March 22, 2024
How Family Can Help Loved Ones in Drug Treatment

How can family members help an addicted loved one who’s seeking recovery? The sad fact is that when it comes to substance abuse, the afflicted family member has to be the central force of his or her own recovery. Family members can’t do it alone, though. They can provide support, encouragement, and help in practical ways that allow the person with the addiction to stay focused on getting better. If you’re family to someone in drug addiction treatment north wales and are wondering how you can best help your loved one, here are some tips that will go a long way toward getting them on track toward lasting sobriety.

Addiction is Not One Person’s Problem

Drug or alcohol addiction is a family disease and often involves siblings, parents, children and other relatives. They may feel responsible for their loved one’s addiction, but family members also need to take care of themselves. If a person with an addiction won’t get help on his or her own, intervention may be necessary. Before intervening, it’s important to learn how to avoid enabling someone who is addicted.

Identify Ways You Can Help Your Loved One

There are a number of ways that family members can be helpful to their loved one throughout treatment. First, it’s important for family members to set some boundaries around communication. This way, your loved one won’t feel pressured to keep you updated about every detail and can do so as he or she feels comfortable. Additionally, you can take on simple responsibilities like picking up medications at the pharmacy or scheduling therapy sessions.

Understand How Addiction Affects a Loved One

It’s natural to want to help a loved one with an addiction, but it’s important not to take on too much responsibility. If you try and solve your loved one’s problems for them, you may end up feeling overwhelmed by their responsibilities and that may cause resentment between you two. Be supportive of their recovery but let them find their own way through it. There are many useful family support groups out there that can help families learn how to be supportive without stepping on toes or taking control.

How to Help An Addict: Resources and Treatment Options

Recovering From Addiction Takes Time

According to experts, an addict’s addiction can often feel more like a disease than a bad habit. This means it’s not something that can be beaten overnight; recovery from drug use may require medical supervision and years of work. So you need to realise that addiction is going to take time and that your loved one will not recover overnight.

Educate Yourself

Learn about addiction and its effects. It’s important to understand what your loved one is going through. You can then support them with information and help them better understand their condition. This way, they’ll be less likely to resist treatment because they’ll know that it works—and can work for them, too.

Let Go of Control Over Their Recovery

If you want your loved one to be successful in rehab, it’s important that you don’t let your need for control over their recovery get in their way. The only way they can become truly independent is if they feel like they have complete control over their own treatment—and that means everyone else needs to step back and support them no matter what.

Offer Love and Support

Just because you are worried about your loved one doesn’t mean you can’t be a supportive, loving family member and friend. While he or she is in drug treatment, continue to offer your support through letters and phone calls. If you live far away, consider planning visits with your loved one as often as possible to help ensure he or she remains focused on recovery and reconnects with positive influences from their life before addiction.