How to deal with a drug addict?

The recent brutal murders by drugged criminals have made people afraid. So what should we do when we encounter such a person?

People who are “stoned” often cannot control their behavior, so when they see someone who is “stoned”, people should not crowd around to watch, which can easily agitate the subject and cause dangerous actions. People should also not rush in to control the person who is “stoned”, especially when they have a weapon, but should immediately call the authorities.

A “stoned” subject kidnapped a boy at Fivimax supermarket (Tay Ho, Hanoi) on October 4.

Because they are not aware of their behavior, people who are “stoned” are ready to kill their family members, so they should learn how to prevent it. If there is a relative in the house who is “stoned”, find a way to control them, such as quickly locking them in a room so they do not pose a danger to the rest of the family and to society. In case they cannot lock the person in the room and see them showing signs of agitation, the rest of the family should run into another room, lock the door, and call the authorities for help.

Dr. Nguyen Van Dung, Institute of Mental Health, Bach Mai Hospital said that the drug takes effect within 24 - 72 hours to subside. If the subject is high on drugs, the first thing to do is to find a way to isolate the subject, do not leave sharp iron objects or wires around the patient. When the subject has a mental disorder due to delusions of being persecuted, they will attack and cause damage to people around them, so it is necessary to avoid things that provoke the subject such as not letting them hear clanging sounds because they will easily think they are being attacked and they will find a way to attack back.

According to the advice of the PSD Institute for Psychological Research on Drug Users, when being threatened by a “stoned” person, the most important thing is to stay calm and follow their delusions. That is, if the “stoned” person says: “Someone is chasing and trying to kill them”, the family needs to be very considerate and sympathetic, and say gently: “Don’t worry, we have arranged for people to guard carefully and protect you very thoughtfully…”.

After the paranoid flow is interrupted, apply ice to the forehead and all over the subject’s body. The body temperature of the “stoned” person will decrease, they will be thirsty, crave food, the intensity of the paranoid thoughts will gradually decrease, they will crave sleep, and feel sleepy. When the subject is out of the “stoned” state, the family should quickly take them to a rehabilitation center to help them recover and regain their spirit./.

According to VOV