If someone you love has a drug addiction, it can be difficult to know how to help. In this article, you’ll learn specific things you can do to support them in their path to long-term sobriety.
What is a Drug Addiction?
It’s important to understand that a drug addiction is a mental health condition. Also known as a substance use disorder, it can involve the abuse of alcohol, benzos, opioids, cocaine, crack, heroin, fentanyl, meth, and many other drugs.
People with substance use disorder are often unable to control their addiction and will continue to use drugs even when it is severely impacting their quality of life. This is why professional addiction treatment is often needed.
Who is a Candidate for IOP?
1. Let Them Know You’re There
By simply letting a loved one know you are there for them during this time, you are showing them you care about them and their future – that you want to see them take control of their own life. Even just listening to them speak about their struggles with addiction and how they are feeling in certain moments can make a big difference.
2. Attend Therapy
While individual therapy is an important part of addiction recovery, so is family therapy. Family therapy sessions often involve direct family members such as siblings and parents, but they can also involve significant others. Family therapy can be a very healing space for the individual to share about their addiction and for specific issues to be addressed (if needed), with the help of a licensed therapist as the third party.
3. Do Not Use Substances Around Them
If you are someone who uses alcohol or other drugs, consider not drinking or doing drugs around your loved one. This is especially true during their first several months in addiction treatment and after, as this can be triggering to them and lead to relapse.
4. Set Healthy Boundaries
Last but not least, make sure and set boundaries with yourself when it comes to supporting your loved one. Their struggle with addiction is a personal journey and is not your issue, regardless of your relationship with the person struggling. Your own feelings and own well-being are also important and setting boundaries is a way to honor that. For example, consider only speaking with them one or two days per week to listen and hear how they are doing. Another example is to not give them money for drugs or alcohol. Instead, you can offer to research addiction treatment facilities or support groups if they aren’t already enrolled in a program. Setting boundaries might be hard at times, but it is a form of love and support.
What are the Symptoms of a Drug Addiction?
Symptoms of drug addiction and alcohol addiction can vary from person to person, but often they include a combination of the following:
- Difficulty quitting drugs and alcohol
- Obsessing over drugs and alcohol
- Isolating
- Avoiding work
- Extreme changes in mood
- Experiencing intense cravings for the drug
- Extreme mood swings
- Irritability
- Withdrawal symptoms
If someone you love displays any of the above behaviors, they might have a drug or alcohol addiction.
Get Treatment For Drug Abuse & Alcohol Abuse Today
Our addiction treatment programs are more than just services – they’re solutions. If you seek treatment for substance use, the right addiction treatment center can make all the difference in your recovery. Our team at JC Treatment Center in Pasadena, CA strives to provide you with the addiction treatment and mental health services you need and deserve to get your life back.
Through compassionate care, expert staff, and innovative substance abuse solutions, we give you effective tools to help you stay sober and live a healthy life.
