General Interest > Addiction Treatment Philosophy

How to get sober

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Maximilian:
Note to admin: This thread can be moved to the drug recovery forums once they are created, but since I didn't want it in the open free for all I figured this was the best topic to put it in.


If someone came to you and asked you for advice on how to get sober, how would you advise that they go about this? Please answer this for the two different scenarios.

Scenario 1: The person who comes to you is the father of an older teen about to turn 18 who is addicted to heroin and has almost died from it several times. The teen has been in trouble with the law several times for drug use and crimes related to obtaining the drug. The teen uses every single day and when asked says they can't stop on their own and need help.

Scenario 2: A close friend of yours discloses that they are a secret alcoholic, and have to drink massive amounts of alcohol daily just to fend off the withdrawal symptoms. They tell you that they can barely keep their life together, but they are a functioning alcoholic in their 30's. They have a family that knows about the drinking since this person comes home drunk almost every night. What the family doesn't know is this person has bottles stashed everywhere and starts drinking as soon as they wake up, until they go to bed. They are reluctant to enter rehab because they fear losing their job, and come to you and ask you for advice.

What would you advise in these situations to the person struggling with addiction?

Pile of Dead Kids:
Hand him a bottle of top-quality beer and tell him not to drink it.

/thread

Shadyacres:
both of those people need medically supervised detox.  Family and peer support ( non coercive ) are the most important thing after that.  The adult is going to have to tell his job something, there is no easy way to detox from heavy alcohol dependance.

Shadyacres:
And I would tell both of them not to listen to any idiots who might try to tell them they are powerless.  They know they have free will already, do not try to deceive them.

psy:
Scenario 1: Ibogaine (and/or other withdrawal drugs) and therapy.  Perhaps a support group such as SOS or SMART.  New group of friends who don't use smack to avoid temptation (optional but easier).

Scenario 2: If the person is functioning and does not want to quit, leave it alone.  If it's just a case of fending off withdrawal symptoms, Antabuse can help, as well as having a friend remove all alcohol from the home.  Like above, therapy and a support group can also help.

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