Drug Intervention - External Pressure
What pressures the addict?
The addict doesn't necessarily have the same reality about their addiction that
non-addicts might. For instance, he/she may have semi serious health
problems/no friends and no job or income, but feel like they are "doing OK".
Many addicts have actually overdosed on drugs coming very close to death and
are right back using drugs the very next day. This may appear crazy but in
fact, it is only part of the pain for the addict.
With this in mind, the addict from time to time will encounter added pressure,
which forces them to make an actual decision about whether to seek help or
continue to use.
Pending legal charges that could easily lead to jail time, threat of losing
spouse, pending loss of job, all are possible situations where a person has
enough pressure to fight the addiction and seek help. Although any one in
particular may not work in your situation, there are pressures that can come to
bear which will help prod the addict into a decision to seek help. It is easy
to assume the addict is "only seeking help to avoid jail" or some other
evaluation which in many cases is true. The fact remains that an addict will
only seek help when someone or something pushes him out of his "addiction
comfort zone" and forces him into a decision. Very few addicts with access to
money, a place to live, people who agree with his usage and no legal issues
seek help. They "don't have a problem".
This is very important to understand and will be crucial in any attempt at
intervention.
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