D-Nile Not Just a River in Egypt
If you are a parent or you have a significant other whom you think may have a substance abuse problem, or if you think there is no problem - take just a moment and read this self-help guide for enablers.
The first step is to determine if you have a problem with enabling a loved one who is careening down the road of addiction. The most tell-tell sign that you have a problem is that you will not want to read further. Please keep reading and do your best to answer honestly.
• Have you ever avoided talking about the problem because it makes your loved one mad?
• Have you ever found what you thought was drug paraphernalia in you house and just threw it away and pretended like you didn’t know what it was?
• Have you ever threatened the police with a lawsuit for arresting a loved one for drug or alcohol issues?
• Have you ever suspected that your loved one was high and been too afraid to confront them?
• Have you ever threatened a Doctor with a lawsuit because he refused to prescribe your loved one pain medication?
• Do you keep track of all of your loved ones court dates and fine payments for them?
• Do you lie for your loved one when they fail to comply with court orders and or treatment recommendations?
• Do you lie for your loved one when they have a dirty drug test?
• When people notice peculiar behavior about your loved one do you make excuses?
• Do you cave into manipulation because it is easier to believe the lie?
• Do you buy varieties of alcohol so your loved one will drink at home?
• Have you ever told your loved one that it was not their fault?
• Have you ever blamed legal problems on over zealous police?
• Have you ever smelt marijuana smoke on your teen and believed them when they said that they were just with some one who smoked it?
• Have you ever called your loved ones work and lied because they were too hung over to come in?
• Have you ever justified your loved ones actions saying, “Everyone experiments when they are young.”
• Do you ever watch programs with drug related content and feel worm and fuzzy inside when they minimize and joke about drug use?
• Do you ever drive your loved one to their heroine dealer because they are sick?
• Do you hide excessive alcohol containers from friends and family?
• Do you apologize to your loved one when they suffer consequences from their addiction?
• Have you ever read an obituary of a youth and the parents wrote that they died of sleep apnea, but you know better because the deceased is a friend of your loved ones and you know they died of an overdose? If so read it carefully chances are you will be writing the next one.
About the Author
david Knowles has been a key player in the world of substance abuse from the front lines of the war on drugs to substance abuse treatment.
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