Finding the most effective way to help a loved one who is addicted to drugs or other substances can be challenging. It’s important to grasp the nature of addiction and how best to support your loved one and yourself through the addiction recovery process.
Our goal is to recognize the symptoms of drug addiction, some of the causes for drug dependency, and most importantly, and how you can help guide the drug addicted person to needed drug counseling and addiction resolution programs.
Understanding Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is a chronic condition marked by compulsive drug use despite its harmful effects on health, relationships, and overall well-being. It alters brain function and behavior, leading to profound changes in perception and decision-making. Some of the signs of drug addiction are dramatic changes in behavior, isolation by the addicted person, the need for money to support the drug habit, drowsiness or agitated behavior, changes in sleep, among many other drug addiction symptoms.
Main Forms of Drug Addiction
Common types of addictive drugs include opioids (such as prescription painkillers and heroin), stimulants (like cocaine and methamphetamine), depressants (including benzodiazepines and barbiturates), and hallucinogens (such as LSD and MDMA).
Specifically, “opioid use addiction (OUD) has become a public health crisis in the United States. From 1999 to 2020 alone, more than 800,000 Americans have died from drug overdoses. (Source: CDC Wonder).
A person may use opioids occasionally at first, but more often than not will increase use even though it causes problems with health, safety, financial security and relationships.
The Addict…Reaching a Bottom
It is often a challenge for the addict to become honest with themselves and others regarding their drug use. The nature of the “disease” is that it wants to convince the user that they can manage their drug use. The drug user will go to extremes to hide their drug use and be hesitant to reveal to others their specific “drug of choice”.
Many times, friends and family must remain on the sidelines and watch the addict suffer until he/she is willing to open up about their addiction.
Eventually, their drug use becomes such an unbearable disruption to their lives that they reach a “bottom” where they are forced to become honest with themselves and others.
At this point it is important for the addict to begin the process of seeking help, and the realization that they cannot solve this problem without the assistance and support of others.
Realizing You Are Not Alone
The drug addicted person may seek help on their own, but often times they need help and guidance from family and friends, as well as others in their lives who may have experienced addiction and recovered. It is important at this stage of addiction recovery that the addict realizes that they are not alone and that others can help guide them in recovery.
Supporting Your Drug Addicted Loved One
Educate Yourself: Begin by learning about the specific drug substances your loved one is using and its effects. Understanding the nuances of addiction will enable you to provide informed support and recognize signs of trouble.
Communicate Effectively: Approach conversations with empathy and openness. Express your concerns honestly, but avoid judgment. Create a safe environment where your loved one feels comfortable discussing their feelings and experience with drug addiction.
Encouraging Treatment
Few individuals with a drug addiction problem can recover on their own. Today there are many professional resources and treatment programs that have had great success in helping addicts better understand their addictive behaver while offering individual and group focused counseling solutions.
Seek Professional Help: Encourage your loved one to seek professional addiction counseling or therapy. Look for therapists and other professionals experienced in treating addiction and discuss various treatment options, including inpatient or outpatient programs.
Finding Drug Treatment and Recovery Centers
Most often the addict will enter a treatment program that begins with a 5-10 day “detox” to safely help the addict through the initial withdrawal phase.
Some can then progress to an “outpatient” program, where they attend group meetings and one-on-one therapy secessions, while continuing with their life in the outside world.
However, more times than not, the addict needs more intensive in-patient care to remove themselves from the environment and life pressures that caused their addiction in the first place. In these cases, it is advisable for the addict and his support team to explore 30–90-day residential “inpatient” recovery centers where individuals can immerse themselves in a more intensive recovery program without the distractions and temptations of the “outside world”.
How You Can Help Support the Addict
Offer Logistical Help: Often the addict initially seeking assistance is not mentally and emotionally capable of identifying and contacting treatment centers and recovery programs. If they are willing to accept your assistance…
…this site will be invaluable in helping you to identify treatment centers and giving you insight into how to construct a recovery plan that has successfully worked for many suffering addicts.
Support Treatment Plans: once you have worked to identify a treatment approach and a recovery center of choice, assist your loved one in sticking to their treatment plan by offering practical support, such as attending therapy sessions together or helping them find resources. Provide emotional encouragement during difficult moments in their recovery journey.
Managing Challenges Together
Setting Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries to protect yourself and your family. Define what behaviors are acceptable and not acceptable in your relationship, and consistently support these boundaries to maintain your well-being.
Avoid Enabling Behaviors: Be mindful of actions that could unintentionally support their addiction, such as providing money or covering up consequences. Avoid enabling behaviors and instead focus on supporting healthy choices and recovery efforts.
Conclusion: A Journey of Healing
Supporting a loved one through recovery from drug addiction requires patience, empathy, and resilience. By educating yourself about addiction, fostering open communication, encouraging professional treatment, and setting healthy boundaries, you can provide invaluable support on their path to recovery.For additional information on addiction counseling, treatment options, or support resources, visit https://mentalhealthresource.com/ or call our 24/7 hotline at 1 (844) 949-4007. Your support and understanding are essential in helping your loved one achieve a healthier, drug-free life.