According to the National Library of Medicine, amphetamine addiction is an extremely complex disease that should be professionally treated. Unfortunately, the last person who realizes that they need treatment for addiction is the amphetamine addict. When you realize that someone you know needs professional help for an amphetamine addiction it is important to know how to talk to them.
People who suffer from addiction are usually in denial and can sometimes become violent when you challenge their denial. It is also important to make sure that you are compassionate. No one means to become an addict.
Get Rid of Your Own Excuses
To effectively talk to an amphetamine addict the first thing that you need to do is actually talk to them. Most people make excuses not to approach a friend’s addiction. Some of these excuses are:
- It is none of my business,
- They would tell me if they had a problem,
- I know people who use more than they do,
- It might ruin our friendship, and
- I wouldn’t want anyone else telling me how to live my life.
These are all just excuses because you are afraid to approach the subject of amphetamine addiction with your friend. It is natural to be concerned but when you know that someone is using way to much of a substance, you need to be proactive about saying something.
Be Firm but Compassionate and Caring
An amphetamine addict will likely resist getting help.
Make sure that they know you are their friend and that you are concerned. You will need to expect denial, objections, and other negations. These are a normal part of an addict’s behavior. Expect to encounter resistance and overcome it with kindness and compassion.
Timing is Important
It is important to speak with an amphetamine addict when they are sober or at least as sober as you find them. Speaking to someone who is heavily addicted to amphetamines while they are actively using, is extremely difficult. Not only will they be extremely defensive, one of the side effects of heavy amphetamine use is violent or erratic behavior.
Some people prefer to speak with an addict after something bad has occurred. It helps if there is a negative memory associated with the amphetamine use such as a violent outburst that ended badly or something of that nature.
Encourage them to Seek Help
Although some addicts are resistant, gentle encouragement, works best as a start. For a severe addiction, you could organize an intervention or bring someone who has been through the addiction already and is now sober.
Unfortunately, there is no perfect way to approach an amphetamine addict about their addiction. It will always seem to be the wrong time. Most often, it is better to take a chance on an opportunity when they are sober than wait until you are perfectly comfortable with the situation and possible confrontation. If you would like more information on how to talk to someone with an amphetamine addiction, feel free to call us at 800-816-1059(Who Answers?).