Where Do I Start If a Loved One Is Suffering From Addiction?
A loved one is suffering from addiction. You know this because you’ve struggled with watching them use and watched their life change in front of you. It can be scary when you are faced with the knowledge that they need help.
The first step is to understand that there are limitations on what you personally can do. You cannot cure them. You cannot force them into treatment. You also cannot make them just stop using. The second step is to recognize that there are some things that you can do. That’s what we focus on here.
At Americas Rehab Campuses, we offer a wide range of tools that can help you and your loved ones get the care that they need.
Have a Frank Conversation
One of the first things to do is have a clear, honest conversation with your loved one about their use of alcohol and drugs. Avoid being accusatory. Instead, provide specific facts that make you believe that they have a problem. That may include stating what you’ve observed them doing, such as missing family functions because they were too intoxicated or getting in a car accident. Make sure you use just facts to outline what your loved one is doing that indicates they are struggling.
Be honest, but don’t blame them or belittle them. One of the most important things you can know is that a person with an addiction isn’t always able to just stop using on their own. As a complex disease, the drugs have altered the function of their brain, making it nearly impossible for them to just stop using. At this point, they may not be able to just stop using even if they want to.
Tell Them When You Will Help
Talk to your loved one about what you will do for them. For example, you may be willing to be there for them if they enter into treatment and remain in it. That means that you will help them with their responsibilities if they are in residential care. It may mean that you’ll be there to support their emotional needs through treatment.
Talk to a Treatment Center
You can reach out to our team at Americas Rehab Campuses to learn more about the treatment options that may be available to your loved one. This is an important step for you and your loved one for several reasons. First, you want to be sure they know there is help available to them. That means reaching out to us to learn what we offer and that they qualify for care through our program.
You also want to get some idea of what your next step is. For example, some people benefit from an intervention. Others just need help to know where they can go to get help. Our team can offer guidance and support to you on your next step.
Create Strong Boundaries
Make a list of some of the things that you have personally struggled with as a result of your loved one’s addiction. For example, are you often faced with dealing with them when they come home late and drunk? Perhaps you often have to make excuses to family and friends about their behaviors or their inability to make it to work on time. You may be providing them with money because they cannot pay their rent without that help.
With that in mind, your next step is to simply make some new rules. In short, this is the most intense step you can take to finally be able to encourage them to go to treatment. You are creating boundaries that eliminate your ability to do any of the things you have been doing to enable them to continue to use.
Here are some examples:
- You don’t let them in your home if they are intoxicated.
- You do not allow them to be around your children if they have been using.
- You tell them that you will no longer give them money at all. Often, the money they should use for rent is going to purchase substances instead.
- You make it clear that you will no longer make excuses for them. If they make the decision to use again, you will not cover up for them.
Only create boundaries you can stick with. When you do this, you force them to see there is a problem. That may be enough to encourage them to get the treatment they need right away.
We Are Ready to Help You
When you are facing this type of intense and oftentimes overwhelming experience, nothing is more important than taking action. Contact America’s Rehab Campuses today to learn more about what we can do to support your best outcome. We’re here to support you with comprehensive programs, including medical detox.
