Article: It's much better to say something than to stay silent. Tell the person you've noticed he or she is using cocaine and that you're concerned about his or her health and well-being. Say you want to help the person overcome his or her habit or addiction.  Don't wait until the person has hit rock bottom. Cocaine is too dangerous for that. Don't allow it to "run its course" or go unchecked. List specific examples to help you "prove" that you know the person has used cocaine. Be prepared for the person to deny using. If the person you're worried about is your child or a close family member, make an appointment with a drug counselor to get help right away. Dealing with a potential cocaine addiction is not something you'll be able to handle on your own.  Find a counselor who is skilled in dealing with addictive behavior. A family therapist or school counselor could also be helpful. Ultimately, the person in question will have to take the initiative to stop. Attempting to control the situation using threats, bribes, and extreme punishments probably won't work. Invading the person's privacy, taking away responsibilities, and arguing with the person while they are high will probably just make things worse.  Lay down enforceable consequences (like taking away his or her allowance or driving privileges) but don't make hollow threats you can't enforce. Try to figure out what the underlying problem is. Work with a counselor to determine what's causing this behavior. Whether the person you're concerned about is your child or someone else, self-blame is unhelpful. The person's cocaine use is about him or her, not you. You can't control the person's decisions; all you can do is be supportive and encourage him or her to get help. Letting the person take responsibility for his or her behavior is essential when it comes to making a recovery.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Speak up about your concerns. Get help if the person is your family member or close friend. Don't resort to threats and intimidation. Avoid blaming yourself.