Addiction is a scary thing whether you’re helping a child or adult. The power the addiction wields over the person can even cause them to do things out of the ordinary such as steal, lie and abuse those you love. If you don’t know where to start or how to help a family member, the following call to action will guide you to assist those you love.
Take Immediate Action
Substance abuse can happen to anyone no matter if the person is young or into adulthood. It can also happen to those you love the most. While some may say that bad behaviors early on may have a negative impact on falling ill to addiction, those without issue can find themselves involved with some form of substance abuse. If you find your loved one in need of medical assistance, you want to call 911 and seek the help of the professionals. Time is of the essence, especially if you find your family member unresponsive. Whether it’s a food disorder, intoxication, side effect or withdrawal, you may be in a life or death situation. This person may also have lost the ability to go on based on their addiction and suicide could be a major risk. Once you make the call to the 911 operation, have as much information as possible at the ready such as the cause.
Research the Treatment Possibilities
Signs of addiction can vary and include weight loss, dilated pupils, repetitive speech, and abnormal pallor. Their eating habits may have changed, and your loved one has taken on an undernourished look about them. Behaviors of an addict can also be off and turn to anger, sadness, nervousness or despondency. If you’re wondering if your family member has an addiction problem, the chances of it proving true are high. You can help your loved one through the recovery process by providing family support for addiction. Through a familial coordinator, the balance of patient and family can improve based on weekly calls, therapy programs and family coaching. Research the treatment options available based on the severity of the substance abuse such as mild, severe, moderate or emergency treatment. You’ll find a number of tools on the Internet. The various programs may also be covered by medical insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare. Your physician or other healthcare provider may be able to offers suggestions on how to assist a loved one through a proper diagnostic checkup. For a comprehensive understanding, you might want to check out this guide on drug addiction therapy which offers in-depth insights on various treatment modalities.
Call and Visit the Top Centers
After you’ve done your research, you want to call and visit the top centers for addiction. Ask the proper questions such as treatment plans, therapy programs and costs. You also want to determine if your loved one’s insurance will cover the facility and ensure their availability, so you can get your family the treatment that they need sooner rather than later. If you’ve already spoken to the person with the addiction, encourage them to visit the rehab facility with you for a tour. This allows them to get a sense for what lies ahead of them.
Speak with Your Family Member
This is one of the most difficult steps for a family to take. While your loved one may have worked hard to hide their addiction, letting them know what you’ve discovered can sometimes backfire. From anger and denial to begging and promises to kick the habit on their own, you’ll run into a number of emotions when you plead your case. But laying it on the line and voicing realistic statistics may get into their head and allow them to see the ramifications if they continue to abuse their bodies. If your family member persists in denial, an intervention may be necessary. There are health professionals who have the skill to assist in meeting with addicts and helping persuade them to get treatment for their addiction.
Show Your Support
If your loved one is finally ready for treatment, encourage them to follow through with the plan. Tell them that they have your support and love no matter how difficult the journey. You can show your encouragement by attending meetings, group therapy sessions and providing transportation to their treatments. You can also provide a clean environment when they come home from the treatment facility.
Addiction can wreak havoc with family members just as much as it harms the addict. While it can be both a traumatic and exhausting process, there are things that you can do to work with your loved one and help conquer their substance abuse.
