| Fear |
Fact |
| You don’t know enough
about addiction to say anything. |
You can learn about abuse
and addiction. Every bookstore and library has information on this topic. |
| You don’t have the right
to tell someone else how to live his or her life. |
You do have the right
to tell someone how his or her behavior is affecting you. |
| Your nagging causes the
person to drink or use drugs even more, because it adds stress to the user’s
life. |
You are not the cause
of other people’s behavior. Using is how the user chooses to handle stress;
not using is also a choice. |
| You’ll offend the person
if you mention his or her drinking or drug use, or you are too embarrassed
to talk about it. |
You might offend the
user when you say his or her drug use seems extreme . . . but your concern
might also save the user’s job, marriage, or life. |
| You know the user has
a problem, but you don’t know where the person can go for help. |
Before you talk to the
user, find out about available treatment. Call your local hospital, or
look in the telephone book under "alcoholism," "substance abuse," or "rehabilitation." |
| If you say something,
you’ll have to get involved. (If you keep quiet, it’ll go away.) |
If you ignore an addiction,
it will only get worse. Addiction is a disease; if it remains untreated,
it will kill the user. Even if you are ready to confront someone, the person
may not be ready to listen. A user is in denial when he or she won’t admit
that the problems are due to drinking or other drug use. Users who are
in denial may say things like:
"Who me? I don’t have a problem;
you have the problem . . ."
"I couldn’t have a problem. I have
a good job and hardly ever miss a day."
"I could stop if I wanted to; I just
don’t want to."
"You don’t know what you’re talking
about."
"It’s none of your business." |