A Guide For Families Of Addicts: Advice & Tips

Having an addict in your family is not something that is easy to deal with. You may have constant worries about what they are doing, what is going to happen to them, and whether they will ever stop abusing alcohol or drugs. You may also feel as if you were a bad parent or family member and lead them to this path yourself. With all these concerns, you may find your own life lacking a lot of happiness. It may seem like it is a never-ending cycle that will only continue to get worse. The truth is that, in some cases, that happens. However, there is some advice for families of addicts on how to get their addicted loved one into rehab treatment.

Should You Have an Intervention?

One of the things many family members of addicts ask is whether they should have an intervention for their addicted loved one. This is generally a good idea. However, there are some things to consider before doing so. Make sure you know what your purpose of holding an intervention would be. Do you hope your loved one will get into a detox program? Do you hope they will attend an inpatient program as well? Consider your plan before holding the intervention, so you can let your loved one know what you would like them to do if they agree to treatment.

If you decide that an intervention should be held, it’s important to decide who will be a part of the meeting. It should be planned out the best you possibly can. Picking a location and deciding on what everyone will say is a great start. You should also find a treatment center with an open room as well, in case your addicted loved one says they will go to treatment. It is good to be prepared for when your loved one says they will go, don’t wait around until they say yes to find a treatment center, have one ready.

Creating this plan will allow you and everyone else involved to stay focused on what matters. The purpose of an intervention is to get your addicted loved one to see that treatment should happen to help them overcome the addiction.

How Can You Find the Right Treatment Program?

If you are trying to get your addicted loved one into a rehab treatment program, there are some tips that might help you to find the right one. There are many types of addictions and different programs that help various addicts. Some of the things you may want to look for are particular treatments, a low staff-to-patient ratio, and a relaxing environment. Your addicted loved one may do better with an inpatient program rather than outpatient or vice versa. They may need group and individual therapy. Some addicts need to attend support groups while in drug or alcohol rehab.

What Should You Learn About Your Loved One’s Addiction?

When you are concerned about your loved one’s addiction and what it is doing to their life, learning more about what they are going through can help. Gaining more knowledge about what is happening to them can help you to learn the best treatment methods for their particular addiction. It can also help you to understand more of what they are going through too.

You should learn more about the symptoms of your loved one’s addiction. It might be helpful to learn about how they became addicted in the first place or at least possible reasons why they might have. Learning about treatment methods and what has worked to help others overcome addiction may be helpful, too. If you want your addicted loved one to get rehab treatment, now is the time to learn more about what they deal with on a day-to-day basis.

Should You Have a Calm Discussion Alone with the Addict?

Have you been concerned about your addicted loved one? Do you just wish they would get into a rehab center detox program and overcome their addiction? If so, one of the things that might help is having a calm discussion with the addict. You shouldn’t have this discussion with them while they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol or at least not during their highest or drunkest points. However, talking with them calmly may get them to see that you care and only want to help.

When you get together with your loved one, be sure to tell them how much you care about them. Let them know you are concerned for their overall well-being and you have noticed addictive behaviors that worry you. Let them speak as well, so they feel like you are hearing them. They don’t want to be lectured. If you want them to get into a detox and rehab center, lecturing won’t get them there.

Taking Care of You While Your Loved One is Away

Addiction affects all members of the family. The person you care about could have put you through many difficult times and sleepless nights. While your loved one is away getting help, you should take care of yourself as well. There are support groups for families of addicts where you can meet other people who have been through what you are experiencing. Learning from other families and realizing you are not all to blame can go a long way in your own personal well-being.