D DreamLife RECOVERY Get Your DREAM LIFE HOW CAN YOU HELP A FRIEND WITH ADDICTION? l you have a friend who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, you are probably wondering how you can halp. s amcult to see someone you care about go through the pain of addiction You may worry about their safety, and you probably miss the friend you knaw before the substance abuse took control of their life. You want to do somathing for your friand, but what? The desire to help someone battling addiction is admirable and understandable. You know that your friend is good person who is going through a hard time, but you may feel helpless watching as addiction dismanties their e. Hyou're in this situation, here is practical advice to consider before you approach your friend about addiction. SIGNS YOUR FRIEND MAY BE ON DRUGS Broaching the topic of substance use-ven for those who arent dealing with addiction-can be really sensitive and could cause your triend to become delensive or angry, especialy if they are feeling jadged. Before you tak with your friend about their drug or Moreover, each person wil have a unique experience with substance use. Some may be abio to hide their drug or alcohol use weil while others may demonstrate more obvious symptoms of problematic alcohol abuse or drug use, iko heroin addiction. Regardless, there are some general signs that could be indicators of addiction to alcohol or drugs. The American Psychiatric Association states in the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) that one or more of the following behaviors over the course of a year may be a sign of addiction: Your friend engages in high-risk behaviors (driving under the infuence, engaging in unsafe sexual behavior, getting into physical fights or trouble with law enforcement) Your friend keeps using alccholidrugs even while sufering Your friend seems unable to control their alcoholidrug use Your tiend experiences strong oravings for alcoholidrugs Your fend spends a lot of time and resources getting or using alcoholidrugs Your thend continues to use alcoholidrugs despite negative consequences Your thendh tamily, relationships, et Your friend no longer does activites they used to enjoy and may spend more time with other people who use alcohol drugs instead of their usual triendsisocial circles health issues from them Your friend has become dependent on substance use andior suffers withdrawal symptoms s having problems with work, school triends. Your friend has tried and failed to stop using substances You wouldn't accuse a friend of having dabetes because you always see them deinking soda or eating tast food: Ikewise. you dont just tel someone you think they have an addiction because youve seen them use drugs or alcohol. This is simply to say that you should educate yourseif before trying to help. f your triend has demonstrated signs of addiction, you should then consider some possible reasons why this has happened. PHONE CALL MEDICAL SCREENING VERIFICATION OF BENEFITS TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS CONTACT JONLINE FOR CHAT, OR PHONE CALL ADMIT WELOOME TO DreamLife DECAMLIEE ADMISSION PROCESS ALUMNI STORY 66 When l've been in treatment before, I kinda felt like I was a number being moved through a building. When I'm here I feel like a person. They actually care. I have had my worst days here and my best days here and no matter which one it was they were always like, "Jay, what's going on with you?" "Hey how are you doing today?" Jay S Revovering From Percocet Use Disorder CALL OUR ADMISSONS TEAM AT 855-912-6873 DreamLife Recovery DreamLife Recovery Dreamlife DreamLifePA o DreamLife PA in Recovery PA VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT DREAMLIFERECOVERY.COM D DreamLife RECOVERY Get Your DREAM LIFE HOW CAN YOU HELP A FRIEND WITH ADDICTION? l you have a friend who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, you are probably wondering how you can halp. s amcult to see someone you care about go through the pain of addiction You may worry about their safety, and you probably miss the friend you knaw before the substance abuse took control of their life. You want to do somathing for your friand, but what? The desire to help someone battling addiction is admirable and understandable. You know that your friend is good person who is going through a hard time, but you may feel helpless watching as addiction dismanties their e. Hyou're in this situation, here is practical advice to consider before you approach your friend about addiction. SIGNS YOUR FRIEND MAY BE ON DRUGS Broaching the topic of substance use-ven for those who arent dealing with addiction-can be really sensitive and could cause your triend to become delensive or angry, especialy if they are feeling jadged. Before you tak with your friend about their drug or Moreover, each person wil have a unique experience with substance use. Some may be abio to hide their drug or alcohol use weil while others may demonstrate more obvious symptoms of problematic alcohol abuse or drug use, iko heroin addiction. Regardless, there are some general signs that could be indicators of addiction to alcohol or drugs. The American Psychiatric Association states in the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) that one or more of the following behaviors over the course of a year may be a sign of addiction: Your friend engages in high-risk behaviors (driving under the infuence, engaging in unsafe sexual behavior, getting into physical fights or trouble with law enforcement) Your friend keeps using alccholidrugs even while sufering Your friend seems unable to control their alcoholidrug use Your tiend experiences strong oravings for alcoholidrugs Your fend spends a lot of time and resources getting or using alcoholidrugs Your thend continues to use alcoholidrugs despite negative consequences Your thendh tamily, relationships, et Your friend no longer does activites they used to enjoy and may spend more time with other people who use alcohol drugs instead of their usual triendsisocial circles health issues from them Your friend has become dependent on substance use andior suffers withdrawal symptoms s having problems with work, school triends. Your friend has tried and failed to stop using substances You wouldn't accuse a friend of having dabetes because you always see them deinking soda or eating tast food: Ikewise. you dont just tel someone you think they have an addiction because youve seen them use drugs or alcohol. This is simply to say that you should educate yourseif before trying to help. f your triend has demonstrated signs of addiction, you should then consider some possible reasons why this has happened. PHONE CALL MEDICAL SCREENING VERIFICATION OF BENEFITS TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS CONTACT JONLINE FOR CHAT, OR PHONE CALL ADMIT WELOOME TO DreamLife DECAMLIEE ADMISSION PROCESS ALUMNI STORY 66 When l've been in treatment before, I kinda felt like I was a number being moved through a building. When I'm here I feel like a person. They actually care. I have had my worst days here and my best days here and no matter which one it was they were always like, "Jay, what's going on with you?" "Hey how are you doing today?" Jay S Revovering From Percocet Use Disorder CALL OUR ADMISSONS TEAM AT 855-912-6873 DreamLife Recovery DreamLife Recovery Dreamlife DreamLifePA o DreamLife PA in Recovery PA VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT DREAMLIFERECOVERY.COM