Drug addiction may seem like a solitary struggle, and in many ways, it is. However, family involvement is a key part of recovery and, if done properly, may assist in an easier and more effective recovery. If done incorrectly, however, it may hinder your loved one’s ability to recover from drug abuse. It’s important to understand all aspects of the part you play in helping a family member get through this difficult time.
So what is a family’s role in drug abuse recovery?
The first step in handling addiction is admitting the fact that there is a problem. This pertains to family members as well. In many cases, an addict may have a family member who is acting as a caretaker, enabling the addict to continue. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America defines enabling as behaviors by family members that allow people with substance use problems to avoid the negative consequences of their actions. Examples of enabling include helping an addict financially, helping him pay his bills when his money has been used up on his habit; covering up for him when addiction-related problems surface in the workplace; making excuses for him or even simply staying silent when witnessing destructive results of substance abuse; and it can even mean buying drugs for him. The caretaker, or enabler, must cease these actions as they are in fact very detrimental to an addict’s recovery.
A family member may also be acting as a hero, cleaning up messes that are the result of drug addiction. An example of this is an older child of alcoholic parents, who takes care of the house and gets younger siblings to school when parents are too drunk, hungover, or not even home at all.
Every family is different, and every addiction case is different, so the method of helping an addict come to grips with addiction may vary from a gentle hand to a firm insistence on rehabilitation. You may seek the help of an interventionist, who is trained to mediate and help addicts get the treatment they need. Either way, your involvement is key.
There are two different forms of drug abuse rehab. Out-patient centers allow a patient to participate in a treatment program close to home, without being separated from their families. They can continue with treatment for an extended period of time.
In-patient, or residential, treatment centers provide a facility away from home in which patients usually undergo an intensive twenty-eight to thirty-day detoxification and recovery program. This can be very helpful as it removes the patient from any surroundings or people who might encourage re-addiction. In a fresh, new environment, it can be easier to fully overcome addiction.
In either case, family members should provide their love and support as the patient goes through this difficult time. Visit, call, and show interest in your loved one’s treatment and recovery.
Contact us today for more information on substance abuse rehab.
