How to Help a Crack Addict
Helping a crack addict is an extremely long, hard, and painful task.
You should be aware of that before you try to help. The crack addict is someone you love and the very aspect of helping him will cause you the most pain.
To get the crack addict to overcome his denial is the first, hardest, and longest period, sometimes an addict can stay in the denial stage for years. * Even though the addict will lash out your love, love is exactly what he needs.*
* When you love someone, it is only natural to want to help them.
To help him, you actually are going to have to not help him and you are going to have to say “no” to everything he asks for. For example, if the addict asks for some money for lunch, gas, or other legitimate items, your first reaction is to give him the money. By giving the money, you are enabling him to get his drugs. The crack addict will go without lunch and gas, often until he runs completely out of gas, in order to use the money you gave him to buy more drugs. He is using you and is partially dependent upon you to obtain money for his habit. It can be a hard thing for you to handle, but the next time money is asked for, refuse to give him any. After the initial shock, the crack addict is sure to become angry, lashing out at you verbally. Your reactions are very important; you must try to maintain your self control.
Get some help for yourself as well, go to some of the meetings available.
At a time when the addict is acting at least semi-rational, try to open up a conversation about your worry, pain, and anxiety due to the direction your lives have taken. Remember, use your low, calm voice and be honest with him. Also, any conversation with a crack addict should be completely non-judgmental. Try to get him to talk about how he sees the present situation your lives are in, any problems currently in your lives, and any solutions to those problems. He may talk here, and if he does, his responses will probably still be either he doesn’t have a drug problem, or he may use drugs every now and then, but none of the problems are his fault.
* If you are not getting through to the addict, Intervention, preferably with a professional interventionist is the next step.
A professional intervention leader can be found at a drug rehab or through a leader at the local weekly meetings of people getting help for their drug abuse problems. In intervention you, and other friends and family will confront the addict, and staying completely non-judgmental, state your concerns using facts and actual events. During intervention it is extremely important to stay calm, talking low and peacefully to reduce the addict’s anxiety and anger. The main point in intervention however, is do not be judgmental toward the crack addict; use only your concerns and factual events without pointing the finger of blame his way.
If the addict still refuses treatment, don’t give up; keep calmly trying to talk to him about rehab. When he is in an argumentative state, don’t argue back, just stay calm.
* Get some support for yourself.
Go to some of the meetings available which are there to help and support loved ones of crack addicts. The people there have been through, or are going through very similar circumstances; they will probably have some tips and solutions that may help. Contact a drug rehab center for even more things you can in do in your struggle against family addiction.
Knowledge is power, and in knowledge, you can put aside the gnawing anxiety that maybe it could possibly be partially your fault.
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