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drugs
i dont know if you can help me with this, but i sure cant figure out what to do. at lunch today my friend told us that she was doing something bad to herself and later told us that she had been pressured into doing drugs and now she cant stop. i think she really wants my help, but is scared of whats going to happen. she wont tell us exactly what shes on. we really want to help her, but shes says that she doesnt need anyones help. i dont know what to tell her. i dont even know where to begin to help her.
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Maybe give some free advice about: Friendship?
I think the fact that she told you guys that she was doing something bad to herself is interesting.
First, her use of the word 'bad' shows that she's not happy with the choices she's been making. Second, the fact that she opened up and told you is as good as asking for help.
So, you know your friend is unhappy and needs help. You have several options to help her. First, if you live in the UK there are a lot of confidential services you can access that will provide your friend with information on how to do drugs safely or will support her with different methods to stop with the drugs.
I'm sure America and other countries must have similar services, but I'm not sure how you'd get in touch with them. For a starting place, you can access a great drugs site called 'talk to frank'. The catch phrase of the site is great - 'drugs are illegal, but talking about them isn't.' You can find information on how to support a friend on drugs, the different sorts of drugs and how they can affect the body/mind/personality, and links to different resources.
The site is wwwDOTtalktofrankDOTcom, and if you click on 'worried about someone' and then 'worried about a friend,' you'll find information about how to deal with a friend on drugs.
The next step is to seriously talk to your friend. Be honest and non-judgemental; she's made a mistake, which everyone does, and she just needs help to UNmake the mistake. Drugs can be addictive, and there comes a point when she's not even making the choice to use anymore - she feels she HAS to. If your friend insists she doesn't need help, you are going to have to tell a responsible adult.
This can be one of your parents, her parents, a guidance or support worker at your school, a local agency that works with young people with addiction problems, etc. There are also Drugs Anonymous meetings that run - perhaps you can hold her hand while she attends one?
Whatever you decide to do, remember it is totally your choice what level of support you offer to your friend. While you are care about her, you are not responsible for 'fixing' her. Real friendship means taking risks - and for you, that could mean risking losing the friendship by telling an adult that your friend needs help.
She's asked for help by telling you her situation. She trusted you enough to hope you would be able to help, so do it. Figure out the best way you can support her and be strong enough to do so.
Make sure that if this is stressing you out or making you uncomfortable you find someone to support YOU, as well. In a situation like this, everyone needs someone to talk to.
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