I tried to tell my client the bad side of drug use, but he just keeps taking drugs, why?

You are welcome.

Oh, that’s the reason. Thank you!

Threatening the client with the foolishness of what they are doing to themselves is, most frequently, useless. Scare tactics like ‘if you carry on in this way, you will kill yourself’ are most unlikely to produce the intended change in behavior. Confronting the client is likely to lead to a defensive reaction. Assuming the role of an expert and telling them about the physical consequences of their substance misuse is also unlikely to work. Setting goals for change has to appeal to a shared higher aim that the client reaches in discussion with the social worker may also not work. Why should the client have the same thoughts and aspirations as the social worker? Finally, labeling the client as an ‘addict’ or ‘substance misuser’ is unhelpful and does not assist them in thinking about changing. It may confirm that they have failed and that change is impossible.