What is Letting Go

Letting go is the acceptance of having no control over the user, and their drug use.

Remember that you cannot push the user into giving up drugs and the outcome of their problem, is not in your hands. You can only be responsible for making the effort to help by discussing addiction with them and by trying to give constructive suggestions. Accepting your powerless does not mean giving up, or thinking what’s the point? It means that:

1) You no longer have to threaten or manipulate or make empty threats like “ you will leave if you use drugs again”. In all probability, they will call your bluff. (Only make such a comment if you intend to carry them out).

2) You no longer have to nag, preach, coax, bargain or lecture.

3) You no longer have to try to be one step ahead of the user.

4) You no longer need to search their room or belongings for traces of drugs, or other equipment necessary for the ritual (e.g. silver foil, teaspoons, lemon, and syringes).

5) You no longer have to check with their friends on how they are behaving.

6) You no longer have to extract promises. Start refusing to accept them. At this point they cannot keep them, they are not able to regulate, their drug taking and are also unable to control their behaviour, when they are under the influence of heroin or other drugs.

7) You no longer have to go searching for them if they disappear.

8) You no longer have to believe that the addiction is your fault or your responsibility.

BACK

Click Here for a printer friendly version