With the horrible news about Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s Death, here are some statistics and ideas to help viewers that may have loved one suffering from an addiction:
25-30 million suffering in USA alone
Of those, only about 3 million received help last year
This tells us the addicts are not the first to notice how “BAD” things are.
The reason is denial is number 1 symptom to this disease, addicts say, “I am not that bad”, “I’m going to stop tomorrow”, “I know how much I can do”, “That person is worse than me”, Addicts have thousand of excuses. Have you ever tried negotiating this point with an addict? It is exhausting.
Healthy family members see SIGNS FIRST
Signs to look for:
Acronym Like dropping grades:
AAAAB
Attitude
Achievements
Appearance
Attendance
Behaviors
Families can notice when one or more declining.
These are Warning signs to get an assessment with a professional, the person may not need in-patient treatment just some support and help, do not turn blind eye.
There are reports that every 15-19 minutes someone in this country is overdosing and dying. Around 75 – 100 people a day. Mr. Hoffman is one of those statistics don’t let him die in vain do something if your loved one is using drugs.
If the addict is not willing, it is normal, again the number one symptom is DENIAL.
HEALTHY PEOPLE: family, friends, employers and co-workers who are around the addict need to take first step. The addict is numb to reality induced by drugs and alcohol, they cannot see the destruction their disease is causing.
If you feel an intervention is too aggressive, then call a professional for a family workshop to put a plan together, do something.
Discomfort and consequences are the only way anyone changes (no one wakes up with a perfect life and says today is the day I want to get help!)
if your loved one is diagnosed with addiction, they can’t use any drugs, alcohol or mood altering substances. It is okay to have a zero tolerance like some employers do for using drugs.
If your loved ones does not stop using, keep trying while they are still breathing. 99% of the time you can find a motivator, a reason for them to stop.
learn how to implement bottom lines and consequences in loving way.
It is a process just like recovery for all diseases is a process:
Cancer
Diabetes
Heart Disease
All chronic diseases utilize long term monitoring.
There is no quick fix. successful recovery has track records for years with paper trails of negative RANDOM drug testing. We see the success in program that are 1.5 – 10 years in length.
Drug courts About 65% Success
1 1/2-2 years
High licensed professionals, lawyers, doctors, nurses, pharmacist, judges. About 79% Success
3-5 years
Pilots About 92% Success
10 years
ALL have long term monitoring and case management.
All are a process. Recovery is a slow process not 30-90 day quick fix at treatment center that is only beginning.
Look for a Family workshop on identifying motivators to change behaviors.
Making sure the workshop will help identifying motivators and help develop a family contract. Not just the education piece on addiction but the steps to take to break though denial for person just not ready to stop or be engaged in recovery process.
This is available for your loved ones, your viewers.
Reach out for help we have answers but it takes the HEALTHY person to take the first step in most cases. Again 25 t0 30 million needing help, 3 million received it, not hard to see who sees the warning signs first.
Reach out you have the power to initiate change