Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 1/24/2005

Question
I have a 17 year old son who just told us he is addicted to cocaine.  I would like to understand the draw of cocaine and why he would start to use in the first place.  What can we do to help him?

Answer
Dear Pat,

That must be very worrying to you, but it is good to see that your son confided in you.

The usual treatment for cocaine addiction - and for that matter any addiction - is joining an in-house drug rehabilitation centre. Most of these treatment facilities are based on AA principles, in other words the assumption is that drug addiction is caused by MENTAL processes, attitudes and beliefs.

I take a different point of view in that drug addiction is primarily caused by an underlying biochemical disorder.
We have found that most drug addicts have hypoglycemia and this can be treated by going on a hypoglycemic diet. This diet is not only a natural diet, but is specifically aimed at overcoming unstable blood sugar levels - as well as wildly fluctuating stress hormones and insulin levels.

My advice would be to get hold of a doctor who is familiar with nutritional medicine and have your son tested for hypoglycemia. The test for hypoglycemia is described at;

"Testing for hypoglycemia and How the doctor can help” at:

http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/testing_hypoglycemia.html

If proved positive he should be put on hypoglycemia diet, preferably under the supervision of a naturopath or nutritionist.

This should the be followed by a course in psychotherapy. Many of the courses available in a drug rehabilitation centre would be suitable for that, but he must WANT to do the course.

We have a self-help PSYCHOTHERAPY course at our web site. It may be worthwhile for you to study that course too, so as to gain insight into your son's thinking and also how to handle him.

Please discuss this with a therapist of doctor.

Jurriaan Plesman
For more articles see
Free web site at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au