Have you spent much time reading the news on drug abuse, drug addiction, drug rehab, or the same for alcohol? It's filled with stories about people's lives being ruined – real horror stories: families, futures and careers ruined, trips to the ER, children born as addicts, overdoses and untimely, gruesome and early deaths. With all of this going on, and so much of it so publicly, you'd think there would a rush on drug detox and rehab centers. But, unfortunately, that's not the case.



Why? Every individual has their own reasons but I believe there are two reasons that apply to most substance abusers: First, someone who's already on drugs, or drinking a lot, just isn't up to doing something about it by themselves. They're either disassociated from reality – a major side effect of just about every drug around, even the seemingly light drugs like marijuana – or they are so far out of control and their judgment is so impaired, they simply can't do anything about it. They know it's creating a disastrous effect on their lives, and their families and friends, but the personal problems that drive them to drugs and alcohol loom so close when they try to stop that they get right back into it. What they don’t know is that a good drug detox and drug rehab program really can get them off drugs or alcohol and help them with their problems.

I would suspect that many of those problems might not even be there if they have a good look: often they started drugs so long ago that the problems they had back then really don't exist anymore. A kid may start drugs in college – peer pressure, exams, a messy or disappointing relationship; these, or any combination of them, could get them started. But now they're 35 years old, their lives are far different, they couldn’t give a darn about any of those things, but they can’t stop. They're trapped. They're hooked. The problem is now the drugs.

Which brings me to the second reason more people aren't getting help: their friends and family aren't doing much about it. Yeah, sure, they've tried. They’ve tried imploring, threatening, pleading, and reasoning. But they haven’t gotten through – the person just won’t go to drug detox or rehab.

So, what are your options? Should you just keep going year after year, pleading, imploring, and then probably escalating to harassing in frustration? No. it’s time for intervention. It's time to call someone who has experience dealing with drug addicts and alcoholics – probably someone who's been through it themselves. Someone who can convince the person you care about to change.

Many drug detox centers offer intervention as a service. Contact them. Do something about it. I can pretty much guarantee that if you don't, you'll regret it.