Best way to talk to a friend about addiction?

[AeWingnut]

I was in college and my best friend was partying more than studying. I got in his face and told him to stop it. I never saw him again. He partied his way out of school. Moved south.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by AeWingnut

I was in college and my best friend was partying more than studying. I got in his face and told him to stop it. I never saw him again. He partied his way out of school. Moved south.

someone has to flip the burgers.

[Payson Dave]

Originally Posted by AeWingnut

I was in college and my best friend was partying more than studying. I got in his face and told him to stop it. I never saw him again. He partied his way out of school. Moved south.

Is this another one of them dumb southerner joke??

[IrishofNDMan]

haven't figured out what to do, but here are the latest things on him.

Friday, he calls me from someone we knows house (huge druggie) and says that this kids parents are gone, he has a fifth, a bottle of liquid codine, and some xanax bars and has been living the dream life for the past couple of days. If he really thinks this is the dream life, which I actually do think he believes, then he is more messed up than I even thought.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by IrishofNDMan

haven't figured out what to do, but here are the latest things on him.

Friday, he calls me from someone we knows house (huge druggie) and says that this kids parents are gone, he has a fifth, a bottle of liquid codine, and some xanax bars and has been living the dream life for the past couple of days. If he really thinks this is the dream life, which I actually do think he believes, then he is more messed up than I even thought.

when he's sober, take him to a funeral home and have him make pre-arrangements.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by IrishofNDMan

haven't figured out what to do, but here are the latest things on him.

Friday, he calls me from someone we knows house (huge druggie) and says that this kids parents are gone, he has a fifth, a bottle of liquid codine, and some xanax bars and has been living the dream life for the past couple of days. If he really thinks this is the dream life, which I actually do think he believes, then he is more messed up than I even thought.

Has he ever had any self discipline or sense of reality? If he has never had much of that, then it's gunna be very hard to change him, and this situation is more a symptom than the actual problem.

[geeker2]

Originally Posted by IrishofNDMan

haven't figured out what to do, but here are the latest things on him.

Friday, he calls me from someone we knows house (huge druggie) and says that this kids parents are gone, he has a fifth, a bottle of liquid codine, and some xanax bars and has been living the dream life for the past couple of days. If he really thinks this is the dream life, which I actually do think he believes, then he is more messed up than I even thought.

It's not a surprise that you would be surprised. Addicts hide it pretty well until there is some outside intevention - like an OD or DWI...or death.

Treatment Program and professional help - encourge him to seek it...but don't be to surprised if he doesn't listen and at that point you have been a good friend....don't enable -move on.

[Bigsmc]

It took a friend of mine three trips to ICU before he finally admitted he had a problem. During the first ICU stay, I told him he needs to admit he has a problem and I was there to help. He denied there was a problem while in ICU hooked up to a gaggle of machines.

The second and third trips to ICU, I refused to visit him. After the third time, he went straight from the hospital to rehab. He's gotten his life back together and has a nice job. So far so good.

Cannon and GPK are 100% correct. He will not stop until he hits rock bottom, I know you think he has hit bottom by losing his job and hanging out with the wrong people, but in his mind, he's not even close.

Offer to help him get better. Do not help him get worse. He'll get pissed at you and if he survives the deal, he'll understand, someday.

[docicu3]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

It took a friend of mine three trips to ICU before he finally admitted he had a problem. During the first ICU stay, I told him he needs to admit he has a problem and I was there to help. He denied there was a problem while in ICU hooked up to a gaggle of machines.

The second and third trips to ICU, I refused to visit him. After the third time, he went straight from the hospital to rehab. He's gotten his life back together and has a nice job. So far so good.

Cannon and GPK are 100% correct. He will not stop until he hits rock bottom, I know you think he has hit bottom by losing his job and hanging out with the wrong people, but in his mind, he's not even close.

Offer to help him get better. Do not help him get worse. He'll get pissed at you and if he survives the deal, he'll understand, someday.

Well said.....

[TheSpyder]

Pretty much as others have said; when you care more about someone than they care about themselves...it just don't work and you cannot talk, cowerse, them into caring