1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Substance Misuse

What is first step to get help

Posted , 4 users are following.

2chr2015
2chr2015

My son is addicted to cocaine. If he will agree to get help, what is our first step? Do I take him to a doctor? He has insurance. I think there is an outpatient drug place in town. I just don't know how to get the ball rolling. Thank you

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • e2016
    e2016 2chr2015

    Posted

    Hi 2chr2015 - Either take him to the doctor (or get him to go, how old is he?) Or he could sself refer to the outpatient specialist service. Best resultsfor stimulant (like cocaine addiction) seem to be a combination of specialist drug counselling coupled with social support. For the latter he should check out Cocaine Anonymous if there is a group nearby - he will find lots of people there in the same situation, wanting to deal with their cocaine addiction.

    Good luck. 

    • 2chr2015
      2chr2015 e2016

      Posted

      Thank you for that information. He is 25.
  • Insomniac1993
    Insomniac1993 2chr2015

    Posted

    Hi 2chr2015,

    Sorry to hear your situation, I hope you are coping with it all, as that's not always the best news to hear about your child.

    I think as mentioned above, your GP will be able to help, both in terms of his physical health (as cocaine can cause damage to his heart, lungs etc. with excessive use) and his addiction problem.

    I think speaking to your GP to run some tests on his heart may also be a good idea, to ensure he's in good health. There are also self-referral services to help him, depending on the area you are in, you could find them through a quick google search.

    Take care and good luck.

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.