Who Needs Drug Abuse Treatment?

Any individual who has a drug abuse problem may qualify for some type of addiction treatment. If you suspect that a friend, coworker or a loved one has a drug problem, chances are you have noticed a number of disturbing trends in their life that has given cause to be alarmed.

You may have noticed that they have been neglectful of things in their life that were once very important to them; you may notice that your friend/loved one is missing deadlines or commitments or they may be spending a great deal of money.

When these changes become part of a new lifestyle for him or her, they would most likely benefit from some sort of intervention, drug detox, and drug abuse treatment. When the drug controls their lifestyle and they find that they are suffering from a compulsive need to seek the drug and use the drug, regardless of the consequences, he or she needs drug abuse treatment.

There are a number of signs/symptoms that you can use to determine whether your loved one has a drug abuse or alcoholism problem. These may include:

1. Any change in friends or lifestyle, attitude or behavior
2. Negative changes at home, work or school
3. Increased secrecy about possessions, activities or their money use
4. An increase in borrowing money
5. Evidence of drug paraphernalia
6. Missing prescription drugs
7. A lack of interest in friends or activities that were once very important to the individual

If you have noticed any of the above, you will want to talk to your loved one about your concerns. There are a number of screening assessments and tools available online. You may also want to encourage your friend or loved one to make an appointment to see their health care provider or encourage them to contact a local drug rehabilitation programs to have an assessment conducted. Screening and assessment can involve a series of questions, a formal questionnaire or a urine or blood drug screen. Once a formal assessment has been conducted, he or she can consult with their physician or drug rehab treatment professional to determine the best course of treatment.

Many individuals who are suffering from a drug addiction may or may not recognize that they even have a problem. If your loved one refuses to acknowledge that he or she has a drug abuse problem, you will want to consult with your doctor or other health care professional about conducting a formal intervention. If the intervention is used properly, the individual will be forced to recognize the impact that their drug use has had on their friends and family members. This usually pushes the individual to voluntarily seek treatment for their problem.

If the intervention fails, do not give up. There are also a variety of legal methods that can be utilized to force the individual into drug rehabilitation treatment. Consult with your doctor, substance abuse specialist or family attorney for other options. Chances are that once your loved one is confronted with an ultimatum to seek a treatment program voluntarily versus legal enforcement methods, they will choose to seek treatment on their own. If you are however forced to use the law to your advantage, do not lose sight of what your ultimate goal is: treating your loved one’s drug problem. They may resent you in the beginning but in the end, they will realize that you were only looking out for their best interests and they will eventually thank you for it.