Overall, it’s up to the addict to decide on when or if he or she will make a commitment to his or her own recovery but there are some steps that loved ones can do to encourage the process. One of the most important steps that family members and friends of the addict should take is to seek counseling and educational help so that they understand what they can do to stop enabling their loved one.
When a loved one refuses to go into drug rehab and seek professional help for a substance abuse problem, family members and friends can often feel defeated. You feel as though the addiction has beat you and that there’s little hope left. While these feelings are all completely natural to have, there are some steps that you can take to immediately begin changing the playing field all together.
Consider this:
Are you a family member or friend who gives the addict money?
Are you providing shelter, clothing, or other necessities for the individual?
Have you told the addict that you will no longer do these things, but then gone back on your word and continued to loan money or otherwise provide?
If you said yes to any of these situations, you are enabling the individual and making it essentially easier for him or her to continue with the addiction. The best thing that family members, friends and loved ones can do to help the addict is to help themselves better understand the steps that must be taken to stop enabling the addiction.
If you’re loved one won’t get help and refuses to go into drug rehab, here are the options available to you:
Give an ultimatum and tell them that if they opt not to go into drug rehab, then you will
No longer help them with bills
No longer provide shelter
No longer provide any assistance of any kind
No longer communicate with them
Alert law enforcement or social services about their addiction problems
Follow through with any ultimatums that you give the individual. It could take time, but in many cases, especially when you give an ultimatum that hits home personally, the addict will choose to get help in order to have their loved ones back in their life. It’s tough love!
Stage an intervention
Seek your own help to learn how you are enabling the addiction and what steps you can take to prevent future enabling of the addiction
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