Tips For Friends of Addicts

Health and Wellness - General

By: JoyceTeresaMann 12-Aug-2011

Introduction:

Social drinking. Recreational drug use -- You pretty much have your bad habits under control... somewhat. But what about the friends you party with? Can they, like you, stop at two beers and one snort of meth and call it a night? This List My Five is intended to help those who "party" to recognize the signs of serious addiction problems in others. It may save a life.

It's the Dopamine, Stupid!

Dopamine is a brain chemical that sends the feeling of intense pleasure throughout the body. The uncontrollable surges and retreats of this chemical within the brain are what separate an addict from others. If your friend Mike drinks every beer set in front of him -- fifteen, twenty, whatever -- that should tell you Mike is an addict and needs help: Not another round of drinks.

Friends Don't Let Friends Mix Drugs With Booze

Once your buddy Mike has downed his three six-packs, think twice about letting some dope pusher sell you meth, coke or anything else. Maybe your body can handle a small amount of an illegal substance, but Mike? By now Mike has completely lost any ability to make a rational choice. THINK ABOUT YOUR FRIEND!

Dial 9-1-1. That's What It's There For!

Be aware! Dial 9-1-1 at the first sign of trouble. If someone says, "Mike doesn't look right," or Mike just "twitched," hit 9-1-1 then. Don't wait forty minutes because you're afraid of the cops. If Mike dies of an overdose, you'll have more than the narcotics squad to deal with. You'll be sentenced to a lifetime of guilt. Unfortunately drug addiction is treated as a criminal issue and only secondarily as a deadly disease.

Quit Your Stinkin' Bad Habit

If every "suit" out there who holds a respectable job by day were to stop his recreational drug use by night, to whom would the dealers sell their poison? To a lot less people, that's who. Clean up your act and set a good example for others! Report drug dealers to the police. Be a model citizen.

Educate Yourself and Others

It is unfortunate that much of society still looks down upon those with addiction problems. Think of the mean and caustic comments directed at singer Amy Winehouse after her unfortunate death at age 27, and Whitney Houston as well. It is uncalled for. Often people with addictions also suffer from mental-health issues. This "dual-diagnosis" as it's called, makes life for those with addictive personalities that much more difficult. The line between "helping" and "enabling" is a thin one, but one you should learn about for the sake of all the "Mikes" in the world.

Final Thoughts

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there were close to 20,000 deaths in 2004 attributed to accidental drug overdose. This number was second only to automobile accidents. This List My Five is dedicated to the memory of Adrian Paul Pfitzer.

Supporting Links

Understanding Addiction

Give this list a high five!

Comments

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hummingbirdee 3/2/2013
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Great tips.
dashboardc33 2/2/2012
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nice article!
clewand550 1/29/2012
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Great tips. H5 list.
TigerStripes 10/13/2011
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Very helpful list and insightful. H5, and thanks for sharing!
gerrielynn 10/7/2011
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The internet is a such a powerful tool and used both for purposes that are destructive & disgusting or uplifting and educational. Your 5 points are most definitely uplifting and educational...and encouraging to those who have Mike's in their lives. Well done, my friend. I hope this gets picked up and placed on several other websites in order to be found and read by millions of people. If I had 100 High 5's, I'd give them all to you for this great article!
vivasuzi 9/9/2011
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It is so true that if you recognize problems with your friends, you shouldn't just ignore them. Maybe Amy W's friends saw that she was going overboard but didn't try to help.
Wasatch 8/22/2011
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Good article. Addicts need a good support system of friends and family to keep hope and keep trying.
goodselfme 8/16/2011
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Well said and with great presentation.
AJTyne 8/15/2011
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Great list, Joyce. I pray that it indeed does help prevent more pain. No one ever starts smoking, drinking or drugs with the intention of becoming addicted. But we don't know how individual chemistry and so we cannot know the full effects of "socializing" and "experimenting" until it is too late. But you're right. Those who don't get addicted quite as easily can help their friends by quitting first and watching for signs in their friends, then reaching out to those who need help.
Momose 8/14/2011
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Many of the "suits" are browsing articles right now; so many others searching for the words that will transform them. And yours are the words that will reach someone who needs them. Commendable effort Joyce, and obviously from a place of caring.
ListingToTheLeft 8/13/2011
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Good information.
RobMcKelvie 8/13/2011
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Great List, Joyce! I feel the pain behind it. Good for you, trying to save others by educating all of us.
candy47 8/13/2011
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Great insight on addiction. Thanks for sharing.
JennyHeart 8/12/2011
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Outstanding list! H5
Vallain 8/12/2011
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Such an important topic. Thanks for posting it.
jseven 8/12/2011
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Well-said and if it saves one, it was worth putting it out there. H5!
MiddleSister 8/12/2011
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Yes, this may save a life.