Heroin is a terrible drug. It is also a deadly drug. Every time a person uses this drug, he or she is playing roulette with his or her life. There is no way to safely use this drug. This is why heroin abuse is such a serious situation. When you have a loved one who is using, you likely have already tried begging the person to get help. You have probably tried bargaining and even tough love. These tactics rarely work because heroin is such a powerful substance. There are things that you can do, though. Here’s a look at some tips for what you should do if you have a loved one addicted to heroin.
Get a Naloxone Kit
The majority of states have legalized Naloxone kits, which means you can likely buy one and keep it handy. These kits can save lives. If administered quickly, naloxone can reverse an overdose. While this won’t help your loved one stop using, it can save his or her life if an overdose occurs. You can even give the kit to your loved one and explain how to use it and why it is important. Naloxone can’t be abused and won’t lead to a new drug addiction. It can, however, keep your loved one alive, and maybe surviving an overdose will be enough for him or her to seek help.
Avoid the Blame Game
It is really easy to start trying to point the finger at friends or situations that you feel are the reason for your loved one’s addiction. However, playing this blame game isn’t going to accomplish anything, except maybe making your loved one mad at you. You really don’t know why your loved one started using, even if he or she told you a reason. There is likely some underlying reason that is at the heart of the addiction. Besides, the bottom line is that your loved one is to blame because he or she is responsible for his or her own decisions, including to start using.
Be Encouraging
While pushing and prodding your loved one to get help rarely works, being encouraging and accepting his or her decision can help a lot. Many times people who suffer from heroin abuse try to get help but are discouraged because they are told it isn’t the right solution to their problems. Addiction is very personal, support your loved one’s attempts, no matter what they are, to get help.
Heroin abuse is scary, but you can’t stop your loved one from using. All you can do is be supportive and try to do whatever you can to steer that person towards recovery. Visit The Drug and Alcohol Detox Clinic of South Mississippi at (601) 261-9101 to learn more.
