Making Changes

• Emergency Situations
• Staying in Control
• Worried about someone
• Making Changes

• Waking up with the dog…again?
• Always last in the taxi and having to pay out?
• Arriving home after a session … the locks are changed?
• Finding yourself in the back of a police car …again?
• Promising to stop ..meaning it but not believing it possible?
• Not being invited to any parties after the last time?
• Having sex …you think?

Everyone's experience of taking drugs is unique. You can decide for yourself what is a problem or not, but others around you may see things differently.

Know yourself. Know your limits. Protect yourself.

How would you know if drug taking was becoming a problem? Do these fit?

• Taking drugs more often than before.
• Taking more and stronger types of drugs.
• Injecting drugs.
• Taking more drugs than you meant to.
• Passing out whilst using drugs.
• Not being able to remember what happened after taking drugs.
• Feeling embarrassed or regretful the next day.
• Finding it hard to have a break from taking drugs.
• Other people you trust telling you that you have a problem.
• Only feeling O.K. when taking drugs.
• Taking more and more drugs just to get the same effect.
• Family members finding out and hitting the roof.
• Feeling concerned or anxious about your drug taking
• Drug taking even when the money's run out
• 'Comedowns' turn into withdrawals.

What do you think?

If you’re concerned about your own drug taking and thinking of making a change…

Be clear about what your concerns are and if it’s time for a change.

• List ideas for why & what might change.

It may help to talk things over with someone you trust.

You don’t have to change everything at once – be realistic, look at one thing at a time.

You may decide this isn’t the time for a change – check it out again later.

If you decide to go for a change …

• Set up a support network …friends, family or agencies that can help.
• Decide what it is you want to change, be specific – reducing, keeping safer, stopping, switching?
• List the benefits & think about how to deal with any drawbacks.
• Discuss ideas for making the change with your support network – how can they help you?
• Plan what, when and how you will practice.

Remember:

• At first, don’t expect it to feel totally good to make changes - this is not unusual and is a sign that something is changing!
• Expect the unexpected ...you can’t plan for everything!
• Get some sleep, eat well and discover different ways to feel good.
• If you try the change and it doesn’t work…don’t give up, learn from the situation and start again tomorrow.

Some ideas to support change…

• Plan ideas, with a friend if it helps, for getting out of a situation that is becoming unsafe or uncomfortable.
• Plan not to take a drug at certain times or locations.
• Practice different ways for …
  • Protecting yourself in drug or alcohol taking situations.
  • Staying in control.
  • Saying ‘no’ to something unsafe, not planned or you don’t want to do.
    • When you’ve decided what you want to say…practice HOW to do it…
      • Try not to explain too much, others will argue.
      • Don’t hesitate, look directly at the person & be clear.
      • Repeat yourself as many times as needed.

• Avoid always being in situations that set off the urge to take a drug – plan alternatives.
• If you take more then one drug and want to reduce … decide which is best to tackle first.
• Widen your range of friends to include those who take less drugs, less often or not all.
• When in a group …pass on rounds, take a break for a minute away from the group (remind yourself why you’ve decided on a change), pretend you’ve already had some.

• The Quiz
• The Drug
• The Law
• Keeping Safe

Links