Questions posted in the The Addiction Forum have been answered by Steven Adelman, M.D. and by Richard C. Bozian M.D. F.A.C.P. of Harvard Vanguard Medical Group.

Question Title: Girlfriend on Coke

Forum: The Addiction Forum
Topic: Drugs


How do I get my girfriend (who just started experimntin) with Coke to stop before its too late?


Unfortunately, there is very little you can do to get someone to stop using drugs. In fact, there is little we can doto change anyone's behavior, unless they agree to change. You haven't said how old she is, or how close you are to her, but there are a few things you could try. First, it is important to show that you are talking to her because you care about her. You might try reminding her that cocaine use is illegal, that it is potentially damaging to her health, and that there is the possibility that she will become addicted. In over twenty years of experience providing substance abuse treatment, I have never met anyone who thought when they were starting to use drus that they would become addicted. Of course, not everyone who uses becomes addicted, but our ability to predict who will be addicted and who will not is not very good. Everyone I have treated for drug or alcohol addiction thought in the beginning that they would be able to control their use.

Once you have expressed your concerns, it is probably best to back off. Nagging someone hardly ever helps. You may have to decide how much you want to be involved with someone if she continues to use illegal drugs, or behave in ways that could result in harming herself. Remember, there is very little you can do to change someone else's behavior, unless they want to change.

This information is for general medical education purposes only. Please consult a physician for specific diagnostic and treatment options.

Visit Dr Steve's website, hyper-linked below, for more information.

[The Addiction Forum]      [The Addiction Forum Archives]