Great Minds: Hamish and Kyle - The impact of drug addiction

In this web series, psychotherapist Kyle MacDonald and Nutters Club co-host Hamish Williams look at mental health and how to navigate some of the more challenging parts of modern life. Today they look at the impact of addiction on addicts and their loved ones.

The story of addiction as told by an addict can be an emotional roller coaster at best and a deeply depressing reflection of the depths an individual can fall at worst.

When it comes to the story of an addict I've never been that interested in the gory details. I refer to it as "Trauma tourism" and largely I find that it distracts from the powerful part of an addict's story, especially the part where they embraced hope and were able to achieve life-saving change.

By and large though, the story of an addict forgets about the others who are also involved. The family, friends and workmates who were exposed to the actions of addiction.

Watching the negative change of someone we know and care about can cause its own impacts on our mental health and often it's a personal struggle to know how to help them find that critical hope.

Often we make the natural step of wanting to be the problem solver. It's a frustrating place to be but the advice is to be direct and honest.

"It's what I like to call the horse to water problem," says psychotherapist Kyle MacDonald. "It can be really clear to us what the person needs to do but it can be almost impossible to engage.

"You can raise your concerns in a straightforward way, tell the person that you're concerned and what those concerns are," says MacDonald. "But also set boundaries for yourself. If you find the behaviour harmful or potentially dangerous to yourself or others you can tell the person that if they continue you won't be able to have them around you."

It's part of a bigger picture of challenging people with reality as often addicts will retreat into denial. Sometimes we call that "rock bottom" which can sound fairly dramatic but can also be a way to structure how we talk to someone about their addiction.

"It can be important to vocalise what the consequences of someone's addiction are," says MacDonald. "Be clear about the consequences of the drug use on a friendship or relationship."

He goes on to qualify all this as not being tough love, or coming down hard on someone.

"The important thing to remember is that someone who's struggling with an addiction, it mean they're struggling with a lot of pain and distress," explains MacDonald.

Translation: You need bucket loads of patience and compassion.

It goes without saying that this takes a toll on you if you're the one applying all this to an addict. The good news is that free professional support is available through community alcohol and drug services that focus on supporting friends and family of people experiencing addiction.

If you have an addict in your life don't give up on them. Your love, your time, your being there for them can be the make-or-break, it can be the difference, it can be the hope.