MIDAS by MMS
Find an article for your question
A concern about alcohol, substances or gambling? Choose the topic you need.
24 articles
- Alcohol
Alcohol problems: when is it time to seek help?
Repeatedly returning to an earlier drinking pattern after trying to cut back is a reason to talk about what is happening. You do not need to wait until work or family life breaks down before asking which kind of help might fit.
Read article - Alcohol
Alcohol withdrawal: when is urgent help needed?
Stopping alcohol after regular heavy drinking can sometimes cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Planning to endure them at home is not a safe substitute for medical assessment. Do not design your own detox or medication schedule.
Read article - Alcohol
When a loved one struggles with drinking: starting the conversation
A conversation does not have to settle everything in one evening. Start with a change you have noticed and one clear offer of help. If your loved one is not ready, you can seek advice yourself and discuss how to approach the situation.
Read article - Psychoactive substances
Substance-related problems: where does help begin?
Not knowing the exact substance name should not stop you from seeking help. The first question is the person’s current condition and whether urgent care is needed. Discussion can then cover use history and changes in everyday life.
Read article - Psychoactive substances
Opioid problems: medical care and rehabilitation
With concerns about heroin or opioid medicines, health and safety come first. Describing the issue as a lack of willpower overlooks medical needs. Treatment and rebuilding everyday life should be considered as distinct parts of a support plan.
Read article - Psychoactive substances
Fentanyl and synthetic opioids: understanding risk and seeking help
A concern about fentanyl may begin with an unidentified tablet or mixture. Packaging and appearance cannot confirm its contents. The person’s current condition matters more than finding the name; do not delay emergency help while investigating a substance.
Read article - Psychoactive substances
Amphetamine and methamphetamine: changes worth discussing
Problems following stimulant use may extend beyond the period of use itself. Alongside the substance name, consider what has changed in sleep, work and relationships. This explains your concern without requiring you to diagnose yourself.
Read article - Psychoactive substances
Cocaine problems: discussing help before things escalate
You do not need to use cocaine every day to ask for help. Changes in plans, spending and relationships are worth discussing. Saying it happens only at weekends does not answer the question about consequences and may delay a useful conversation.
Read article - Psychoactive substances
Mephedrone and “bath salts”: condition matters more than the name
“Bath salts” does not identify a precise composition. With concerns about mephedrone or an unknown mixture, explain the person’s condition and changes after use. Not knowing the chemical name should not prevent an enquiry.
Read article - Psychoactive substances
Cannabis, marijuana and hashish: when to seek help
Calling a product “natural” does not mean it has no effect on your life. Comparing yourself with other users may be less useful than discussing changes in your own plans and control. An enquiry can start with a question rather than a treatment decision.
Read article - Psychoactive substances
“Spice” and synthetic cannabinoids: not the same as cannabis
Experience with marijuana cannot predict the effects of “Spice”. A name given by someone you know does not confirm the ingredients. When asking for help, describe the person’s condition and changes as well as the product name.
Read article - Psychoactive substances
MDMA and ecstasy: what can a familiar name hide?
A product called “ecstasy” does not have a confirmed composition just because of its name. The conversation can cover more than the number of episodes: the condition during use, the following days and a wish to repeat it all matter.
Read article - Psychoactive substances
Sleep and calming medicines: does physical dependence mean addiction?
Being worried about stopping a medicine does not itself establish addiction. Prescribed treatment, physical adaptation and misuse need to be distinguished. You can discuss a sleep medicine openly without assigning yourself a label.
Read article - Psychoactive substances
Ketamine and dissociative drugs: when to ask for help
Medical uses of ketamine do not make unsupervised use or an unknown product safe. If an experience raises questions about memory, control or everyday life, discuss them separately rather than relying on promotional claims.
Read article - Psychoactive substances
LSD and psilocybin: risks, distressing experiences and help
You do not need to label yourself addicted to ask for help after a psychedelic experience. Intense fear or distressing changes afterwards can be a reason to seek professional discussion in their own right.
Read article - Psychoactive substances
Inhalants and volatile substances: poisoning comes first
A product found at home or work does not become safe for psychoactive use. With inhalant concerns, the current condition comes first. A lack of long-term use does not rule out an acute risk.
Read article - Psychoactive substances
Medication misuse: a prescription does not settle every concern
You do not need to prove that a medicine is illegal before discussing a concern. Questions can involve prescribing instructions, the purpose of use and everyday consequences. Abruptly stopping a medicine is not a requirement before contacting reception.
Read article - Psychoactive substances
Mixed or unknown substances: ask for help without a precise name
If the name is unknown, do not postpone help until you identify it. You can share what you know. When the person’s condition deteriorates, identifying a chemical must not take priority over urgent medical attention.
Read article - Gambling
Gambling problems: when does control begin to slip?
The concern is not only the amount lost. If a promise to stop after the next win increasingly shapes your life, consider the situation beyond the financial outcome and discuss control over the behavior.
Read article - Gambling
Online casinos and sports betting: a problem inside the phone
Betting by phone does not require going to a separate venue. A useful question is when you cannot stop, not only where you play. Separate situations at work, at night and around family to make your concern concrete.
Read article - Gambling
When a loved one gambles: help, debt and clear boundaries
Supporting a loved one does not mean immediately taking responsibility for all their debt. A first conversation can clarify what is happening and what help you can offer, rather than seeking an admission through blame.
Read article - Consultation and rehabilitation
From MMS to MIDAS: medical care and rehabilitation
Contacting a clinic and beginning a residential stay are different decisions. MMS and MIDAS have distinct roles in the support pathway. Understand the needs first, then agree a suitable format rather than selecting one from a photograph or a name.
Read article - Consultation and rehabilitation
Returning to use or gambling: starting the help conversation again
After a return to substance use or gambling, thinking that every earlier effort was wasted can delay help. Checking immediate safety and describing what happened can start a new conversation without blame or concealment.
Read article - Consultation and rehabilitation
The free initial rehabilitation consultation: how to enquire
Questions about rehabilitation can start with a free initial consultation at MMS clinic’s Labzak branch. You do not have to decide immediately on a stay at MIDAS. Prepare your questions before making contact, even if you have not chosen a support format.
Read article
No matching articles. Try another word or browse all topics.