Hi guys,
I'm wondering if any of you have any tips or advice on how to handle/help a loved one that has a drinking/pill problem? Without going into too much detail, one of my very good friends has an addiction problem that has really escilated and become much worse over the past few months. I'm really concerned that she is going to overdose and kill herself one of these days if she doesn't stop. (I've expressed that concern to her as have many others, and she just doesn't care.) I want to help her, but I'm really not sure of the proper way to go about things? I definitely don't want to enable or encourage her habits. (I don't give money to her, drink around her, let her stay at my place, or anything of that nature). At the same time, I don't want to push her away and not speak to her either. I'm pretty much at my wits end though! I've talked with her parents and her (her parents and I have all encouraged her to go to meetings and offered to go with her, but she refuses.) After reading about different kinds of interventions on several websites, I'm pretty sure that she would be the type to respond very negatively to a group intervention, so her family and I have tried to talk with her one on one about our concerns. I know from dealing with family members in the past, that most people have to hit "rock bottom" on their own before they make a decision to get help. I undersand that some people go through their entire lives and never want to change or get help and there might be nothing that I can do about that. (I'm hoping that doesn't wind up being the case in this situation). I've visited a few websites that relate to substance abuse/alcoholism and have tried to take some of that advice. I've also thought about going to one of the al-anon meetings that they hold for family/friends to see if they have any suggestions as well. I really hate to see her go down such a destructive path; I don't want to (and won't allow her) to drag myself down with her addiction. But, I do want to do everything that I can to help her before she harms herself...
Any advice?
I'm wondering if any of you have any tips or advice on how to handle/help a loved one that has a drinking/pill problem? Without going into too much detail, one of my very good friends has an addiction problem that has really escilated and become much worse over the past few months. I'm really concerned that she is going to overdose and kill herself one of these days if she doesn't stop. (I've expressed that concern to her as have many others, and she just doesn't care.) I want to help her, but I'm really not sure of the proper way to go about things? I definitely don't want to enable or encourage her habits. (I don't give money to her, drink around her, let her stay at my place, or anything of that nature). At the same time, I don't want to push her away and not speak to her either. I'm pretty much at my wits end though! I've talked with her parents and her (her parents and I have all encouraged her to go to meetings and offered to go with her, but she refuses.) After reading about different kinds of interventions on several websites, I'm pretty sure that she would be the type to respond very negatively to a group intervention, so her family and I have tried to talk with her one on one about our concerns. I know from dealing with family members in the past, that most people have to hit "rock bottom" on their own before they make a decision to get help. I undersand that some people go through their entire lives and never want to change or get help and there might be nothing that I can do about that. (I'm hoping that doesn't wind up being the case in this situation). I've visited a few websites that relate to substance abuse/alcoholism and have tried to take some of that advice. I've also thought about going to one of the al-anon meetings that they hold for family/friends to see if they have any suggestions as well. I really hate to see her go down such a destructive path; I don't want to (and won't allow her) to drag myself down with her addiction. But, I do want to do everything that I can to help her before she harms herself...
Any advice?