hi Brain Patch

first if your friend is an adult there is not much you can do unless she is willing OR - if she is a danger to herself or others (suicidal or violent).

yes there are loads of medications, depending on her particular symptoms the key is getting her into medical care.

the type of doctor you need is a psychiatrist, if possible, a personable one. In terms of qualifications, see if there is one who specializes in affective disorders and/or psychopharmacology. She has to be willing to go, and also to take medications.

for the alcohol and drug use. the doctor will suggest a course of action based on her specific needs. it will partly depend on what drugs she uses and how much alcohol.

i have used alcohol and other before dx and after and when i was being re-put on meds. in this last case, i was just drinking very heavily and knew i was out of control - i was having regular black outs for the first time in my life (and i haven't had them since that period, yuck!), which i had never had before, nor since! yet, i was kept outpatient and told once the meds were settled, i would be able to stop drinking. three docs told me that, of which 2 were psychiatrists and the third a very very scrupulous GP. whatever. culture here is different too. i'd bet my socks (only thing i've got a lot of ) that my former pdoc would have planted me in rehab if i had gone to him drinking like i was this time. it took me a long time to resolve that on my own, after my meds were supposedly "ok." and rehab, however expensive, would have been cheaper and kinder to my person than what i did, which was to drink my savings away and with them all hope of independence.

i landed on my butt, which is better than on my face or pushing up the daisies, but with multiple substances it is realllly messy. imho, if she is willing to do rehab, that would be best. however, nobody can force an adult, not you or the doc.

if she's willing, you'd need a facility that can look after BOTH her psychiatric needs AND her abuse issues because in any facility she will not have access to substances, so those issues must be medically addressed, and since she is using in lieu of medication, the medication needs to be put into place as well. you could scope out facilities in your area if you are willing and able.

keep doing what you do insofar as talking to her and advising her that this is NOT her fault, and about not sleeping with people for jobs (are you sure that behavior itself isn't impulse/mania driven though? ... that she later regrets and "rationalizes" as something she "has" to do to keep a job?

anyway, offering your own positive influence and supporting her emotionally is a good thing for her.

hope that helps. to recap, the first thing is i'd see if she'll agree to see a psychiatrist... if so, you can help by scouting one out and making an appointment for her with her permission. if she agrees to have you go with her that would be good too as a person in her condition might well forget the appointment. the psychiatrist is the portal to everything else... dx, meds, possibly recommendations for inpatient care, etc.

good luck. you are a kind soul to want to take care of your friend like this. i hope this info has been helpful.