Whether it’s a close relative or friend, seeing someone you love struggling with a drug addiction can be heartbreaking. Regardless of what the root problem is, it’s your job to be there for your loved one and support them in any way you can to help them overcome their addiction.
Drug addiction and recovery can be a confusing process, and the actions you take can have a big impact on success rates. For the best outcome possible, here are eight tips on how to help someone overcome drug addiction.
Be Realistic
When helping someone with a drug addiction, you need to be prepared for obstacles and challenges along the way. Even if you think they’re on the road to recovery, relapses can and do occur, so it’s important that you stay realistic and know that roadblocks may be inevitable. If you’ve never taken drugs before, it can be hard to put yourself in an addict’s shoes and see their point of view. Instead of judging them and getting frustrated, it’s advised to find a balanced perspective that can keep you positive and encouraged, even during the problems you face along the way.
Determine Their Stage Of Addiction
It’s important that you get a solid grasp of your loved one’s stage of addiction. This will determine whether they recognize their addiction and if they’re willing to get help for it. At certain points, your loved one may be unwilling to accept treatment, whereas in other stages, treatment may be more beneficial. In the pre-contemplative stage, your loved one may not acknowledge their problem. In the contemplative stage, your loved one may begin realizing how their addiction impacts them, but they may still be hesitant to admit they have a problem, whereas with preparation and action, they may feel ready to make positive changes in their life.
Talk About Treatment Programs
The success rates for addiction treatment programs are hard to establish, and it’s very easy to find critical opinions that they say are useless or don’t work in battling addiction. Instead of being negative about the situation, make sure that you sit down with your loved one and talk about the positives. If your family member or friend is worried that their addiction revolves around some form of illegal activity, make sure that you remind them that there are laws in the United States which protect them when seeking treatment.
Encourage Them To See A Doctor
An individual who is suffering from a drug addiction may resist, or be terrified of, going to a rehab center in Indianapolis, particularly if they’re in denial about their situation. If this is the case, encourage them to see a doctor instead, even if it’s just for a health check. You need to remind them that anything they discuss with their doctor will be kept strictly confidential so they can be open and honest without fear or prejudice. A doctor can give mental health resources as well as prescription medicine to manage withdrawal cravings and symptoms. If you have any major concerns or worries about your loved one, you should schedule a visit with their doctor.
Accept That You Can’t Fix Them On Your Own
While it’s only natural that you will want to do everything in your power to help your loved one overcome their drug addiction, you need to accept that you can’t fix them on your own. Substance use issues are serious mental health disorders that need experienced clinical supervision and support for a successful recovery. Whether it’s the risks of detox, or complications of underlying triggers, you won’t have the skills and expertise to handle such a situation. There are inpatient drug rehab programs that your loved one can embark on. These will give you peace of mind that they’re in the right hands and getting the best support possible.
Don’t Wait To Act
Your loved one may not be the only person in denial about their drug addiction. Other family members, friends, and you may find it difficult to accept what is happening. It can be much easier to hold off conversations and actions, but missed opportunities for early healing can increase the risk of psychological, emotional, and physical damage. Although it’s hard to make the first step, taking action immediately is crucial for long-term success. From the moment you hold the first intervention, all the way through to treatment and recovery, you need to respect your loved one’s privacy.
Help With The Little Things
As your loved one battles with their drug addiction, they may need help in other areas of their life. If your loved one embarks on a drug rehab program, they will be away from home for several weeks and may need help sorting out their personal and professional endeavors. Whether it’s keeping their home in working order, or stepping in to look after their children, you need to give them the reassurance that everything is taken care of.
Look After Yourself
While it’s only natural to put your full focus and attention into helping your loved one beat their drug addiction, it’s just as important to put your needs and health first. The whole experience can take its toll on your mind and body, so to help your loved one in the best way you can, it’s vital that you get a good night’s sleep, watch what you eat, and try out relaxation techniques which can decrease stress levels. You will be no use to anyone if you’re not in the right frame of mind, so putting yourself first and taking time to relax and unwind can make a big difference and ensure you’re there for your loved one.
If you have a loved one with a drug addiction, they will need continued emotional support during recovery, so make sure that you’re there for them every step of the way which will increase the chances of them packing in the habit for good. While the road ahead will be emotionally draining, seeing your loved one beat their addiction and get back to their old self will be worthwhile.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
Thank you for all of the tips you provided for how to support and help a loved one who is dealing with substance abuse. I love how you said that it is important that you only focus on the positives of treatment programs when talking to them about rehab. I would imagine that it could be very useful to do a lot of research on rehabilitation centers to help your loved one find one that is the best fit for them.