When there is a member of a family that is battling an addiction problem, it can be very tough for immediate family or close friends to know what to do. No one wants to encourage the abusive use of these awful substances.

However, there is also the issue of not knowing how to approach the matter correctly. In my opinion, there is never a perfect time for an intervention, and the best time is just sooner rather than later.

Drug and alcohol problems can have a detrimental and even fatal effect on people’s lives. This is one of the main reason it is an obligation of the people who know the person the best to step in and stop them from continuing their bad addiction habits.

It might not even work the first time, and it can be a very difficult task to get the user to even admit they have a problem, but in the end, this is a necessary means of saving the person from the harm they are inflicting upon themselves and their loved ones.  

The first step to an intervention

The first step in any treatment process is always coming to terms with the addiction and realizing that there is a problem present. Many people want to live in denial and lie to themselves that everything is ok.

This is one way of putting up a barrier between themselves and the issue so they never have to really face it head on and deal it. This just leads to their addiction becoming more cemented in their daily routine and will be even tougher to break this cycle when the time comes to do so.

This is why it is the urgent responsibility of the people around them who care for them and want to support them to make them realize there is an issue present and they have to face it head-on.

Once this is established, it is much easier for them to separate themselves from the issue and not identify with it so much. They single it out and want to get better to improve the quality and the health of their life.

This is the key to the initial part of the addiction intervention and the main goal that you want to achieve from it.

How to plan an intervention

There is never an easy way to tell someone you care for or love that they have an issue and that it needs to change. Interventions can definitely lead to conflict and long drawn out arguments ensuing that can make the substance abuser want to pull further away from the family. It can make them even more unwilling to listen or cooperate with what the majority of the family or friends want them to do.

This is why it is especially important to go into the intervention with a clear plan and maybe a set list of things you want to say and convey so you do not get dragged off topic if things start to get heated. Writing an intervention letter can definitely be a great way to keep your thoughts clear and concise throughout the discussion.

If it starts to build into an argument, emotions can sometimes fly off the charts and distract from the message you are trying to convey. Having a letter in front of you with the point you are trying to make can make it much easier to avoid that happening and stay focused on the task at hand.

Another good way to intervene is to call the experts and have them help you. One big advantage of hiring a professional is that they are a neutral third party individual who can mediate the conversation and help it run more efficiently.

There are many interventions centers throughout America that can help in the addiction recovery process and will make things as smooth for you and your family as possible. There is a grave risk in letting an addiction carry on without trying to stop it, thus the sooner you can get the addict help the better.

Risks of substance abuse

There are so many risks associated with substance abuse that is it a very dangerous habit to become involved with. These risks range from the less dangerous such as small accidents from being intoxicated, to the worst case – death.

These fatal occurrences can happen when someone overdoses on drugs or drinks too much alcohol and ends up having alcohol poisoning. Those are the short term ways it can cause a fatality, however in the long run these additions are always eating away at their bodies. They slowly erode their physical and mental well-being and their ability to think for themselves. The addiction can slowly take over their lives and consume them.

So when the question of when is the best time for an intervention comes up… the answer is now.

Graduating college and getting your first real-world job can be a very stressful experience, no matter who you are.

In high-stress situations, one’s natural tendency is to look for a way to calm those fears as no one enjoys going through life stressed every day. Some people cope by going to the gym, others by hanging out with friends, however, some people start to use illicit substances as a way to cope with the stresses of everyday life.

In the beginning, it could start out as little as one time a week or month just as a way to unwind and relax from the stressful work week that just past or is looming over you. However, messing with these substances is no joke as anyone who has abused them can tell you just how addictive they are.

Using drugs or alcohol to escape the stress of your job or life is definitely not the right way to do it; there many other better options out there for someone who needs to relax and unwind.

A few ways to relax after a long day at the office

As mentioned above, one great way to release stress is to go to the gym and work out. Exercise releases endorphins throughout the body which causes a positive reaction and can lessen the amount of stress one feels. It can leave you feeling rejuvenated and motivated to tackle whatever task you have at hand.

Although exercise is not for everyone, it does have many benefits if you can incorporate it into your daily routine. Not only can it reduce your stress levels, but can lead to a healthier life overall and add longevity to your mind and body.

If exercise is something you just cannot do, then maybe meditation and self-reflection is another great way to calm the mind without having to pick up the dumbbells. Being self-aware and creating an open mind through meditation is one of the greatest ways to bring peace and harmony to your mind and body.

Decluttering your mind for a set period of time each day, and giving yourself time to think about what is important can be a very good way to decrease stress. You can start to see more clearly what is meaningful and what isn’t and it allows you to have a “me-time” break at some point in your stressful work schedule.

Making time for yourself is a must for anyone who feels rushed by their day and that they are not the ones in charge.

Consequences of being overstressed at work

Some people who cannot find a suitable way to detox their bodies of stress often find themselves frantically searching for other methods to cope with high-stress situations.

In this case, these people could turn to alcohol or drugs to find a way to numb their worries for a few hours a day. This is a very worrying habit to start as it can lead to alcohol dependency or a serious drug addiction.

However, many of these people may be high functioning addicts – meaning they can come to work just fine the next day after feeding their body all sorts of substances the night before to unwind. Or, they can function in their daily life – work, relationships, etc – while they’re high or drunk, without any of their colleagues or loved ones realizing.

For some of these people, it can especially tough to ask for help with an addiction as they are in high positions and looked up too, thus attempting to speak openly about an addiction they may have developed could hinder their life. Not everyone has to be homeless or uneducated to be a drug user; this is a stereotype that makes it that much tougher for someone with a normal working job to want to have to go to rehab and get help. It is the thought that they too would be classed and labeled into a certain type of category that they don’t feel they belong.

It is these types of stigmas that can lead people to fool themselves into thinking they don’t have any sort of addiction problem and they are totally in control of when they choose to abuse the substance.

First steps to recovery

The initial phase of recovery for high functioning addicts is acceptance. They have to accept the fact that they do not have control of this issue and they may need to look for help to recover.

An addiction recovery program could be the best place to turn to as it can help get you back on the path to sobriety quickly with a set organized schedule of how the recovery will look.

If you are having issues don’t take them lightly, addictions are a serious matter and can lead to fatal incidents in a lot of cases. Act before it is too late!

Substance abuse is on the rise among college-age students and adults across a variety of industries. Attempting to deal with the anxiety and stress of their daily life, it can become a crutch to deny any physical sensations, thoughts, or emotions that are otherwise hard to process.

The reality is though that using addictive substances like alcohol, drugs, etc. are extremely harmful and cause lasting debilitating effects on a person’s body and mind.

If you are a friend or family member of someone who’s experiencing an addiction, it may be difficult to address it at first and try to help them fix their problem.

However, it’s important to seek a professional instead who can give you the proper tools to succeed. Entering a rehabilitation program can arm you with methods to combat their addiction and begin their journey to take back their health.

Signs of an Addiction to Drugs

The first step to overcoming an addiction or substance abuse problem is recognizing that it exists and needs to be addressed. If you’re unsure if the person you know has a legitimate problem or not, watch for the following signs in their appearance and behavior.

A few key changes in a substance abuser, especially of drugs, is taking larger doses than before, searching for other people’s medications, and spending a lot of time obsessing over medications in general.

The person may also project more secluded behavior throughout the day, a more secretive or different personality, an unhealthier facial appearance, and eating or sleeping a lot more or less than previously known.

They may also hide any activity regarding their finances if they are spending much more on drugs or alcohol in the mean time. If you’re suspicious these signs many apply, set aside your fears and check out a professional drug rehabilitation program in your local area for help as soon as you can.

Family and Codependents

The hardest thing for a family member to experience is to watch someone they love to fall into the spiral of addiction and not know how to act as their support system.

However, they control a great factor of whether or not the addict can recover with their words, behaviors, and overall home environment. A lot of times people may try to force their advice on to the addict and end up feeling frustrated when it’s returned with a stubborn or rebellious attitude.

Anyone who is also codependent to the addict will feel these emotions in great volume, as they rely on one another to get through the day and may believe they are responsible for each other’s actions.

As a result, extremely close friends or family to the addict can often feel upset or guilty about their habits, will overanalyze their exchanges in search of the “right” thing to say, etc.

It’s critical to take a step back from that cycle and get educated about how to have an intervention that will be successful. This can be done with a professional who will make sure that both parties are on the same page to overcome the addiction and can create long-term goals and changes to establish in the household.

Why have an Intervention?

Unlike a friend or family member who knows the addict too well to provide effective help, a professional interventionist can observe the situation from a neutral standpoint and offer help based on their experience.

After working in the rehabilitation industry, they understand that addicts can be difficult to truly communicate to and ignite a change from. That’s why they encourage families and an addict to attend sessions together so that they can be united under one vision of working together to become healthier in lifestyle again.

If you’re struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction or have a friend or family member who is, seek a local interventionist in near you without hesitation. Feel free to take the free quiz from Family First Intervention. The program is managed by a former addict who found that binding someone with an abuse problem and their family is bulletproof to ensure their environment is changed to support their recovery.

Pursue an effective intervention today and help get the process of recovery started. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see results!

While attending college there are many reasons why students turn to drug use. Some factors can include academic pressures which are brought on by exams, another may be the pressure applied by friends to start using drugs, or even just to abuse the freedom that has arisen from leaving home. Whatever the reason may be none are good enough to validate the use of common street drugs. Drugs are lethal substances that can do irreversible damage to major organs in your body, as a parent you want to make sure you do everything in your power to know what your children are up to. This can be extremely tough when they are away at college, however when they come home this is your chance to interpret any usual slang words or behavior to make sure they are staying clean and substance free.

Slang words for common street drugs

In today’s day and age there are more names for basic street drugs than you could ever imagine. Even something as simple as adderall can be obtained illegally on the streets and have many different ways of being referred too. Some of the names include ‘uppers’. ‘addy’, ‘zing’, “pep pills” etc . This can make it extremely tough for parents trying to detect substance abuse as these names have no resounding similarities to the drug they are using. Another example is marijuana being described as ‘weed’, ‘broccoli’, ‘green’, ‘kush’ etc. As you can see there are a number of terms you would need to be aware of as a parent. The battle against drugs is a tough one, but making sure you are up to date with the latest names for these drugs can definitely help when you are doing your detective work. A good way to do this is to find a list of illegal drugs and their street names, that way you will always be one step ahead!

Other ways to detect drug use

If you are suspicious of your child’s activity there are a few other signs they may be using if you can’t pick up on some of the terminology. For a start if they are stealing money from the house or household items and selling them for money, this is a very clear indicator that they are probably using the money for something they don’t want you to know about. Another sign that they may be using drugs is a change in mood or sleeping behaviors. If some of their behavioral patterns are different and change on a day to day basis it could mean that drugs are affecting these habits. Other than this the clearer signs are that if they continually going to get more and more of the drugs they have been prescribed, or if you have found them hiding drugs from you, it is time to confront them about this and address the problem head on. Many parents sometimes wait as they are scared what will happen if they start to tackle the problem right away, this is risky as drugs are dangerous substances and something can go massively wrong at any time. I would make sure to address it in the correct manner and maybe seek the help of a drug and alcohol rehab center if you feel it would be a useful asset to your family in this process.

Why it is important to pick up on it sooner rather than later

It was reported in 2016 that 1 in 16 high schoolers used marijuana daily, I know for a fact that had the parents of some of these children found out about this these high schoolers would have been severely punished for this behavior. The moment you decide to have a child it is your responsibility as a parent to keep them safe. This does not only mean safe from others but safe from themselves. Teenagers and young adults can easily be led astray for many different reasons, peer pressure is a typical example of one of these reasons, or a want to fit in, (maybe with the wrong crowd) thus starting these bad habits in high school is a bad sign for what’s to come. While at college they may be further away from home with easier access to drugs, making it much more difficult for you to detect and stop. Not only is using drugs an expensive and wasteful habit but an extremely dangerous one. Drug use can have lifelong affects and can have negative impacts on many brain functions.

Whatever happens, it’s never too late

Its always best to address the problem as soon as you find out, and start the recovery process right away. Drugs can be fatal at any point in a young adults life meaning there is no time to waste when it comes to getting them back on the right track. Hope this helped and good luck to anyone battling some of these issues, it can be a tough journey to become clean but definitely a worthwhile one.