Substance Abuse Help

Substance abuse help is beneficial for those who have a problem with drugs or alcohol. The term substance abuse covers a wide variety of drugs but the results are the same for those who use them in excess, tragedy. For those who care about helping someone with their substance abuse problems but the user is not ready to stop, you may find information on substance abuse interventions more applicable.

This is a predicament which involves many individuals: the addict themselves, their families, friends or work colleagues. There is a wide range of helpful solutions available for those who are ready to end their substance abuse. Individuals looking for assistance may find attending a treatment program or visiting a substance abuse counselor beneficial. Often times there are support groups available for the family and friends of the individual who is receiving substance abuse help.

Substance abuse is a problem which affects people of all income levels, ages, and stations in life. Quite often the last person to see that there is a problem is the addict. Families try to help their loved ones to no avail. Companies face a difficult choice when faced with a once valuable employee or executive who has, due to some turn in life, developed a substance abuse problem - to help or to terminate. When this is the case it is important to talk to the individual about their substance use and see if they are ready to quit using drugs. For those who are not, the family, friends, or colleagues can perform what is known as an intervention. This may help the addict to see how much their substance abuse means to you and that you truly want to help them.

You may be concerned about your child, your spouse, your partner, your parent(s), your brother or sister, a friend, a work colleague, or even yourself. If you are looking for substance abuse help for someone you care about here are some key points to keep in mind.

1. You can offer your help and support. You can show that you care about them.
2. You can not control the individual's actions. Only they can control their actions. They ultimately have to make the decision to get help for their abuse problems.
3. The very thought of not using may make some individuals frightened or scared. They may have abused one substance or another for such a long period of time that it feels to them being intoxicated is natural. Or, they may fear withdrawal which sometimes can be quite painful.
4. Only very powerful motivation can help an addict decide to end their abuse. This motivation comes about when: the consequences of using become even more painful than not using. Dire consequences of substance abuse which could prompt an individual to discontinue using might include:
   1. Going to prison.
   2. Being thrown out of the family home.
   3. Losing a partner, or children.
   4. Losing a job.
   5. Becoming bankrupt.
   6. Having a serious accident.

If you are looking for substance abuse help for yourself here are some key points to keep in mind.

1. Be honest with yourself. Denial can kill. Knowing you have a problem is the first step in getting help.
2. Just cutting down is not the solution. Sooner or later you will be using just as much as you were before. You need to stop using altogether.
3. Get help for your substance abuse problem. There are many different ways to go about doing this. You can enter a treatment program, join a support group, or receive counseling. The most important thing is that you surround yourself with people who are supportive of your decision to end your destructive behavior.
4. Act now. Putting off getting help for your problems with substance abuse will only lead to more problems in the future.
5. Learn other ways of coping with stress and boredom. Many people use to relieve one or the other. Picking up a healthy hobby or skill will ease your transition into living a sober lifestyle.

Every year, more and more people become addicts in their pursuit to get "high". Many die trying, but it doesn't have to be this way. With such a large number of people with substance abuse problems, the government, as well as private entities has developed a large network of substance abuse centers. Substance abuse help is available for those who want to end their self destructive behavior.

Keep in mind, for help to work the individual truly has to want to get clean. Without this desire from them, even the most qualified and highly trained help will not work. Only the individual who has a problem with substance abuse can truly make a change within themselves.