Over the past weekend, actor Cory Monteith, of Glee fame, was found dead in his Vancouver hotel room. It’s with a heavy heart that we discuss this unfortunate event.
Image Courtesy of winnond / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
In the past, we have written about how to prevent your teen from abusing alcohol. This is because studies have shown that the younger the alcohol abuser is, the more difficult it will be for them to quit in the future. That’s why alcohol prevention for teens is so important.
It’s been reported that Monteith started using drugs at the age of 13. By the time he was 19, he was already checking into his first stint at rehab. Just this past April, at the age of 30, Cory Monteith re-admitted himself into drug rehab. This brief window of information demonstrates to us how difficult drug addiction is.
Why Monteith had to be re-admitted into rehab is unknown. But it’s not uncommon for addicts to relapse. While we’re not speculating any specifics with Cory Monteith’s situation, here are a few tactics we’ve stated in the past on how to prevent drug relapses.
Image Courtesy of markuso / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
- Find a Hobby
- Eliminate People Who Do Not Support You
- Avoid Tempting Situations
- Know Your Triggers
- Use Your Past as Motivation
How Can You Help A Friend In Need?
If you believe you have a friend or family member who needs help with a drug addiction, what can you do?
Your first move should be to educate yourself on the addiction. You want to be knowledgeable when you discuss the addiction with your friend. This will demonstrate that you do care and you are willing to put in time to help your friend or family member with their addiction.
Image Courtesy of artur84 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
When your friend is in rehab, don’t lose touch. Keep in contact with them, don’t let them think they are out of sight, out of mind. Most drug addiction programs allow the clients to have limited email and phone access. Take advantage of this. Rehab is difficult, so having moral support from your friends and family is a huge win for recovering addicts.
Lastly, when your friend or family member is out of rehab, set a good example. Join them in situations that won’t trigger their addiction. Help them find a new hobby that can fill the time they might have otherwise used for abusing drugs.
The passing of Cory Monteith is an extremely sad story. He was so young and talented. His story is one that we should all learn from. Drug addiction can happen to anyone. Rehab is temporary, recovery is lifelong. Please contact Prominence Treatment Center if you or someone you know is in need of professional help. Our intake specialists can answer your questions and help you take the next step.