Hi
I have just come off the phone after speaking to my son and daughter in law. Both in tears, as my son has just admitted that he has a huge problem with coke addiction, has got himself in serious debt, and does not know where to go for help.
I have looked on line for clinics etc, but there is no cash to be found for treatment as any that we did have has been taken to fund the addiction.
I am really worried about his family (he has 3 small children) Also, if he did have to go in a clinic for treatment, would he lose his job?
I am sorry if this sounds as if i am rambling, but all these things just keep churning round in my head and I feel as if I am at my wits end,
We live in the Wirral area of Merseyside. Please can anyone advise me,
Thank you
Hi,
The best place to start is talking to "Frank":
http://www.talktofrank.com/home_html.aspx
Myarka.
Hi, below is an incomplete list of various organisations in the UK which should be able to offer information and support - some provide helplines, full directories of groups/organisations and should be able to point you to support in your local area.
Good luck
Adfam National <a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="www.adfam.org.uk">www.adfam.org.uk is a national organisation in the UK working with families affected by drugs and alcohol, which provides a range of publications and resources for families about substance use and about criminal justice and operates an online message board and searchable database of local support groups.
Cocaine Anonymous <a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="www.ca.org">www.ca.org, <a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="www.cauk.org.uk">www.cauk.org.uk is a network of self-help groups based on the 12 step model, for people dependent on cocaine.
Drink & Drug News <a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="www.drinkanddrugs.net">www.drinkanddrugs.net is a UK web portal for professionals in the substance misuse sector and wider health, social care & criminal justice settings and for individuals affected by drugs and alcohol use; a comprehensive directory of residential drug & alcohol treatment services can be downloaded from the site.
Drugscope <a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="www.drugscope.org.uk">www.drugscope.org.uk is an independent centre of expertise on drugs in the UK, providing information on all aspects of drug misuse; resources include Drugdata, a searchable database of drugs literature, Drugsearch, an online encyclopedia on drugs and their effects and Helpfinder, a database of treatment services.
Family and Friends <a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="www.familyfriends-drugs.org.uk">www.familyfriends-drugs.org.uk is a UK charity providing telephone counselling support, information and education for the families, friends and carers of people affected by substance misuse; also facilitated support groups, face-to-face counselling and drop-in service. T
Federation of Drug & Alcohol Professionals (FDAP)<a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="www.fdap.org.uk">www.fdap.org.uk is the professional body for the substance use field and works to help improve standards of practice across the sector in the UK; the website has a directory of private practitioners.
Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.) <a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="www.na.org">www.na.org, <a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="www.ukna.org">www.ukna.org is a network of self-help groups based on the 12 step model, for people dependent on drugs.
Phoenix Futures <a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="www.phoenix-futures.org.uk">www.phoenix-futures.org.uk is a charity providing specialist treatment services for drug and alcohol users across the UK, including community day services, supported housing and residential rehabilitation centres for individual adults and families.
Thank you so much, At least I have a starting point now. Bless you xx
If he visits his GP, from there he can get a referral to his local Community Drug & Alcohol Team, where a wide range of support is available (free of charge if you are in the UK).
He has made the first step, by admitting that he has a problem. There are plenty of organisations to support him and his family.
Fudge
May I suggest you try EFT? It really has brought about some amazing results - and very quickly on occcasion, even within an hour, but that is not a realistic expectation in most cases.
Look at [DLMURL] http://www.emofree.com/addictions [/DLMURL] for case histories using this method and on the same site, under Practitioners, EFTCert Hons, you will find suitable helpers. Also UK site www.aamet.org , look up Master Practitioners, or Level 3, for plenty to choose from.
I wish you every success in this difficult situation.
Caroline
Regarding his job, some employers may be sympathetic, but its a gamble if you tell them.
My industry has a policy that if you admit and tell them before you get caught, they will help you. If you are caught without telling them you are sacked - no going back.
Check what policy the company has asap.
Good luck.
May I suggest you try EFT?
Yes, would thoroughly agree with Caroline's suggestion, EFT is indeed invaluable for anyone dealing with addiction - of their own, or that of a close person.
Masha
Just a note to say that with drug addictions a combined approach is usually necessary, initially via a rehab facility either day or residential in order to commence a well planned withdrawal.
Counseling is part of the support, EFT is useful and often included, but a well rounded action plan is required and support is available to the individual and their family.
Not an easy road to follow, but well worth it when you succeed.
Fudge
Hiya,
I've been living with addiction for many years. Culminating in a pretty severe Cocaine one.
Through the want for help, i became a qualified yoga teacher, and also a Reiki teacher. I'm pretty familiar with lots of energy therapies, including Quantum Touch, And EFT.
For some time, Reiki was what really seemed to change things. I was of drugs for years. Over the last couple of years, the cocaine use resumed. It is only now, within the last few months, that the tide really has turned.
Reiki, and indeed other energy therapies/spirituality continue to play a huge part, i must though mention what has been very effective of late.
To understand addiction, to find it's weakness, i had to study it. To understand why i want that line of coke, what was driving me to do something that i didn't even enjoy, even when i was on it.
when a person uses coke, the coke makes the brain produce far more dopamine than usual. As well, it severely inhibits the brain re-absorbing it. The result of which is far more dopamine swimming around the brain as usual (this gives the high). Many more neurons are made to try to cope with this abundance.
The level of dopamine is directly related to the level of serotonin. When we put our dopamine 'factory' into over-drive, we actually weaken it's capability to make dopamine. This impacts on our ability to make serotonin also. So, we feel sad after our binge. Our sub-conscious then tells us to go seek the thing it knows will make us happy (by making a lot of dopamine), i.e. coke. This is called 'craving'. Thing is, after a certain amount of use, our capacity for making dopamine, even with coke, is almost non-existent. Hence we never get the same high. The mind/body doesn't understand this, so will continue to crave coke, and trick us into getting it.
There is good news though! Amino acids are very effective in reducing the cravings of coke. L-tyrosine will help sort out our dopamine, and also gives a little 'kick' that may slightly substitute for a coke buzz. 5-HTP will sort out or serotnin. n-acetyl cysteine (NAC), is an amino acid that has been shown in lab experiements to reduce cravings for coke. vitamin b6 helps absorb some of these amino acids.
The above things are available at all godd health shops, such as Holland & Barrat. And, they really do work. I'm fortunate, i am sorting out my chemical imbalance in my brain over coke, and i have other things like Reiki, etc. For others, i'd suggest that reliance on amino acids on their own isn't recccomened. Thought they aure as heck are fanatastic!
Wayne
Drug addiction should be viewed no less serious than cancer.
Just a note to say that with drug addictions a combined approach is usually necessary, initially via a rehab facility either day or residential in order to commence a well planned withdrawal.
93% of people with substance misue isues change their behaviour without any profesional input whatso ever.
of those that do seek professional heal a VERY SMALL percentage need to go into residential rehab, for most some counselling, which is a mix of life coaching and psychodynamic therapies is sufficent for them to achieve change.
what is importnat is to remember that the drugs are the persons solution to something else, and this is what needs to be sorted, when this is done drug misuse goes away.
Cocaine is NOT physically adictive in any case, so no withdrawel needs to be planned, however cravings to use and achyness can make people want to use. sometimes a change of scenerry can help with this espically a warm place.
Its also importnat that people reward themselves during this process, this may sem difficult if they are feeling guilty and have debts but its really importnat that some budget is put aside to reward the behavioural changes they are making, otherwise you can set yourself up for a relapse, who wants to feel guilty and awful?
your local drug service will be anonomous and i would recomend aproaching them directly you DO NOT want any record of drug abuse on your medical records unless absolutely necissary (complication etc) as this can stop your life insurance etc from being valid!
Drug addiction should be viewed no less serious than cancer.
Sorry, i can't see how the two can be compared!, don't mean to offend but i've never heard anybody ask for cancer, people are aware that drugs are addictive. Where i used to live, i could walk out my garden gate and find syringes and bloody swabs, gross!! anyway, thats another story.
Sorry, i can't see how the two can be compared!, don't mean to offend but i've never heard anybody ask for cancer, people are aware that drugs are addictive. Where i used to live, i could walk out my garden gate and find syringes and bloody swabs, gross!! anyway, thats another story.
People smoke cigarettes, have poor diets and make other lifestyle choices that can lead to cancer...
I believe most addictions are a symptom of underlying emotional problems - nobody willingly chooses a life of addiction and misery, they are drawn to it because it eases some other pain inside them. That is my opinion anyhow 🙂 There are some cases where people become addicted through using drugs medically or through being ignorant of their effects.
Of course the actions of some drug users can make life unpleasant for those around them, and being addicted to drugs doesn't stop someone from being responsible for their actions. But IMO everyone is entitled to compassion - without compassion and understanding they are unlikely to change their lives around.
People smoke cigarettes, have poor diets and make other lifestyle choices that can lead to cancer...
And some people get cancer despite having a "perfect" lifestyle... Even little babies get cancer! 🙁