Public Spark

I have had friends and acquaintances that I knew in the past who have turned to drugs. I have seen firsthand their life take a dramatic turn for the worst. That is partly why I was fortunate not to go take that road. But once you decide that you are not going to do drugs, what are your options for helping a friend?

1. Confronting them with support

   Being empathetic can open up doors.

2. Go to their parents

   This is hard to do because of the reputation you will have. If you are suspecting, most likely their parents are too. If you are close to their parents and they understand the circumstances in which you are telling them, they won’t call you out on it.

3. Encouraging a different social group

   Perhaps it is the social pressure in which the friend is doing drugs. Provide a positive support network for them.

4. Giving them positive options- treatment facilities, joining a club.

   Provide them with information or options in the case that they want to stop this lifestyle.

5. End the friendship

   Ultimately it is not your responsibility, but your friend’s. You might not want to get so involved that you start doing drugs. Sometimes the best thing to do is to end the relationship. If your friendship is truly strong that might be the difference in making them stop.