According to rehab centers in the US, a significant part of premature mortality has to do with the use of addictive substances. It is in our hands to reduce and entirely eliminate this severe problem, so we must know everything related to addiction and how to help an addict.
What is an addiction?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), addiction is a physical and psycho-emotional disease made up of desires that dominate the feelings and thoughts of the sufferer.
There are 2 types of addiction:
- Substance addiction (addiction to alcohol or alcoholism, addiction to marijuana, addiction to cocaine, etc.)
- Without substances (addiction to the game, sex, food ...).
Here, we will focus on substance addiction.
What is being addicted?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, used by psychologists and psychiatrists worldwide, recognizes a series of criteria to diagnose that a person is dependent on substances:
- A maladaptive pattern that leads to clinically significant deterioration or discomfort in the person, expressed by three or more of the following characteristics:
- Tolerance is defined as a need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve poisoning or the desired effect.
- Abstinence, defined as the characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance or the same substance (or a very similar one), is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.
- The substance is consumed in larger quantities or for a more extended period than initially intended.
- There is a persistent desire for the substance, or unsuccessful efforts are made to control or interrupt its consumption.
- A lot of time is spent on obtaining the substance, consuming it, or recovering its effects.
- Reduction or abandonment of significant social, labor, or recreational activities due to substance use.
The substance continues to be consumed despite being aware of persistent psychological or physical problems that appear to be caused or exacerbated by the use of the substance (for example, using cocaine, knowing that it causes rebound depression).
How to help an addict?
- To help an addict, regardless of the substance to which they are addicted, the following steps must be followed:
- The first and most important is the fact that the addict is aware of his illness. If the addict has not acknowledged as such, it is tough to start treatment for healing. You must talk to the person and make them understand your problem. Know the characteristics of addiction and the symptoms and signs that it causes, as well as how to distinguish it.
- Do not blame or judge the patient; just talk positively to them and show them the support and help they deserve.
- Do not make this subject a taboo, and act naturally and calmly. Talking with the patient with complete confidence will make them feel more at ease and less judged, positively changing his attitude towards treatment.
- Encourage them to seek professional help. Tell them that you know about some of the best rehabs in the US, and then search for them (if you don’t know already).
- Support the patient unconditionally in their significant step. It is challenging for an addict to go to the clinic, so we must support them and reinforce the great effort they are making.
- If he prefers, accompany the patient to his first consultation. This will help the patient and serve as a reference figure for the psychologist.
- Take them to meet someone cured with a consultation at any of the rehab centers in the US.
The recovery of an addict is tough, but by following these steps with love and unconditional support, we will get that person out of the hole and find them the happiness and fulfillment that they deserve.
