How to support your mates when they’re having a drug freak-out
Whether you’re new to drugs, or an old hand, at some point you’re going to be around a mate having a challenging, overwhelming or distressing time on drugs, usually due to a stimulant or hallucinogen overdose, or a cannabis-triggered panic attack. This is a tough situation to be in and can be distressing for you, too. We know how hard it is to see a friend having a rough time. So here are some top tips from peer experience that might help you to support and guide someone through this experience.
1. Stay calm
The way you react will affect the person. Take a few deep and even breaths to reduce your own heartbeat. If you remain calm, your friend will feel this energy and it may help them relax.
2. Relocate
Move them away from bright lights and action if you can. People who are distressed are often overwhelmed by too much stimulation (mental, physical, emotional, environmental). An easy first step is changing the environment to somewhere quiet and calm, preferably away from other people.
3. Sit together
Encourage or suggest for your friend sit down. This can stop them from hurting themselves, or becoming more worked up, and can help reduce their heartrate and anxiety levels by reducing physical exertion. If they choose to sit down, sit beside them not in front of them. Sitting beside someone is less confrontational. If your friend does not want to sit down, do not force them to. Try to stay beside them.
4. Move slowly and calmly
Avoid sudden movements and confrontational situations. People who are distressed are often experiencing a sense of ‘fight-or-flight’ and will be super hypervigilant (aware) of everything. Move your body in the calm way you’d like to see from them — our mind and body like to mirror other people’s behaviour. By moving calmly, your friends may start to mirror this slow and calm energy. Likewise, a panicked response from you or others, can escalate their state of distress. Even friends with the best of intentions to help can increase distress. If there are people around who are making things worse, ask them to leave or move away from them.
5. Distraction
When people are distressed, their mind is focused on challenging thoughts and feelings. Distracting them from these thoughts could help to shift their feelings. Most people will become distracted by talking about stuff they love doing, so try and get them talking about their interests to get their head in a more comfy space.
6. Remind them the experience is temporary
People who are distressed may feel like they will be permanently stuck in this drug experience. Remind them that the way they are feeling is a side-effect of the drug, and that the drugs will wear off.
7. Focus on breathing
A tactic to reduce distress is to ask them to concentrate on controlling their breathing — evenly and deeply. This can help someone overcome anxiety and slow a racing heartbeat.
8. Cool their face
Put a cold pack or ice on their cheekbones or suggest they pour some chilled water over their face — or have a cold shower if you’re at home. This will slow their heart rate and help reset their body emotionally to a neutral state. It’s called the ’dive reflex’ and all mammals have it.
9. Look after their needs
Offer food and water. Fruit is good. If they’ve been active and/ or sweating a lot, try and add something salty. You’ll be glad you threw that little packet of salted peanuts in your kit. Encourage them to keep sipping water.
10. Avoid smoking
Without making it a big deal, discourage them from smoking if you can; the heart is having enough trouble getting oxygen through the body.
11. Stay with them
It may only take a few minutes to wind themselves up again.
12. Validate their feelings
If they are delusional, don’t challenge them. They may be talking to people who aren’t there or be fearful of things that aren’t really happening. Respond in a calm and validating way, being sure not to panic, freak out or laugh at their delusions. Telling them that they are imagining things or trying to disagree won’t help. Don’t buy into their reality necessarily but hear them out and validate any feelings they have associated with the delusions. People experiencing psychosis may be close to panic and can become frightened, irrational, aggressive and sometimes violent. Listening and not freaking out will often calm them down and promote trust between the two of you.
13. Monitor symptoms
If they are physically unwell, monitor their pulse, breathing and conscious state. If you know they are on prescribed medication or have a medical condition that could complicate things — like diabetes or asthma, for example — check in with them about it.
14. Get help if you need it
If your friend is very agitated and you are concerned about their safety, or you are worried that your friend is very unwell and at risk physically or mentally, call an ambulance on 000. Give them as much info as you can about your friend’s symptoms — body and mind; what drugs (including alcohol) they have taken; and anything you may know about their general health that could be helpful, like the aforementioned diabetes and asthma.
15. Self-care
Once the crisis is over, make sure you engage in some grounding exercises, and self-care. Your nervous system may be worked up from seeing someone you love in distress. Take some deep breaths, and sit down with a cup of tea, or something to eat. You may want to talk the experience through with someone. And thank yourself! You’ve given emotional energy to care for your friend and keep them safe.
And lastly… Don’t be afraid to reach out
Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t feel up to supporting someone through a tricky drug experience. It doesn’t make you a bad friend or a failure. People train for years to help people during a crisis.
Getting help:
If you are concerned about the person’s safety, call 000 for an ambulance. If you are at an event, look for support services, care spaces, rovers and first aid workers.
You can also call, text or DM someone who is close to the person affected — maybe a best friend, partner or family member — to come and give support, take them home or get them professional care.
Call Peerline on 1800 644 413 (business hours) to talk to peers about supporting people or to debrief after you have been through an intense experience.