How to Help Someone With Crack Addiction

Crack cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug that poses one of the greatest drug threats to the United States. A person addicted to crack is unable to control how much he uses, even though it has obvious negative consequences on his life. Crack addiction is, first and foremost, a disease and requires treatment and help from others in order to recover.

Things You'll Need

• Library card
• Bookstore
• Internet
• Telephone
• Addiction doctor or counselor
• Recovering crack addict

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Instructions

• 1

  Do some independent research on your own about crack cocaine and crack addiction. Check out books about crack addiction and crack recovery. Read autobiographies of crack addicts (such as "The Night of the Gun" by David Carr) at your local library. Visit websites on crack addiction recovery information, such as addictionsandrecovery.org.

• 2

  Talk to those who have been through it. Consult with addiction professionals and recovering crack addicts. Talk to someone within the Addictions Department of your local hospital, your general practitioner or an addictions counselor. Ask them to guide you to specific information about crack addiction. If you do not know any recovering crack addicts, call Narcotics Anonymous at [phone] for information on a meeting in your area. Visit the meeting and invite one of the speakers afterward to give you some advice.

• 3

  Show her your concern. Use information from your research to support your worry; for example, high death rates of crack users, and the effect of crack use on the body,

• 4

  Let him know you are there and that crack will not come between your relationship. The intense need to continue using crack often forces crack addicts to say one thing and mean another, destroying trust. If you need to, place guidelines on your relationship to thwart future trust issues. A common example of this is to refuse to lend money.

• 5

  Explain how her addiction to crack is affecting you. Blame the crack, not her.

• 6

  Promote the idea of seeking help. There are many avenues available: support meetings, such as Narcotics Anonymous, residential programs, holistic approaches and medications. Do not force commitment to a treatment program. Programs only work if the patient is willing to be treated. Offer any assistance you may be able to give by calling, visiting or attending these programs with him.