How to tell your friend they have a problem with drugs

Watching a friend spiral downward into the pit of drug addiction is not a pretty sight. Attacking the friend or calling her a worthless drug addict is not going to help, but getting her to admit she has a problem will. You can tell your friend they have a problem with drugs by showing honesty, openness and a willingness to help. Read on to learn how to tell your friend they have a problem with drugs.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Gentle yet firm demeanor
• <br>Honesty
• <br>Love

1. Have a heartfelt talk with your friend, telling her you noticed a change in her behavior. Tell her that she is not the same easy-going gal you used to know. Is there anything she wants to talk about?
2. Come armed with facts. Tell her those changes in behavior include weight loss, depression, waking up in weird places, getting beat up and arrested. Mention she also has a weird look on her face that reminds you of those zombie drug addicts you used to see in the vacant lot on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Tell her those people end up dead in the weeds.
3. Get her to open her eyes. Ask her to list 10 things that are important to her, 10 activities she enjoys and 10 of her most pertinent values. Those with drug problems will have a hard time with this task.
4. Give your friend a challenge. Tell her if she’s not having a problem with drugs, she’ll be able to stop for a month, a week or even a day. Can she?
5. Offer to help in any way possible. This includes finding a phone number for a support group, offering to go with her to a meeting and even taking her to a rehab center if she’s willing.

Tips & Warnings

• Give her hope. If she admits to a problem, tell her it’s not the end of the world, but if she continues to use it can be.
• Expect denial.
• <br>Expect anger
• <br>In the worst case scenario, if your friend refuses to admit her drug problem, you may have to have to break off the friendship if it is endangering your health or sanity.