10.7 Creating an emergency plan

A Family Guide to Concurrent Disorders - Part III: Treatment

Before a situation turns into a crisis or an emergency, it may help to sit down with your family and discuss what you would do in an emergency. Don't try to deal with your family member when he or she appears to be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, or when family members are extremely upset. You may say things under the stress of the situation that you don't mean, or take action that just makes things worse.

When everyone is calm, you can focus on planning what to do if:

• the family notices that some of the symptoms of the substance use or mental health problem are reoccurring
• the situation has already become a crisis.

Developing a plan together ensures that your relative is an active participant in his or her own care. Planning all of this before a crisis happens can sometimes help avoid a crisis altogether. However, there are times when a crisis may not be preventable.

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