It’s better to use words that reinforce the medical nature of the condition. INSTEAD SAY: A person with a substance use disorder (SUD), with addiction, person with an alcohol/drug problem, a person struggling with addiction; patient (if receiving treatment services). User
Full Answer
What should you do when someone you know has an addiction?
If you do choose to have a conversation with the individual where you tell them your feelings about their addiction and that you believe they should seek help, make sure to remain calm and non-confrontational at all times.
How do you talk to a friend with an addiction?
Knowing that addiction is a disease just like cancer, diabetes, M.S. or another debilitating disease, can make it a little easier to talk to your addicted friend. What would you say to a friend who just found out they have breast cancer, or another friend who finds out they have diabetes? You might express sympathy and good wishes.
How can I help my loved one seek help for addiction?
If someone isn’t ready to seek help, they’ll just tune you out. When you understand that addiction is a disease, and that the person you love isn’t in control of how they’re acting, then you can have a rational conversation with them about your worries and concerns. You can help them help themselves by entering into a recovery program.
When is the best time to talk to someone about addiction?
You may want to wait until the day after some incident has happened to bring up the topic of addiction. For example, if the person went on an extreme drinking binge and they feel sorry for their behavior the next day, that’s a good time to bring up their behavior in the context of addiction and getting help.
What do you say to someone who is in treatment?
What to Say to Someone in Rehab“I am really proud of you.” – This is an incredibly supportive statement for someone in rehab to hear. ... “You are not alone – I am here for you.” – It takes a lot of courage for someone to acknowledge they have an addiction and want to seek help for it.More items...•
What do you say to someone who overcomes addiction?
These phrases will help you communicate your support in the most meaningful way....Words have power.I Love You. ... You're Not Alone. ... Everyone Needs Help Sometimes. ... How Are You Feeling? ... How Can I Help? ... Let's Hang Out. ... I'm Proud of You. ... I Know You Are Struggling, But There's Always Hope.
How can you help someone who has an addiction problem?
7 Tips for Helping Someone with an AddictionTip #1: Educate Yourself. Get information about addictions. ... Tip #2: Get Support. ... Tip #3: Get Counseling. ... Tip #4: Seek Specialty Help. ... Tip #5: Don't Enable. ... Tip #6: Have Realistic Expectations. ... Tip #7: Take Care of Yourself.
What do you call someone who has an addiction?
The word addict is usually used to refer to someone who is addicted to drugs. Even good things can get you addicted. Work addicts are called workaholics.
What do you say to someone graduating rehab?
I have been thinking of your current rehab situation a lot these days, and I want you to know that I am so proud of you. You are so brave for making this choice, and I feel extremely proud to be your friend. I can't wait to see you when you get out of rehab. I want you to keep fighting!
How do you deal with a junkie Neighbour?
If you're worried because of that risk, here is what you can do to try to get rid of drug addict neighbors:Form or join a neighborhood watch.Get the neighbors' landlord involved.Call the cops.Send a demand letter.
What are 5 things you can say if someone offers you drugs?
Give a reason why you don't want to drink or use drugs. Say something like: "It's bad for my health."...Say something like:"Hey, I said I'm trying to stay clean, so don't ask me again.""I told you I don't use anymore, so stop asking.""I'm trying really hard to stay clean, so please don't ask me to use anymore."
What happens when someone is addicted?
People with addiction lose control over their actions. They crave and seek out drugs, alcohol, or other substances no matter what the cost—even at the risk of damaging friendships, hurting family, or losing jobs.
What is the acronym of Say No to drugs?
Program Goals. The primary goal of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) is to teach effective peer resistance and refusal skills so that adolescents can say “no” to drugs and their friends who may want them to use drugs.
What's another synonym for addiction?
In this page you can discover 28 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for addiction, like: compulsion, habit, craving, bent, habituation, enslavement, obsession, monkey-on-one-s-back, substance-abuse, dependence and addictedness.
What is the emotional impact of recovering from drug abuse?
Recovering from drug or alcohol abuse is a deeply emotional experience. A person in recovery often struggles with feelings of both accomplishment and dread. Often a person in addiction recovery is most vulnerable to what is said by their closest friends and relatives since these are the people who figure large in their life.
How many people relapse at once?
There’s no two ways about it—recovery is tough. Roughly 50 percent of people struggling with addiction relapse at least once, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. With that in mind, the recovering person needs all the support and encouragement he or she can get.
Is alcohol an addiction?
And while alcohol might be more socially acceptable than other drugs, it still has a huge potential for abuse and addiction.
Can addiction affect anyone?
Addiction is a disease that can affect anybody, regardless of race, age, social status, intelligence, or temperament. Unless you’ve gone through the recovery process or work in a rehabilitation facility, chances are excellent you haven’t met as many addicts as the person in recovery has.
How to deal with someone who is not addicted?
Even someone who has not been addicted for long may become hostile or upset when their loved ones express concern over their behavior. Attempt to avoid an argument at all costs. This method works best in very specific situations, but it is worth trying if you believe your loved one will be receptive to it.
How to convince someone to seek treatment?
Successful interventions help convince addicted individuals to attend treatment by 1 Showing them that a number of close friends, family members, and loved ones are concerned for their health and well-being 2 Allowing them to see that many individuals care about them deeply and want to see them recover 3 Providing consequences in the event that the individual chooses not to seek treatment and helping to enforce them 4 Making the person realize that their continued addictive behavior will no longer be tolerated by their loved ones 5 Forcing them to stop denying their addiction and, ideally, face the fact that they need help
How effective is rehab?
Rehabilitation treatment can be extremely effective in helping individuals recover from addiction. Sometimes, it can be difficult for someone to realize that treatment would be a beneficial choice, and they need the help of their loved ones in order to do so. According to the NIDA, “Family and friends can play critical roles in motivating ...
What can interventionists do?
The interventionist can help lead the meeting, give it credibility in the eyes of the addicted individual, and ensure that one way or another, the meeting is followed by some sort of change (either on the part of the addict or those included to help).
Can friends and family help with addiction?
According to the NIH, “Friends and family can help” a person attend addiction treatment, “even when someone doesn’t want it.” One way to ensure this is to promise that you will support the individual once they agree to attend treatment. Then, just like with the consequences you implement, you must be willing to deliver when asked to fulfill your promise.
Do you have to know the treatment plan before intervention?
Those choosing to plan an intervention are expected to already know the treatment plan they want their loved one to start before the intervention takes place; this way, the individual is more likely to attend without the possibility of backing out during a long search for the right facility or program.
What does "using" mean in addiction?
Not positioned as a health issue and places blame on the person with addiction. INSTEAD SAY: “ Using” with an object (i.e. using opioids), risky use, harmful use, inappropriate use, unhealthy use, hazardous use, problem use, individual struggling with substance use, individual with substance use disorder.
What does it mean to be an addict?
The word addict is stigmatizing, reducing a person’s identity down to their struggle with substance use and denies their dignity and humanity. In addition, these labels imply a permanency to the condition, leaving no room for change. It’s better to use words that reinforce the medical nature of the condition.
What is the first goal of addiction treatment?
Addiction is an uncontrollable compulsive behavior. The first goal of addiction treatment is to stop this dangerous behavior. With medication-assisted treatment as part of a comprehensive treatment plan with behavioral counseling, the dangerous addictive behavior is stopped, not replaced – and life can be extended.
What is a substance use disorder?
INSTEAD SAY: A person with a substance use disorder (SUD), with addiction, person with an alcohol/drug problem, a person struggling with addiction; patient (if receiving treatment services).
What is habit in medicine?
A habit is something that can easily be broken through persistence or willpower. Addiction is more complicated. As a disease of the brain, it requires medical treatment in addition to an emotional commitment to treatment and recovery. Calling addictive disorders a habit denies the medical nature of the condition and implies that resolution ...
Can a person be defined by his or her disease?
A person shouldn’t be defined or labeled by his or her disease or illness, it is something they have. For example: Instead of calling someone a “diabetic,” it’s preferable to use person-first language and say “someone with diabetes.”. The same goes with the word “addict.”. We have a choice when we communicate.
Is a drug test a clean or dirty test?
Same goes when referring to a drug test as a “clean test” (i.e. a negative result/no evidence of use) or “dirty test” (i.e. to a positive result/evidence of use). These terms regarding tests should also be avoided. INSTEAD SAY: In recovery, on the path toward recovery, not currently using substances; positive test or negative test.
How does addiction affect spiritual health?
An addiction to drugs or alcohol not only interferes with an individual’s physical and psychological well-being, the spiritual impact that an addiction can have on a user is also very deep. Often times, users are unable to fully heal from the pain that is caused by their decision to use drugs unless they get adequate….
Is addiction a disease?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is a disease . When talking to people about their addiction it is vital to remember that. What you say can mean the difference between getting them the help they need and them running from treatment.
Is it better to go to rehab or rehab?
Although it might seem counterintuitive, sometimes it is better to seek a rehab in a different city or state than the one you are in. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are different causes, triggers, and treatment for addictive behavior.
Is it true that addiction is not a choice?
This is just not true. Unfortunately, in some addictions there is no choice whether the person stops or not. Part of being an addict is the fact that no matter how much they may want to they cannot stop using on their own. It has nothing to do with selfish behavior.
Can you control your addiction?
This statement is just false. Part of the definition of addiction is that the addicted person cannot control it.
Is Christian drug rehab for everyone?
Although Christian drug rehab programs are not for everyone, these programs are an excellent option for the individual who is accepting of a higher power for help and strength to overcome…. Continue reading ›.
Addiction is a Medical Condition
Substance use disorders, most commonly referred to as addictions, are complex diseases that cause an overwhelming drive to use substances or participate in harmful behaviors, even in spite of serious negative consequences.
Developing an Action Plan
While an individual may not have all the answers for a friend whose loved one is living with an addiction, they can play an important role in helping their friend come up with an action plan.
Why Quotes?
Often, a person will turn to alcohol or other drugs if they’ve experienced trauma in their lives. Psychological, social, physical and emotional abuse can compel people to adopt addictive habits as a way to shut out the pain of trauma.
Other Addiction Recovery Treatment Options
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, we’re here to help. Gateway offers many services including mindfulness-based sobriety, trauma therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, 12-step addiction treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy and more.
