What if Your Loved One Resists Substance Abuse Treatment?
If your loved one is resisting treatment there are other ways you can support them or encourage them to help themself.
Feelings of denial can cast a wide net within the life of an addict. The effects of drugs on the mind make it all but impossible for addicts to acknowledge, let alone confront, how drugs have damaged their lives.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, as of 2009, an estimated 23.5 million people aged 12 and older suffer from a substance abuse problem. Out of 23.5 million people, only 2.6 million actually sought out the help they needed.
When the addict refuses to get needed drug treatment help, loved ones can still take steps to reduce the effects of addiction in their lives and maybe even effect change in the addict’s life.
Here are five things you can do if your loved one resists substance abuse treatment:
1. Self-Supports
The longer an addict continues to abuse drugs the worse living conditions become. It’s highly unlikely he or she will just snap out of it or have a change of heart. For these reasons, it’s important for loved ones to have a support system in place.
A support system enables loved ones to maintain a sense of stability and normalcy in their lives. Self-supports can take the form of:
A support group, such as an Al-Anon or ACOA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) group
Enjoyable activities or interest
Counseling/psychotherapy
2. Detachment
More than anything else, it’s important for loved ones not to get emotionally entrenched in the addicts chaotic lifestyle. It’s not uncommon for addicts to become verbally abusive when under the influence. During these times, his or her sense of reason and judgment has become impaired by the effects of drugs or alcohol.
Being able to detach or remove oneself from the addict’s dysfunctional behavior displays can go a long way towards helping loved ones maintain their peace of mind.
3. Boundary Setting
Boundary setting has to do with loved ones communicating and establishing limits with the addict. While the addict may refuse to get needed treatment help, loved ones can still enforce limits on the types of behaviors they will and will not tolerate.
Examples of boundary setting include:
Refusing to lie for the addict
Refusing to keep or get the addict out of trouble
Making plans to stay at a friend’s house when the addict comes home under the influence
4. Arrange an Intervention Meeting
For many addicts, the effects of ongoing drug use make it impossible for them to see how drugs have damaged their lives as well as their relationships with loved ones. An intervention meeting enables an addict to get a bird’s eye view of the effects of addiction in his or her daily life.
Loved ones can arrange an intervention meeting on their own or have an intervention specialist organize and conduct the meeting.
5. Legal Options
While taking legal measures can seem harsh, it may well be warranted in cases where the addict poses a danger to himself (or herself) and/or others when under the influence. In everyday life, acts of violence or physical abuse often require intervention by law enforcement officials to prevent a bad situation from becoming worse.
Some states in the U. S. allow loved ones to commit an addict in cases where he or she becomes a danger to self and others. Granted, the addict may well harbor anger and resentment as a result, but circumstances will only continue to get worse for as long as he or she continues to use.
Various types of therapy are provided by rehab centers for the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. The most common types of therapy include individual therapy, fitness therapy, group therapy and various specialty therapy sessions such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Some therapy sessions will also include the ability for family members to participate with the….
Anxiety is a natural response to fear or a perceived threat, but, for millions of people, it is persistent and uncontrollable, interfering with daily routines, social functioning, and their ability to live a healthy and satisfying life. Methods of treatment in rehab for anxiety combine various types of counseling, psychotherapy interventions, and possibly medications to….
Teenage Alcohol Abuse According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, by the age of 18, 70% of teenagers have had at least one alcoholic drink. Alcohol abuse among teenagers is not uncommon, and although young people tend to drink on fewer occasions than adults, they also drink far more than adults when they do….
Calvert Treatment Facility and Rehab Centers have come together to provide greater access to drug and alcohol rehabilitation services in Maryland effectively leading more residents along the journey to recovery. Rehab Centers is a community resource that specializes in promoting rehabilitation services of rehab centers throughout the United States. Recently, Calvert Treatment Facility of Maryland….
There are hundreds of rehab centers across the United States. Most of them advertise cocaine addiction treatment, but which do you choose? Choosing between the different cocaine rehab centers may be difficult if you have never been to rehab before. Fortunately there are a few things that will help you choose the cocaine rehab that….
Both long-term and short-term treatment options exist for nearly every type of rehab facility, and individuals in need of recovery help are asked to choose the program that is best for them. But why would anyone choose long-term treatment if they can go through a shorter program and recover more quickly? Long-term Treatment for Long-term….
Addiction of any kind can be costly for everyone involved: the person with the addiction, their family, friends, and the entire community. The NIDA estimates that substance abuse cost the United States upwards of $700 billion every year, with around $200 billion going towards healthcare alone. It is safe to say that drug abuse definitely….
Are you or your loved one considering entering treatment in a rehab center? There are so many questions you must have and so many things to be considered when thinking about your options and what type of treatment facility would be best for you or your loved one. Rest assured there are many options for….
You will learn a lot in rehab, and you know that. But, it can be helpful to enter the situation prepared for what exactly you will learn. This way, your mind is open and prepared to take in lessons and training from the very beginning. To find a rehab center that will teach you what….
Addiction is a multifaceted ailment. It is not gender specific. It doesn’t discriminate between child and adult. It cannot recognize your cultural background. It will not care for your family or friends. Whether you have money or not, will make no difference to an addiction. So it would follow then, that the approaches to treatment….