Now on the face of it this seems an obvious answer but many people wait years to address problematic drinking or alcohol addiction. Some, unfortunately, will never get help for alcohol or drug addiction. The opportunity to address alcoholism and/or other drug addictions is often unavailable for most. Many people cannot access alcohol rehab or Dayhab to help them stop for a range of reasons, from affordability to family or work commitments.
A record number of drug-related deaths continues to be recorded for both legal (alcohol & prescription) and illegal (narcotics) drugs. DRD’s (drug related deaths) are at their highest level since comparable statistics began in 1993, with the highest rate now coming in the 40 to 49 age range, according to the ONS.
Within this cocaine deaths also rose for the eighth consecutive year to their highest level. Now this maybe a shock, and hopefully wake up call, to those using cocaine who by and large undermine its potency or the seriousness of its use. Cocaine use has gone through the roof over the past few years and in London alone 23kg is used every day. Out of all the blogs we have written the one on dealing with cocaine comedown consistently gets the most visits, many times by repeat visitors. But as indicated above the number of people reading it pale into insignificance compared with the numbers of people that do anything about their use.
The picture is also true with alcohol. Currently there are 8.4 million people drinking at hazardous and harmful levels and alcohol related deaths also continue to rise with a 22% increase in the period of July to September 2020 alone. And similar with our cocaine blog one of our alcohol blogs on how to stop drinking safely also gets hundreds of hits weekly.
If you are concerned about your relationship with drugs or alcohol, or someone else’s, and want to stop and staying stopped then call us now on 0208 191 9191 or email us.
Alternatively chat to us via our Live Chat below.
Why People Leave Late To Address Their Alcohol Or Drug Use?
Denial is one of the major common states in which people will lie to themselves or distort the reality of what is really going on with their drinking or drug use. Denial which can stand for ‘Don’t Even Notice I Am Lying’, will lead to ignoring the problem, minimising other people’s concerns, or even blaming others for your drinking and/or drug use.
Let us be real, no one wants to admit they are struggling with alcohol or drugs so denial allows people to swerve what is an extremely uncomfortable situation on a number of levels.
Well, the main reason is denial. Denial stops people making that initial “help” call, sending that e-mail, or having that Live Chat.
However continued denial can cause devastating consequences, from health issues to broken relationships, loss of employment and even run ins with the police.
Below are 8 common denial or thought traps focused on minimizing, rationalizing and just being self-deceptive in order not to address an emerging drug or alcohol problem.
- Excuse 1: I am not hurting anyone. Minimising the problem is a common process if concerns are brought up, the person may act like you’re blowing things out of proportion or exaggerating.
- Excuse 2: If you had my problems, you would drink or use drugs. Rationalisation is a great way to swerve the issue. Saying they you are stressed and need a little help getting through the day or that you have earned a reward for such a difficult day is very commonplace.
- Excuse 3: Don’t drink high % proof cider or do hard drugs like heroin like real addicts, so I don’t have a problem
- Excuse 4: Everyone else drinks and does drugs.
- Excuse 5: My drinking or drug use hasn’t really increased. Self-deception is a powerful denial mechanism where the individual convinces themselves that things aren’t that bad or as severe as they really are.
- Excuse 6: I’m certainly not using or drinking more then X, Y or Z.
- Excuse 7: I will cut down or stop after this time.
- Excuse 8: Let me sort this out by myself.
How Denial Can Be Overcome
It is very difficult to spot self-deception by yourself!
A member of Narcotics Anonymous
Unfortunately, overcoming denial is not an easy process. Far too many people leave it until they hit some big issue such as; an overdose, major health problem, loss of employment, breakup, or threat of breakup of a relationship. Leaving things to “the last moment” is clearly not the right thing to do. At the end of the road you now have to deal with your drug or alcohol problem, and the consequences from the “car crash” your use has created.
What To Do Now?
The team at Help Me Stop are skilled at listening to what is going on for you and coming up with some options.
All the staff at Help Me Stop have had previous personal experiences with drug and alcohol misuse, so we know what it is like both as professionals and as individuals – moreover we know what works to address the issues.
If some of the bullet points resonate with you or you have recognised that drinking or drug use is causing problems; be that arguments, financial or health issues or something else then give us a call or dive into our Live Chat.
If you are concerned about your relationship with drugs or alcohol, or someone else’s, and want to stop and stay stopped then call us now on 0208 191 9191 or email us directly through https://www.helpmestop.org.uk/contact-us/ .
Alternatively chat to us via our Live Chat between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday on our Homepage .
Help Me Stop’s intensive non-residential outpatient Dayhab drug and alcohol treatment programme is an effective psychological solution that also offers 3 months of free accessible aftercare and family support options. Treatment is delivered face to face either in the mornings or afternoons over 6 weeks.
For those adults can’t get to our centres in Central or West London we offer a 6-week morning or evening Online Digital Dayhab drug and alcohol treatment programme, run by the qualified and addiction specialist therapists.
*Chris Cordell is Help Me Stop’s Operations Director and a senior associate member of the Royal Society of Medicine, Certified International Recovery Specialist, member of the International Society of Addiction Medicine and a member of the Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals.
