When short relief costs more

WEAVE FAMILY, ONE PAGE

When short relief costs more

'I needed more, mixed things, missed work, and felt unwell when I stopped.'

Tell the truth. Care should protect, not punish.

MORE OR WITHDRAWAL: Need more; feel unwell stopping. LIFE SLIPS: Sleep, memory, health, money, work or relationships worsen. HIGHER RISK: Mixing, unknown pills or prescription medicine off-plan.

Cue, then use, then brief relief, then rebound, withdrawal or harm, then a stronger cue.

Once prescribed is not always safe, especially mixed, unknown or fake.

TELL: What, how, when, and what else. BRING: The packet or a photo, if safe. ASK FIRST: Some long-used sleeping or pain medicines can cause dangerous withdrawal. Ask before reducing or stopping; never detox at home.

FAMILY: Unresponsiveness is an emergency. Help give an honest history; keep children safe. Never shame, argue during severe intoxication, give food or coffee to someone drowsy, force vomiting or plan home detox.

OVERDOSE OR SEVERE REACTION: Hard to wake; slow, noisy or no breathing; blue or grey lips; collapse or seizure; severe chest pain, overheating or agitation; confusion, voices or lost reality; immediate self-harm or violence risk. Call 112 or go to emergency now. Do not leave them alone. If unconscious but breathing, place them on their side and follow the dispatcher. Counselling and referral: 14446. Non-emergency support: Tele-MANAS 14416 / 1800-89-14416.

Dr. Wilfred D'souza, Dr. Niharika Reddy. weave.clinic/family