4 Tips for Dealing with Drug Rehabilitation as a Family
When one family member is suffering from addiction, it can and will impact the entire family. Those who want to help a family member who is suffering from addiction will need to take the right steps to protect themselves and offer as much help as possible to their loved ones. Following the tips below can help them understand what to expect as they go through the addiction recovery process together as a family.
4 Tips for Dealing with Drug Rehabilitation as a Family
Look into Various Treatment Options
Family members should get more information about addiction and treatment options before they speak with their loved one. This way, during the discussion about the addiction, they can present their loved ones with the various available options. It’s also helpful for the family to start planning for inpatient treatment, so they know their loved one can safely stay through the rehab program and work on their recovery. This is especially important when the person suffering from the addiction is the breadwinner of the family, as they will need to take time off work to go through the rehabilitation program.
Encourage them to Seek Help
Once the family members have an idea of what’s happening and what the treatment options are, they can go ahead and speak with their loved ones. Each day, more than 130 people in the US die because of opioids alone. The family members will want to talk to their loved ones as soon as possible to help them get treatment before this may happen to them. During the discussion about the addiction, it may be helpful for the family members to remind their loved ones about this statistic and let them know they’re trying to do as much as possible to avoid this outcome.
Set Limits to Avoid Enabling Addiction
Family members will want to support their loved one, but there is only so much support they can give. They will need to set limits that they will stick with over time. These limits can include financial support for their loved ones to avoid giving them money that can be spent on drugs or limits about how long they will continue to support their loved ones if they don’t seek treatment. It’s important to create and discuss clear limits with their loved ones so they can avoid enabling the addiction.
Treatment Doesn’t End After the Rehab Program
If the loved one does agree to enter a treatment program, family members must remember that treatment doesn’t end as soon as their loved one finishes the treatment program. Many treatment programs last a month, which is enough time for the person to stop taking the drugs or alcohol and to start learning how to recover, but it’s not enough for them to fully recover. Instead, the family will want to continue to be supportive over the long term and talk to their loved one about how they can help with the recovery long after rehab is over.
If you have a family member who is suffering from an addiction and you’d like to help them, follow these tips and encourage them to seek treatment. It is possible to make it through all of this as a family, but care needs to be taken to ensure every family member is safe and cared for during the treatment. Speak with an addiction specialist at Create Recovery Center today to learn more about how to help your loved one through their recovery.
