!: How To Tell If Your Loved One Needs Alcohol Or Drug Rehab

There are many signs that there is a problem when you have a friend of loved one in need of alcohol drug rehab, but convincing them that they have a problem isn't easy or if at all possible. They need to decide that they have a problem. Unless they can admit to themselves that they have a problem with alcohol abuse or drug abuse, the best rehab program on the planet cannot help them, because they themselves do not believe they have a problem.

Recognizing that there is a problem is the first and perhaps the biggest step in alcohol and drug rehabilitation. Then the next big step is the sincere desire to seek help. People that are "pressured" into treatment rarely succeed in the long term. And even then most of the time there is at least one relapse before they obtain long term sobriety.

Look for the following consistent signs in your friend or loved one to be able to identify if they might have an alcohol or drug abuse problem:

Alcohol: Clumsiness, dilated pupils, difficulty walking, slurred speech and if the person in question is a minor most likely they will have a fake ID card.

Depressants: Seems like they are drunk without the smell of alcohol, hard time concentrating, clumsiness, poor judgment, contracted pupils, slurred speech and sleepiness.

Inhalants such as glue, vapors and aerosols: Impaired vision, watery eyes, loss of memory or thoughts, headaches with nausea, rashes around the nose, drippy nose, appears drunk, drowsiness, change in appetite, poor muscle control, irritability, anxiety and a big tip ... a lot of spray cans in the garbage can.

Hallucinogens: Bizarre irrational behavior, which includes aggression, hallucinations, paranoia, there are mood swings, self-absorption or with other objects, confusion, slurred speech.

Heroin: Strange sleep patterns, coughing, sniffling, contracted pupils, no pupil response to light, twitching, and of course the needle marks.

Marijuana: Red, glassy eyes, loud talking and inappropriate laughing which is then followed by sleepiness, sweet burnt smell, loss of interest and motivation, and changes in weight.

There are other behavioral signs as well like the following;

Changes in overall attitude towards just about everything, changes in friends especially if the new friends are known drug users, changes in activities, drop of grades due to skipping school, late for school or work, changes in home habits, having a hard time paying attention, lack of motivation, lack of self-esteem and a "I don't care attitude", moodiness, resentful and suddenly oversensitive, silliness or giddiness, paranoia, car accidents, dishonesty, sudden need for money and if not able to obtain money they may start stealing, possession of drug equipment.

There are methods to help the person who is activity seeking alcohol and drug rehab to get the help they so desperately need. Commonly used are self-help groups like AA, which can be used alone or as part of a professional treatment. More people are finding that when inpatient treatment and AA are used together, it is more effective then AA alone.

There has been a rise in using Cognitive Behavior Therapy. This involves the therapist helping the patient to learn skills to cope with their problems and to change the harmful behaviors. The main benefit of AA meetings is the replacement of drinking and drug friends with a social network of fellow AA members that can provide support and the needed motivation to continue abstinence.