Do you know someone who might be addicted to cocaine? If you already know they are using, it is almost a sure sign they have an addiction since this drug is so powerful. If you aren’t sure whether they are using cocaine, but you recognize signs of behavior change, skin changes, weight loss or other changes, they could be using this drug. If this is the case, it is important to learn how to help the person who is suffering from cocaine addiction.
Spotting a Cocaine Addiction
If you want to help someone get treatment for a cocaine addiction, you must first make sure that is what is going on. There are some common signs of this type of addiction that you can look for including, but not limited to, the following:
- Needing more of the drug to get high
- Can’t stop using the drug no matter what impact it has on their life
- Agitation or irritability
- Being secretive
- Being jumpy when you come in a room
- Not giving you access to their phone or belongings
- Being paranoid
- Not taking part in hobbies
- Reduced appetite
- Only socializing with people who don’t ask questions about drug use or judge them for using
If you notice any of these signs, your loved one or friend might have a cocaine addiction. If this is the case, there are some things you can do next to try helping them see the truth. They have a disease and need help to overcome it.
Helping the Cocaine Addict
If you have determined that your loved one or friend might have a cocaine addiction, there are numerous things that can be done to support and help them. Look more into the dos and don’ts below:
Dos for helping a cocaine addict:
- Learn more about cocaine addiction and how it damages one body, brain, and lifestyle
- Learn how to confront someone who has an addiction to cocaine
- Hold an intervention so you can have an honest, open conversation with them about their behavior, lifestyle, addiction, and potential treatments
- Remember you can’t change the person, you can only try to help get them into treatment
- Take care of yourself and get the support you need to handle their addiction
- Be ready to take them to a professional cocaine addiction treatment center
If you do these things, it will be a good step in helping your loved one or friend see they have a disease and need to turn things around.
Don’ts for helping someone with a cocaine addiction:
- Don’t accuse them of things (only state the facts that can be proven)
- Don’t judge (just support them and offer to help)
- Don’t enable (let them know if the behaviors continue you will implement an action plan that may involve cutting ties with the relationship, stop lending money, etc.)
- Don’t defend their actions or lie for them
If you and other people in the addict’s life can stop doing these things, it can go a long way in showing them that they need help to overcome this addiction. It isn’t just going to go away by itself.
Types of Cocaine Addiction Treatment
If the person with the cocaine addiction admits they need help, it is important to know about the different types of treatment available. Some of these include:
- Outpatient or intensive outpatient
- Partial hospitalization
- Inpatient
The more you can learn about these treatment options, the more prepared you can be when talking to your loved one or friend about their addiction. For example, if they say they have a problem and need help, having a treatment program lined up for them can encourage and motivate them more to get the support they need. If you want to learn more about these programs here at Riverwalk Recovery, give us a call today.
Get Into a Professional Cocaine Addiction Treatment Center
Do you know someone who is displaying the signs of a cocaine addiction above? If so, be sure to make a plan for helping them today. Just remember before you make that plan to put yourself in the best position possible. This may include entering a support group for family members or friends of addicts. Then, you can hold the intervention or keep going with a plan to, hopefully, have your loved one or friend get into treatment for their addiction.
Contact us today if you want to know more about this type of treatment or if your loved one or friend is ready to enter a professional cocaine addiction treatment center today. Our team is ready to help them get their life back with healthy recovering lifestyle skills.