It’s often very difficult for family members to address the fact that their loved one has a drug addiction. Some choose to live in denial whereas others simply don’t know how to bring the subject up. Sadly, this means that the issue often gets ignored out of fear of pushing the addict away and making them use even more than they already are.
If this sounds like a situation that you’re currently in, something worth bearing in mind is the fact that most clients do in fact seek substance abuse treatment as a direct result of positive family involvement and intervention. On the other hand, ignoring the issue achieves nothing other than enabling the addict to carry on as they are as you are sending out a message that their behavior is acceptable.
Approaching an addict should be a gentle and supportive process. It must be done however because frequently people don’t face up to their problems until other people address them and make them realize that they’re hurting or affecting the lives of those around them.
Every family is different and the way to approach the addict will depend from person-to-person. Enlisting a therapist to help with the intervention process can be very helpful because they will have dealt with this situation multiple times before and will also be able to advise you how to get the approach right.
Admitting that you have a problem and need help is by far the most difficult part of facing up to addiction. Family involvement is a very important aspect of recovery and an addict is much more likely to agree to therapy if they know they have the love and support of their family.
Deciding on a type of therapy can be very daunting because obviously you want to do the right thing for your loved one. Outpatient therapy may be more beneficial if you think the addict will recover better if they’re not separated from the family. If the addiction is very bad however, they may be better suited to an intense residential program where they won’t be able to leave the facility and engage in substance abuse.
When dealing with drug or alcohol addiction, it’s not just the addict who can benefit from therapy. Attending sessions can also really help the family to understand what the addict is going through, how they can develop coping mechanisms for themselves and crucially, learn about what can be expected from every stage of recovery.
Therapy often helps families to recognize any negative behavior patterns that have developed. For example, even though you mean well, you may have become trapped in a cycle of enabling the person to carry on with their addiction by giving them money because they can’t hold down a job, defending them against others or pretending that nothing is wrong. Alternatively, you may be very angry with the addict for what they have done to themselves and the family.
The support that a family provides to a client who is recovering from addiction is essential to their success. Drug addiction recovery is long and difficult but there is plenty of help for drug addicts and their families. From group and individual therapy to supportive and dynamic recovery workshops, all of these things help to build a strong family unit once again.
If you think that you or someone you know could have a drug addiction, please feel free to contact us in the strictest of confidence and we will be more than happy to help.
