The sudden appearance of unusual behavior may be a sign of a misuse of alcohol or other substances. If it is, you might notice that the behavior is getting worse. Misusing alcohol and/or other substances affects the person's health, behavior, and life. Addiction typically follows these stages:
Stage 1: Casual or "experimental" use. The person experiences a high, but they or others do not think it's a problem. There may not be any signs of use at this stage.
Stage 2: More frequent alcohol or other substance use. The person starts using more often, even during the week. Clues to look for are changes in friends, poor work or school performance, mood changes, and unexplained memory lapses, called "blackouts."
Stage 3: Preoccupied with alcohol or the other substance. Daily use is common for some; others may "binge" (use heavily once a week or so). The person is ill more often, family and work problems may decline, and the person may start having trouble with the law. Family and friends are concerned.
Stage 4: Compulsive use. Without the alcohol or other substance, the person may experience withdrawal, which can be life-threatening. Illness, blackouts (memory loss due to brain damage from alcohol or other substances), and overdosing are more common. The family may feel torn apart. The person may become preoccupied with getting money to continue buying alcohol or other substances. The person may experience increased work performance concerns and become isolated from friends. Treatment is crucial.
Check Your Drinking is a simple assessment for adults that helps assess current drinking and how to make a plan to drink less. Controle su forma de beber. Haga un plan para beber menos. If you are concerned about your alcohol or other substance use, you can call the EAP for help. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services National Helpline provides confidential, free information in English and Spanish for individuals facing mental health and/or substance use disorders. Referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations are available. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (available 24/7). You can also visit After-Hours Resources for MCPS Employees for information on local Alcohlics Anonymous (A.A.) and Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.) groups.
If someone you know shows signs of alcohol or substance misuse, you may want to help. The best way to help a person experiencing alcohol or other substance misuse is to not ignore or cover up their behaviors or mistakes that result from the misuse. When you enable their behavior, you allow a person to avoid the negative results of using alcohol or other substances. After a while, you may feel angry because the person could take advantage of your patience and kindness.
Confronting someone can be scary. It might help to learn more about alcohol or other substance use disorders and addiction. Remember that you have the right to tell someone how their behavior impacts you. Don't allow your fear of offending the person to prevent you from speaking up. You might offend the person when you express concern about their alcohol or substance use, but your concern might also save the person's job, marriage, or life. You can look into treatment options before confronting the person. It can be challenging when someone you care about is struggling with addiction; know that you are not alone. Even if the individual declines to seek assistance for their alcohol or substance use, you can call the EAP for support. There are also groups for friends and family members of someone with an alcohol or substance use disorder. These groups can show you that you're not alone and highlight new ways to respond to the person so you feel less hurt or scared. And maybe when the person sees a change in you, they may realize that it's time to make some changes too.