What to Say and What to Expect
It is important to remember when helping a friend or family member who is using crystal meth or any other substance that they ultimately need to make the decision to change.
What to Say
People cannot be forced or cajoled into making the decision to stop their drug use. One important role a friend of family member can play is letting the person know that there are options available for them if they are ready to make some changes concerning their substance use. Letting the person know that you are concerned about them and are willingly to help them if they are ready to make changes is essential.
What to Expect
There is no one way anyone may react to you offering support. Some may accept your support willingly, others may balk. The key thing to remember is suggest that there are options available for them whenever they are ready to make some changes. Another key point is to remember to take care of yourself and realize that the ultimate decision is theirs to begin to make some changes.
Comments (220)
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I am here to tell anyone who is thinking of quitting that it IS possible. I said possible, not easy. I know, I was an I.V. user for over 26 years and have been Hiv for 21 years. I quit! It tok a lot of people to help me, including my Dr., counseling, family and non-using friends. The number one thing to do is leave all of your friends and/or family behnd who are using. I know, I tried to stop several tmes but kept hangin' with some of the old crowd. Every time, I got sucked back in to the scene. This last tim I told my friends that I was quitting and that I was leaving and that they would not be seeing me again unless I happen to run into them and they were clean. It has worked for me. I have even went on to help others that I have met who truly wanted to leave the drugs behind to d just that. You HAVE to LEAVE the PEOPLE and the DRUGS if youwant to be free. My thoughts are with tose of you who are conflicted and I wish you all that youdream of, because I can tell you that dreams do come true. You just have to put the work in.
BBokdave | September 03, 2010 2:59 am -
hey baide-- are you still sober? i'm meditating for you dude! xoxo
buckvnyc | July 29, 2010 1:01 am -
I'm leaving the Crystal behind today...I just hope I can make it. So many people had died around me and I really missed them and I found crystal and it became a way to escape reality. But you feel empty inside afterwards and you wonder if your life is worth living. My life is worth living and I still have enough love to give someone..maybe not the one person I miss because of he died of Aids a while back but I'm ready to open up to someone new...I'll never find that person if I'm using crystal. Today markls the beginning of my new life...by writing this, I'm feeling the sadness and depression leave me and I realize there are so many opportunities out there...I can't give up...I won't give up...and I'm going to win. I quit my awful job on Friday but I still have money and insurance to make the change. To be drugfree, find my perfect job and take care of my health. I became HIV+ because I was on crystal and became careless or I thought I was invincible. Not true, and telling yourself it's only for sex or only for a party weekend is just a cover-up. Leave the stuff alone. Destroy any phone numbers you have that get you access to the stuff and start living again. I can tell you while writing this a big knot in my should ers has just lifted and I feel frtee again. Thanks for listening. I hope this helps you.
Balde | July 20, 2010 1:14 pm - View all comments
