.  The doctor will determine if the addiction is severe enough to require a treatment program for detoxification.  As with other substance abuse addictions, a support group is usually always recommended as the person fights the addiction.  There are support groups for those living with drug addicts as well, and prescription drug addictions are not an exception.

“ Living with a prescription drug addict is a roller coaster ride neither of you chose to get on, but once you are, you will go through many of the same experiences as any loved one of a drug addict. “

* Do your own research, call a drug rehab center, get some professional advice.

You do not have to go through this alone.  As with any other addiction, it can take over your home, your finances, your relationship and your life.  Stand up against the addiction. By doing so, you will be helping yourself, any children involved and the addict himself.  You are all worth it.

For instance, did you know that crushing up oxycodone hydrochloride tablets can make them more harmful than swallowing them whole as intended?   This is because of the time-release formula involved.  Crushing or breaking the tablets makes the body take in the oxycodone faster and this can be dangerous.

Never take two doses too close together; Oxycodone Hydrochloride tablets are meant to be taken in 12 hour intervals so that the body does not absorb too much oxycodone at one time. While it can not be definitely stated if a person will actually get side effects, it is important to let your doctor know if you experience any so he or she can decide if it is safe for you to continue taking the medication that has been prescribed.

Some side effects could be dizziness, nausea and vomiting, weakness or drowsiness, headaches, dry mouth, even constipation.  If the side effects are mild, your doctor may feel comfortable with you continuing the medication but make sure you tell your doctor just to be safe.

Give your doctor a detailed medical history before taking Oxycodone Hydrochloride tablets.

It is imperative with Oxycodone Hydrochloride that you make sure to tell your doctor if you have asthma as it can exasperate breathing problems you may already have.  With so many reasons not to take Oxycodone Hydrochloride, it is even more important to make sure you are monitoring your intake of the medication.  Always be open and honest and give your doctor a detailed medical history before taking oxycodone hydrochloride tablets.

The more open you are with your Doctor, the better for you in the long run.

Side effects serve as warning signs and if you begin having them, make sure to contact your doctor or go to the emergency room, especially if they are related to breathing problems or your heartbeat becomes irregular or you have seizures.  It is always better to err on the side of caution so if you have any of these side effects, get help immediately.

If a person has never taken a specific drug before, it can sometimes be hard to dictate what if any side effects there will be.  If you begin experiencing any, be sure to take them as the warning signs you were just told about and do not take any chances.  Oxycodone Hydrochloride tablets are very effective but if not taken properly or if you begin having side effects, they can be harmful.  Do not hesitate to call your physician should this occur.

It could be you are explaining your drug addiction or that of another member of the family. Perhaps you are explaining drug addictions to your children. Whatever the reason, tact and sensitivity must be used.

Explaining drug addiction to loved ones may just stop a future addiction in its tracks

The word “disease” used to be spread around fairly regularly to describe alcoholism and drug addiction, but one must be careful not to shift the blame to some unforeseeable force. Drug addicts choose to take that first hit of the drug and they choose to continue until the drug makes that choice for them. Still, explaining that the drug addict needs understanding is not coddling.

Explaining that the drug addict made a mistake and it got out of control may be one way of putting it to children and also those who do not fully understand addictions. It can be explained that the drug addict was trying to get away from a painful experience or even life and wrongly chose drugs to make them feel better. Once they started taking the drugs, their body started needing more and more. Then their mind started to convince them that there was nothing wrong. Explain that it is all part of the drug addiction.

It is important to explain that any misdeeds done by the addict ARE his or her responsibility but that they were driven by the need for drugs. Drugs affect a persons mind and their body. Children, in particular, may be afraid of the drug addict if they have witnessed any of their drug induced fits or tyrants. This will be difficult to dismiss. Explain that drugs do that to a person, even though the person loves them very much. You can explain that drugs make people act in a way they normally would not.

You can also gain the help of a drug counselor to help further with explaining drug addictions. While the addict must accept responsibility for what he or she did while on drugs, explaining to those less experienced in the drug field can be difficult. In fact, the drug addict themselves may not know why they acted how they did until they have gone through rehabilitation.

* Explaining drug addiction to loved ones may just stop a future addiction in its tracks. *

I am a drug addict because my drug of choice is the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing I think about before I go to sleep. I need help because I cannot stop myself from wanting the drug or thinking about it. I am a drug addict because sometimes I do things that are against my true nature. I may steal or argue or even become violent. I need help because the drug controls my mind, body and spirit.

I am a drug addict because I made a choice to try this drug and very soon, it got the best of me and I couldn’t stop. I need help because I keep needing more and more of the drug to feel satisfied. I am a drug addict because my entire world revolves around my drugs. There is nothing or no one that comes before my addiction. I need help because I am pushing away the very people who care about me.

I am a drug addict because the drugs are now affecting my health. I need help because eventually, the drugs will kill me. I am a drug addict because I cannot be trusted with money. To me, money is for buying drugs. I am a drug addict because everyone keeps telling me I am. I need help because I don’t or don’t want to see it myself. I am a drug addict because I am not the same person I was before I started using and I need help because I miss the old me, and so does my family. I am a drug addict because the only time I feel alive is when I am high. I need help because I want to know real happiness again and not one that comes from a bottle or a pipe.

Because of the nature of addiction, more often than not they will not even see that they have a problem.  Everyone else sees it, however.  It used to be thought that only the drug addict could ask for help, but that theory is outdated.  It is not uncommon at all for a loved one to be the first to call in to a drug rehab center and ask how to get help. The family and friends are just as affected by the drug as the abuser themselves are.  Living with an addict isn’t easy.  Calling them out isn’t easy either, but it is usually affective in getting them help.

Never lie or cover up for the addict. In fact, let them know that this is your intention.  Let them know that you love them and you hate seeing what the drug is doing to them, but you are not going to lie or cover up for them anymore.  Be true to your word.  If they pass out from a drug-induced state on the front steps, leave them there.  It is their addiction, not yours and you are not responsible for it.  Remain as positive as possible, but be very clear about how they need to get help for their addiction.  Do not allow their addiction to destroy you. This is a conscious choice that you make.  Yes, it is difficult to watch a loved one go through addiction, but by separating yourself, you may just force them to see the light and get some help.

How to help a drug addict

If you normally loan the addict money, stop.  If worse comes to worse and they cannot get their drug and threaten suicide, call 911. That will put them right where they need to be.  If possible, gather family and friends together to talk to the addict.  You do not have to be tough and confrontational.  Just tell them how you feel about their addiction.  Despite what people may think, addicts do often seek help when there is intervention. Anyone with a loved one with an addiction can also call a rehab center and find out more about what can be done to help the addict.  It may be awkward at first, but you have to distance yourself from them.

It is their addiction…