How to Help a Cocaine Addict

Knowing that someone close to you is struggling with a cocaine addiction can be heartbreaking, and many people don’t know what to do to help. The addiction itself can create significant physical and mental changes in the individual, as well as cause the deterioration of many of their interpersonal relationships, eventually damaging every aspect of their life.

First, we’re going to look at how you might be able to spot a cocaine addict, then we’ll take a look at just what you might be able to do to help them, and convince them to get professional treatment. We’ll also cover a short list of things that you should not do when trying to help someone with a cocaine addiction.

How To Spot A Cocaine Addict?

The first thing you should know is how to spot the signs of addiction in another person. There is a wide range of signs that can either be behavioral, psychological, or physical, but we’ll only cover a few of them here, they include:

Constantly needing to use cocaine to feel normal

They have a tolerance to cocaine and require larger amounts to feel the same effects

They have expressed the desire to want to cut down or stop but are not able to do so themselves

They become irritable when they haven’t had cocaine for a while

Increased secrecy and isolation from friends and family

Constantly worsening financial shape, even resorting to borrowing money or stealing to get more cocaine

Their social circle has grown to be mostly people to use or provide cocaine

They act recklessly or impulsively when using cocaine

Inability to sleep

Constantly seeming energized

Grinding teeth

Just spotting a few of the signs doesn’t automatically mean someone is addicted to cocaine, but it does mean that they should consider meeting with a professional for an evaluation. Only a trained and licensed doctor or clinician can diagnose a substance use disorder, no matter what substances are involved.

How To Help A Cocaine Addict

If you feel like a loved one is struggling with a cocaine addiction, there are a few things that you might be able to do to help them. Here are some ideas.

Learn the symptoms of addiction. One of the best and most important things that you can do for your loved one is to learn all you can about their disease, and the symptoms of the addiction itself. Understanding the signs can help you learn to spot potential triggers.

Keep an open dialogue. Another powerful technique is to let them know, honestly, about your worries related to their potential addiction. Sometimes one of the most effective things you can do is to have a simple, open conversation.

Keep up self-care. You can’t help anyone else if you aren’t helping yourself, and helping someone with an addiction can be draining. If you aren’t practicing adequate self-care, you can start to see that effort take its toll on you.

Gently urge professional treatment. Nobody wants to be hounded or nagged, but reminding them that addiction is a disease and that diseases are best fought with medical help can be a gentle way of guiding them to make the decision themselves.