Addiction is a common problem that impacts many more people than you might believe. Over 70,000 drug overdose deaths occur in the US annually. People who suffer from substance abuse disorder can become unrecognizable to even their closest friends and family members. The disease can ruin relationships, friendships, and professions, as well as put a person’s health and safety in jeopardy. Drug abuse impacts the entire familial unit, so loved ones must be an active part of the treatment and recovery process.
Drug addiction contains a physical component, in which the body develops a tolerance for the drug and needs more and more of it to achieve the same effect. Drug abuse also contains a psychological component that makes quitting seem impossible. An intervention for a loved one is never easy, but it has the potential to give someone you love an entirely new lease on life. Here are some pointers from Ethan Crossing that can help increase your odds of putting an end to your loved one’s addiction.
Table of Contents
Educate Yourself About Addiction
Addiction is one of the most common afflictions in the United States and worldwide. There are typically five phases:
- First Experience
- Routine Use
- Risky Behavior
- Dependence
- Addictive Disorder
The addiction cycle is used by professionals to help understand what those who struggle with addiction are going through and how to help them recover. Each phase leads into the next phase which is more serious. Once a person reaches the last phase, it’s imperative to seek professional help. However, you need not wait until things become dire before you seek help from a residential treatment program like Ethan Crossing.
It is helpful to know when you or a loved one should seek help at an addiction treatment center. Of course, you cannot know when it’s time to seek treatment unless you know what signs to look for. Common signs include:
- Poor job performance or school performance
- Inexplicable financial trouble
- Loss of control over daily life
- Giving up on pastimes and social activities
- Trouble making rational decisions
The first step towards recovery is admitting you have a problem. As simple as this sounds, people in active addiction, simply deny the fact that they are in imminent danger. Denial of substance use disorder happens for a multitude of reasons, such as:
Neurological Rewiring: Over time the pathways in the survival center of the brain can change. This leads the addicted individual to believe they need the substance to survive.
Fear: A person struggling with drug abuse might be fearful to enter a rehab center for many reasons. Detox can be both emotionally and physically draining. Therapy might bring out painful memories and emotions that have been buried for a long time. For many, missing work or being away from family can be a challenging process.
Shame: The stigma that still surrounds drug or alcohol abuse plays a role as well. Believing that if they admit to having a substance use disorder, it means they are weak or have no self-control.
Is It Possible To Force Someone To Go To Rehab
A family member may need to use tactics to try and force the addicted person to enter treatment. Having your loved one enter a rehab center voluntarily is always the easiest and best-case scenario. When you have a family member who is battling drug or alcohol abuse, you will certainly go to great lengths to ensure that they receive treatment by any means necessary.
Currently, 37 U.S. states allow for some sort of involuntary commitment for addiction treatment. Each state’s method, regulations, and maximum commitment period will differ. For parents with children under the age of 18, there are also further steps available for involuntary commitment.
Another form of involuntary commitment is court ordered rehab. As a result of drug-related charges, a court order for substance use disorders is frequently administered. There are many misconceptions about the effectiveness of these treatment options. The effectiveness of court ordered rehab is comparable to voluntary treatment, according to research. There are multiple paths to recovery, so don’t hesitate to follow whatever path is necessary.
Reasons Why Someone Should Commit Their Loved One For Addiction Treatment
A family may contemplate committing a loved one for addiction treatment for a variety of reasons:
- They fear for safety.
Alcohol or drug abuse has progressed to the point where the addict’s life is in jeopardy. When the addict is under the influence of their drug of choice, they are either a threat to themselves or others.
- Nothing else has worked.
They have exhausted every other option. Substance use disorder is complex, trying to quit without the help of an addiction specialist often leads to relapse.
- Quitting cold turkey can be dangerous.
The withdrawal symptoms during detox can be very intense and possibly fatal. Being monitored by professionals in a drug rehab facility ensures the safety of the patient.
Common Excuses Used To Avoid Treatment
“There’s nothing wrong with me.”
○ Many addicts will genuinely believe they’re fine. In their mind.
○ Addiction is cunning, baffling, and powerful. Many people think they can quit on their own. They may believe that they are only a social user and can stop anytime. This denial only leads to continuing use until a physical detox center is necessary to manage your cravings and get control of your life.
“I can’t take time off from work.”
This is a valid concern. But the truth is that many companies recognize addiction as a mental illness that requires treatment. Taking time from work is difficult but your work will continue to suffer if you don’t treat your mental health as a priority.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Most large and small corporations offer employee assistance programs (EAP). These programs offer counseling and short-term assistance for people needing help with drug and/or alcohol abuse. Employees may also be unaware that these services are fully confidential. Employers have no access to private information about employees who receive EAP services.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Another option typically given to employees is The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This allows some businesses to grant up to 12 weeks of leave. The FMLA allows you to take unpaid leave to treat a variety of medical illnesses, including Substance Use Disorder. FMLA leave has the benefit of not affecting your health insurance. Request information on the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) from your workplace.
Hope Is A Click Away – Contact Us Today For Help
“I can’t afford it.”
Many addicts struggle with the idea of how to pay for their substance abuse problem. For someone who does not have any money, drug rehab may appear to be an unreachable goal, but don’t lose hope. Many patients receive financial assistance to help them pay for treatment, especially if they cannot afford it on their own. Scholarships, insurance, and even government aid programs are available to help with rehab costs or provide other treatment choices.
“My problem isn’t as bad as so-and-so’s addiction.”
When you run in circles of drug addicts and alcoholics, there is always someone addicted worse than you. Comparison is a common problem of people struggling with an addiction. The fact is that substance abuse disorder is a progressive disease. This means that if left untreated things will ultimately get worse. The sooner you seek help the less chance you risk of having the addiction completely destroy your life. You don’t have to wait to hit rock bottom to make a change.
“I can’t handle the detox.”
Entering a treatment facility requires that you stop using drugs or alcohol. However, an addicted loved one may be afraid of withdrawal. It is understandable to be afraid to experience withdrawal symptoms, but this is all the more reason to seek professional help. In a medically-assisted detox program, medical professionals monitor the patient and administer medication that counteracts some of the more painful withdrawal symptoms. A medication-assisted detox center can offer safe solutions to the problems of drug withdrawal. Some people have the mindset that they are responsible for getting themselves into this mess, and they’ll be the person to get themself out of it. But when you are sicker than you have ever been, wouldn’t you want someone by your side when you need them?
“It’s too embarrassing.”
○ A high-functioning addict may refuse to go to rehab because they find the idea too embarrassing.
Shame is one of the most powerful feelings a person can experience in active addiction. Feeling inadequate can keep the addict stuck in the cycle of abuse. It’s helpful to understand that someone suffering from addiction is not a bad person trying to be good but rather a sick person trying to heal. Our society has come a long way in the battle against the stigma surrounding addiction but we still have a long way to go.
The first thing family members have to do is provide emotional support to their loved ones. Many individuals who struggle with addiction feel isolated. They might believe that if they develop a drug addiction, their family member will not love them anymore. Family members need to reassure their loved ones that this will never happen.
“It won’t make a difference.”
○ It can be difficult to know how to get someone to go to rehab when they’ve already decided it won’t make a difference.
A substance abuse treatment program involves around-the-clock supervision in a structured environment. This can help you maintain your resolve through the crucial days of early recovery. If you have a severe addiction, proper supervision can help you maintain sobriety.
At a treatment facility, you will also be surrounded by like-minded individuals. This peer support can make all the difference in achieving recovery. Everyone at our facility focuses on achieving sobriety and maintaining abstinence from drugs following their return to independent living. So, building a support network in rehab can help you find the strength to edit your list of friends and acquaintances carefully.
Convincing Someone To Go To Rehab
Perhaps the hardest part of this process is not just finding resources for your family, but actually convincing your loved one that it is time to get help. The good news is that our team can help you there, too. We can help you determine what type of substance abuse treatment program may be beneficial to them. This includes program options such as:
- Drug and alcohol detox programs
- Residential treatment programs
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHP)
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Outpatient treatment program
We can also help choose the right types of therapies available. Then, you can reach back out to your loved ones to discuss the options with them. This can give you a plan in hand to use to convince your loved one it is time to get help.
Do An Intervention
Encouraging your loved one to seek rehab is a good idea. However, a successful addiction intervention for a loved one cannot end there. You have to be prepared to offer practical assistance to make addiction rehab at a medical detox center possible. Some forms of needed assistance may include the following:
- Being willing to handle the insurance paperwork so your loved one can afford rehab without having to deal with paperwork hassles
- Committing to caring for a loved one’s child, children, and/or pets while he or she is in rehab
- Keeping an eye on the house and doing chores such as collecting mail, mowing the lawn, and watering the plants
- Driving a person to the rehab center if he or she cannot drive safely
- Offering financial support for rent or mortgage payments, utility payments, and other important expenses so your loved one can take time off to recover.
These are weighty responsibilities and it’s unlikely that just one person in your family will be able to cover them all. That’s why you need to all talk together about who will take on which jobs or responsibilities. You’ll also need a backup plan in case one person who committed to certain responsibilities isn’t able to handle them on the assigned days.
We Are Here For You
At Ethan Crossing we offer inpatient rehab for those seeking 24-hour care and support. Inpatient drug rehab allows you to fully immerse yourself in the recovery process while enjoying the benefits of around-the-clock supervision from our caring and compassionate staff. Contact us at 833.691.0736 to start the admissions process.
