7 Times to Intervene in a Friend's Life ...

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It doesn’t matter whether she’s using meth or prescription drugs — any sort of drug addiction is dangerous, and if you know she has a drug addiction, you need to intervene immediately. This can be as simple as calling an ambulance if you find her dazed or passed out, or as formal as an actual intervention. Either way, the sooner you act, the better.

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Like a drug addiction, an alcohol problem can have serious health risks, as well as other risks. What happens if she drinks and gets behind the wheel, or if she drinks and takes a prescription drug? There’s a difference between social drinking on occasion, and an alcohol abuse problem. It’s time to intervene!

Emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse… if your friend is involved with a man who uses any of these to control or belittle your friend, it’s definitely time to step in and stop it. Do not confront the man, as that could be far too dangerous, but help her see that how he’s abusing her is wrong, and help her get out.

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Addressing an issue with a friend doesn’t have to be a public intervention. It can just be a personal conversation, and that’s the better option if you’re afraid a friend has fallen into a depression. Depression can be connected to so many other aspects of a friend’s life, don’t let her brush off your questions. If she is depressed, let her know that there is help, and work with her to find professional help as soon as you can.

If your friend is being abused, is depressed, or has a drug or alcohol abuse problem, she may also be having suicidal thoughts. If she jokes about this, or mentions it in any way, you must intervene! Don’t brush off the comments, since she could be feeling you out to see what you think… take it seriously, and let her know in no uncertain terms that suicide is not an option. Then get professional help! If you think a suicide attempt in imminent, call an ambulance or the police.

In this day and age, unprotected sex with strangers is not just a moral issue, it’s a health and safety issue. There are so many sexually transmitted diseases out there, it’s just not worth the risk. If you know your friend is engaging is casual sex with several partners without protection, it’s time to set her straight. Don’t take a moral high ground, talk about the safety issue instead! HIV/AIDS and herpes, among other diseases, are still out there, and are still a very real danger.

According to my doctor, addictions come in many forms, not just drugs and alcohol. There are food addictions, gambling addictions, shopping addictions, Internet addictions, and so many more. If you think a friend has a problem with any sort of addiction, it’s a good idea to talk to her about it. Try to remember though that even if she has an addiction, and acknowledges it, there’s a fine line between an acceptable addiction, and one that’s harmful — if she’s on the safe side, nagging her about will only make her mad.

These are just a few of the times when it’s a good idea to intervene in a friend’s life, and I’m sure there are more! Remember, being a good friend doesn’t mean telling her everything she does is okay… sometimes, even though it’s difficult, you have to tell her what she’s doing is harmful or dangerous. Have you ever had to intervene to protect a friend? Please share with me!

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