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If you suspect that a friend or family member has a drug problem, here are a few things you can do.

• Speak up. Talk to the person about your concerns, and offer your help and support. The earlier addiction is treated, the better. Don’t wait for your loved one to hit bottom! Be prepared for excuses and denial with specific examples of behavior that has you worried.
• Take care of yourself. Don’t get so caught up in someone else’s drug problem that you neglect your own needs. Make sure you have people you can talk to and lean on for support. And stay safe. Don’t put yourself in dangerous situations.
• Avoid self-blame. You can support a person with a substance abuse problem and encourage treatment, but you can’t force an addict to change. You can’t control your loved one’s decisions. Let the person accept responsibility for his or her actions, an essential step along the way to recovery for drug addiction.

What Not To Do

• Don’t attempt to punish, threaten, bribe, or preach.
• Don’t try to be a martyr. Avoid emotional appeals that may only increase feelings of guilt and the compulsion to use drugs.
• Don’t cover up or make excuses for the drug abuser, or shield them from the negative consequences of their behavior.
• Don’t take over their responsibilities, leaving them with no sense of importance or dignity.
• Don’t hide or throw out drugs.
• Don’t argue with the person when they are high.
• Don’t take drugs with the drug abuser.
• Above all, try not to feel guilty or responsible for another’s behavior.Adapted from: National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug Information

Reprinted with permission from Helpguide.org © 2001-2011. All rights reserved. For more information, visit www.Helpguide.org.

At Montrose Place in Cape Town, South Africa, we are committed to preparing our clients for a lifelong voyage of self-sustainable recovery. We provide a safe environment in which to explore, gain insight and reach an understanding of addictive, compulsive and co-morbid disorders and present each individual with the requisite tools, strength and hope to manage, and treasure, their own recovery.

For further information, please contact us directly.