How Can You Help Someone With Drug Addiction Treatment?

When you realize that someone you love is struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction, you’ll likely feel a variety of emotions. You’re hurt, angry, confused, and upset. These feelings are perfectly normal in this type of situation! Just remember, there is always hope when it comes to addiction. You’ll have a long road ahead of you, but your help will be needed when your loved one wants to get clean.

So how can you help someone with drug addiction treatment? What can you do or say? While there are no set rules for the situation, there are some guidelines you can follow. Check out what you should and shouldn’t do when you want to help.

Don’t Act Superior

No one wants to feel judged for their actions, especially ones they cannot help. Don’t blame your loved one for their addiction, and don’t look down on them with disdain. They need your love and support right now, not your attitude.

Instead, educate yourself about the problem. If this is the first time you have been exposed to someone with an addiction, you may not know what you are dealing with. To help your loved one with their problem, educate yourself as much as you can. Learn about the drugs they are using and how addiction affects a person. When you become informed about the problem, it will be easier to help your family member or friend.

Don’t Ignore the Issue

It can be very difficult to accept that someone you know has an addiction. We often make excuses for our loved ones and gloss over the problems we see because we are scared and frightened to face the real truth. Sure, it is a coping method, but it isn’t going to help anyone if you keep it up! When you try to tell yourself that it isn’t as bad as others may think, you’re doing a disservice to your loved one.

Instead, address the problem head-on. Talk to a professional if you have to. It’s important that you understand the problem for what it is so you can help them get the treatment they need. Consider starting therapy for yourself if you feel overwhelmed. Look for local Al-Anon groups to attend. Getting help for your loved one starts with helping yourself.

Don’t Try to Force Them to Stop

One of the most frustrating things in life is to watch someone we love and care about struggle with addiction. However, you can’t force anyone to get clean when they aren’t ready to. Tough love may work for a short period of time, but ultimatums usually backfire as time goes by. Even if they go into rehab, your loved one will likely start using again as soon as they are out.

Instead, prepare for the day they decide to get clean on their own. Start researching drug and alcohol rehabs, either with or without them. If you can, find out if their insurance will cover some or all of the cost of rehab. Figure out a payment plan if you plan to help a family member cover the costs. Look into alternative payment options, such as government grants and local community relief funds. While you can’t force a person into rehab, you can help them find one when they are ready to go on their own!

Don’t be an Enabler

When you live with an addict or interact with them regularly, it can be hard watching them fall apart due to an addiction. You must remember that there is a fine line when it comes to helping someone and enabling them. A few common ways you could be enabling an addict in your life include: paying bills for them, lending them cash, excusing their addictive behavior, getting them out of trouble, and covering for them.

Instead, take a close look at your behavior. Are you helping them or enabling them? It’s tough, but you must separate your emotions from the issue when you want to help. Addicts can be manipulative and sneaky when they want their next high, and you may not realize that you are being used over and over again. Don’t be scared to ask for professional help for yourself if you are having a hard time saying no to someone you love.

Call the Professionals

We can help you plan your next step when your loved one decides to try rehab. We can be reached at 833-820-2922 day and night. Take that important step by calling for more information.