How to Help Someone With A Crack Cocaine Addiction
Do you know someone who is suffering from crack cocaine addiction?
If so, you may wonder what you can do to help them get off this drug and recover. There isn’t one right way to handle this situation. However, there are some things that you’ll want to keep in mind when handling a loved one or friend who has a crack cocaine addiction.
Recognizing the Signs of an Addiction to Crack Cocaine
Do you know that your loved one or friend is using crack cocaine? Maybe you have suspected it for some time, but now you are almost sure they have an addiction to this drug.
If they are using crack cocaine, some of the signs that you might notice include:
- Always feel warm or look like they are sweating
- Dilated pupils
- Restlessness & High Energy
- Tremors & Twitching
- Irritable, Paranoid, and Distrusting
- Erratic or Violent behavior
- Mood swings
- Fixating on getting or using the drug
- Not caring about the negative consequences drug use causes
If your loved one or friend displays these signs, they may have an addiction to crack cocaine.
If you have found drug paraphernalia and these signs are present, it is time to talk to your friend or loved one about getting help.
Ways To Address The Situation If You Live Together
Unfortunately, there are times when a person lives with someone with a crack cocaine use disorder. If this is the case for you, it may be even more difficult than ever to deal with their irrational or paranoid behavior or irritable personality.
While you can’t change the person you are living with, you can learn how to cope better. Some of the best coping skills include:
- Taking care of yourself
- Setting boundaries
- Stop enabling
- Walk away from manipulative conversations when possible
- Don’t take what they do personally
- Get yourself support from a support group or from other family members or friends
- Hold a professional intervention
These are just some of the tips that can help you to better cope when you must live with a crack cocaine addict. Hopefully, after talking to this person or holding an intervention, they admit they have a problem and will get into a treatment program.
How To Communicate About Crack Cocaine Abuse
There is a process you should go through before you talk to a person who has an addiction to crack cocaine.
1. Safety
You don’t know how they will react, so you must make sure you are safe. If they are already acting out violently or aggressively, it would be best to ensure the conversation is done in a place where you feel safe.
It should be around other people, as well. If needed, you can contact police officers to be on the scene in case things get out of control.
2. Offer Support
Once you make the plan to talk to your friend or loved one about their addiction, be ready to support them and communicate with them if they are willing to open up and talk about their issues.
If they start discussing their drug use, listen attentively. Let them know you are there to help them get treatment.
3. Stage an Intervention
During the intervention, make sure you and the others involved are respectful to one another. Don’t talk over each other. Yes, emotions may get the best of you.
However, if you can, keep your emotions in check. Focus on the facts and what your loved one’s or friend’s behaviors and actions are doing to everyone (don’t forget to themselves).
Discussing Treatment Options for Crack Cocaine
If your friend or loved one is ready to get help for their addiction, it is vital to be prepared to discuss the treatment options. This is where research ahead of time and talking to addiction rehab professionals come into play. If you take the time to speak to the staff here at Harmony Oaks Recovery, you can get the information needed to be better prepared for the intervention with your loved one or friend.
For example, you can talk to them about outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and inpatient treatment programs. You can also talk to them about yoga, mindfulness meditation, 12-step facilitation therapy, and other treatment options.
Get Your Loved One or Friend Into Addiction Treatment Today
Do you know someone who is using crack cocaine? Maybe you aren’t sure if they have an addiction. However, once you read about the signs of this addiction, you knew it was time to confront your friend or loved one about their drug use.
If your friend or loved one is ready to get help and start overcoming the addiction, let them know they aren’t alone. They can get into a treatment program where others try to achieve this same goal.
Contact our substance abuse treatment helpline today to have them get started in a professional crack cocaine addiction treatment center program.
Sources:
National Institute on Drug Abuse – Research Report, Cocaine Research Report, How is cocaine addiction treated?
NYC Health – Cocaine Abuse & Addiction