How do you tell if someone you know needs drug counseling, and what can you do about it? The first step is trying to decide whether help is really needed. There are warning signs you can look for to give you an idea of whether someone has a problem with drugs.

People with a drug addiction problem feel an uncontrollable need to take drugs, even if it results in undesirable consequences. The symptoms of drug addiction include neglecting responsibilities at work, home or school and using drugs while driving or in other dangerous situations. Drug addicts may start stealing in order to support their habits, and drug use can cause increasing problems in relationships.

Many people think that there is really nothing they can do if someone they know is addicted to drugs. They believe that the decision to seek drug counseling or treatment must come from the drug addict. This is not necessarily true. Drug addiction causes changes in the brain that interfere with an addict’s ability to make rational decisions, such as deciding to quit. Many times, the initiative to stop taking drugs must come from concerned friends or relatives because the person is unable to make that decision for himself.

However, people who enter drug treatment programs as the result of a court order or pressure from friends and family are just as likely to recover as those who enter voluntarily. Once the drug addict gets into treatment and begins to sober up, his ability to think clearly improves. Once this happens, the addict is able to decide for himself whether he wants to be free of drug addiction or not.

Drug counseling is helpful for many addicts, but it is often used in conjunction with other types of treatment. In counseling, individuals can discuss their use of drugs, or someone else’s, with a professional counselor who will listen in a nonjudgmental way and offer advice as needed. Drug counseling can help individuals improve their chances of overcoming their addiction.