It is never too late to ask for help for addiction

Rock Bottom

Some would say that waiting for “rock bottom” is necessary in one’s attempt to help an addict. “Rock bottom” could mean lying on a crack house floor, having smoked your last 20 dollars, starving, homeless and without hope. For others, it could be less dramatic but no less devastating on a personal level, like the day your child finds the needle and asks what it is for, or finds the addicted parent passed out on the kitchen floor. For a drug addict or alcoholic, rock bottom is usually described as the moment they realized they had to do something and needed help. The truth of the matter is that if your friend or loved one is addicted, waiting for them to have this epiphany is not advisable, for the simple reason that for many unfortunate souls, “rock bottom” simply means “dead.” It is far better to have acted than to have done nothing. Are we always successful? No. But we must do something.

Communication and Intervention

Communication is by far the most vital component when dealing with the issue of addiction. This can be in the form of friend or family bringing up the subject and not flinching when the addict or alcoholic attempts to deflect the conversation. It can also take the shape of an organized intervention. Whatever tactic is employed, the intervening parties must keep at it, and do their best to appeal to the common sense of the individual.

Is it too late?

One barrier to overcome is the addict’s past failures at getting clean. Many addicts have tried two, three, four, six, eight times to get clean and failed every single time. By this point it has become ingrained in them that they are a hopeless case, and beyond the reach of any rehab program. This situation can be compounded by many factors, such as the stigma of being afflicted with a lifelong “disease” or “disorder.”

There is also a relatively new type of addict in society, now quite common. Tragically, many individuals have been labeled with various disorders since they were children, often for normal childhood behavior. They were prescribed psychoactive drugs from an early age, forming the template of addiction in their teens and adulthood. Their parents, teachers and doctors set the stage for dependency on pharmaceuticals, which progressed into further self-medication and abuse. In an ironic turn of events, it becomes the duty of the parent to help their son or daughter get rehabilitated from addictive behavior patterns. 

An addict can appear so far gone as to be beyond hope. The lifelong dedicated alcoholic, the heroin addict looking for new veins to avoid the scar tissue, the emaciated and pockmarked crystal meth user; such cases can paint a bleak and abysmal picture. But the truth is that if someone is still breathing, there is always a chance.

Early Detection

Early detection is by far the best strategy. Constant alertness, and willingness to act, is the code to live by. Knowledge of some of the signs of drug abuse is very useful information indeed. Some of the signs and symptoms to watch for:

§  Bloodshot or glassy eyes

§  Sinus problems

§  Neglect of personal grooming

§  Changes in sleeping patterns; insomnia; sleeping in daytime

§  Unexpected changes in attitude or behavior

§  Sever mood swings; irritable or dejected, then suddenly bright and excited

§  Withdrawal from family or friends

§  Loss of interest in activities the person once enjoyed

§  Unwarranted aggression or violence

§  Stealing or criminal behavior

§  A “nothing really matters” attitude

Types of Rehabilitation  

Many addicts or alcoholics didn’t succeed in rehab because it was the wrong type of program for them. The common 12 Step program doesn’t work for everyone. “Traditional” rehab often uses prescription drugs that simply replace the opiates or other drugs the person has been addicted to. The end product is an addiction to a new drug, such as methadone or other pharmaceutical. Holistic modalities, on the other hand, tend to concentrate on replenishing the nutritional and vitamin deficiencies associated with addiction, with the final result of a completely drug-free individual. Anyone seeking help with addiction – whether for themselves or a friend or loved one – owes themselves the favor of getting educated in the various rehabilitation methods.

“Fight or Flight”

It is never too late, and it is never too early, to face drug abuse and addiction head-on. “Fight or flight” is a phrase describing the adrenal reaction to sudden danger. Factually, drug addiction is a warning light of the highest order, being a matter of life or death. “Flight” means running away or pretending nothing is wrong. “Fight” means doing something about it, and it means trying again when you’ve failed the first (or second, or eighth) time.

It takes considerable courage! Fortunately, through the full array of holistic methods, something can be done about it!