Worried about snow this Christmas??
A few words of advice for ex-cocaine users
It’s that festive time again - with lots of invitations to go out, meet up and party. But for
any of you who’ve given up your cocaine use, this can be a worrying and stressful time
of year. It can be full of pressure and dilemmas, like what to do about that work’s party,
meeting up with old friends and family, parties and going out generally when you just
know there’s going to be a lot of that seasonal snow around. What about festive
occasions which are bound to involve alcohol – remember for some people alcohol
creates coke cravings (cocaethylene!)
Always plan ahead
To stop this midwinter being fraught with stress and anxiety (which creates heightened
adrenaline levels leading to cravings,) about whether your New Year’s Resolution is
going to be giving up cocaine before you’ve even relapsed, you’re going to need a good
plan! If you don’t have a plan – things can easily get very messy and that’s up to you.
Don’t kid yourself on this score. You wouldn’t go out in a blizzard without your hat and
gloves.
Hopefully this will give you some ideas.
Excuses not to go out to risky social occasions (yep you don’t have to actually go!!)
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Fictional prior engagement
Cancel at the last minute because of crisis with friend, partner of family
Last minute illness including headaches / migraines / sickness and diarrhoea
The babysitter lets you down
Lack of money
Remember to make your excuse, then switch off phone so you can’t be talked out of it, or
better still make excuses after the event (always plan ahead!) These are useful if you
don’t feel confident in social situations without coke or alcohol. You will need to address
your lack of self-confidence at a later date (possible New Year’s Resolution!!?) but in the
meantime try some of the above.
Strategies for going out
 Take a trusted non-coke using friend / partner with you
 Get your “leave early” excuse ready (get someone to call you to lend authenticity)
 Avoid alcohol with ready excuses like antibiotics (tooth / ear infection) or that
you are driving
 Avoid other drugs which might lead you into using
 Drink coca-cola/lemonade and say it’s got vodka in it (but don’t let others buy
your drinks)
Avoid stinking thinking or in other words “it’s Xmas and I deserve to treat myself”
This is a big mistake and you are kidding yourself. If you haven’t found some other
alternative buzzes by now then you really need to get your head around that idea. Until
then, consider some of the following ideas
 Remember the reasons you gave up in the first place including the effects on your
emotional and physical health, relationships, work, money, feelings of being out
of control. Think about the consequences of using.
 Remember what you had to do to be able to give up and how long this took.
 Remember how compulsive it was, that lapses lead to relapses. Avalanches start
from snow-flakes
These will help you balance that rosy view people have of their drug-use. We all forget
the bad bits of our past experiences and remember the good times. This is called kidding
yourself!!
Ways of dealing with cravings
Cravings are caused by heightened adrenaline levels in the body which creates increased
heart rate, shallow fast breathing, sweating, butterflies in your stomach, the shakes,
restlessness and for some irritability. Again you’re going to need a plan. Try some of the
following and remember you might need several of these.
Get support from a non-using source (call a friend / helpline)
Think about the consequences – all the bad stuff
Be aware of what triggered the craving
Divert your attention do something different (watch TV / read a book.) Remember that
cravings are a want not a need and that they will pass.
Relax – do something which will relax you and reduce the adrenaline levels
(aromatherapy oils / calming music) and remember that deep slow breathing will kill the
craving.
Word of warning should you use or if you already have
A lapse is not a relapse. That’s not to say that it’s ok to go and use – it’s dangerous and
you go here at your own peril if this is your attitude.
But if you use - remember that your tolerance will be lower which increases the chances
of overdose. Don’t mix coke with other drugs especially alcohol or stimulants (ecstasy/
speed/steroids/redbull etc.) Don’t beat yourself up – take stock, work out what you did
and what you need to do to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Hopefully these words will be useful during this festive time. Please feel free to call us on
029-20-407407 or the 24-hr National Drugs Helpline on 0845-702-3867 out of office
hours (both free and confidential). Take care, have a good Xmas and good luck for 2005
From all at Inroads.
Dear …………..
This is a letter from me to me for when I’m really close to using coke again. When I was
straighter I thought of these five reasons why it would be a very bad idea and I promised I
would read these before making any decisions to use.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Cut this out, put it in your wallet and keep it with you at all times over the Crimbo
period!!