5 Ways to Encourage an Addicted Loved One To Enter Rehab
Many people are uncertain about how to help a loved one to escape the addiction trap. Typical default reactions are denial, anger, and silence. It is not uncommon for family members to resort to wishing and hoping that their loved one can muster up the will-power to stop the abuse.
If frequent talks, arguments or enabling activities fail to stop the addiction, some may get frustrated and give up on their loved one. Below are 5 ways to encourage an addicted loved one to enter rehab.
Unfortunately, due to the complexities of addiction, most people require medical intervention and a strategic program of recovery to halt drug use, change addictive patterns of behavior and sustain sobriety.
Studies show that prolonged drug use often hijack brain functions and impair reasoning skills. That means most people may not recognize that they have a problem. As a result, many are in active denial and blatantly reject the notion of addiction. For this and other reasons, most people with addiction do not actively seek help.
Recognizing that your loved one may not be able to stop drug use without treatment, is the first step towards helping them to get on the road to recovery. This stage, however, is often fraught with concerns about how to open dialogue about a rehab program. Fear of hostility or greater isolation and disengagement are common reactions that inhibit efforts to even suggest the necessity for treatment. However, taking steps to help a loved one stop chronic drug use is a life-saving approach that is worth the effort.
Five ways to help an addicted love get into treatment:
1.Educate yourself about the dangers associated with drug abuse and the rehabilitation process. Addressing the need for treatment and the rehab process from a place of knowledge and understanding can minimize resentment and opposition.
- Education helps people to…recognize the patterns, signs, and symptoms of addiction,
- Understand how enabling activities encourage drug use,
- Be cognizant of the different methods of intervention; and
- Expand awareness about the treatment options that are available.
2. Knowledge and insight into the challenges of addiction can also prevent judgment and foster empathy without enabling the addict.
- Break the silence. Taking an honest, caring and non-judgmental approach is an important strategy in confronting addiction. On the other hand, ignoring chronic drug use or hoping it will go away on its own is a dangerous stance when dealing with an addicted loved one.
- Breaking the silence removes the secrecy associated with drug use. It also provides immediate support to the individual struggling with the addiction and paves the way for a change.
3. Join a Support Group. Families of people with addiction suffer tremendously as they struggle to cope with the pain and suffering caused by addiction. There are many advocacy groups that help to support loved ones dealing with alcoholism and drug abuse in the home such as Al-Anon for family members of alcoholics and Nar-anon for family members of drug addicts among others. These organizations offer valuable resources.
- Drug treatment centers also provide guidance and assistance. They also help loved ones to stage an effective intervention that can get their loved ones into a drug rehab program.
4. Create a supportive environment. Until your loved one is able to get into a treatment program, pay attention to anything that could facilitate drug or alcohol abuse. Environments that support feelings of well-being, enable healthy eating habits and are free of alcohol, drugs, paraphernalia, posters or memorabilia can discourage rather than encourage drug use.
- A family member or roommates can also help by removing negative visual reminders that may trigger feelings of sadness, low self-worth or shame. Keep in mind, however, that once drug use has become habituated, physical and psychological impairments cause the cravings that drive obsessive and compulsive substance abuse.
5. Stage an intervention with a professional addiction interventionist. Addiction treatment is critical to healing the underlying causes of habituated substance abuse. But, according to an article published in HealthyPeople.gov; 95% percent of substance abusers do not realize they have a problem.
The purpose of an intervention is to make the addict aware of the danger of their addiction to themselves as well as to their loved one. It is designed to encourage a decision to seek treatment. Studies also show that staging a carefully planned and executed intervention has a greater than 90% success rate of getting people to enter a drug treatment program.
We at Ebb Tide Treatment Centers believe alcoholics and drug addicts can and do recover. Recovering from active addiction does not have to be a long, painful process. With the help of Ebb Tide’s caring and experienced staff, you and your loved ones will learn and take proven steps necessary to achieve success by maintaining lasting sobriety.
The goal of Ebb Tide Treatment Centers is to restore lives and families. With our help, you can regain control of your life from addiction and start living happily again. Your new life is just a phone call away. Call us today at 561-508-8330 or visit us at.
Sources:
1. https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/locator/link-focSelfGP
2. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/substance-abuse
3. https://www.chorusamerica.org/conducting-performing/breaking-silence-addiction