How to Help a Loved One Overcome Addiction

The impact of addiction is not limited to the person with substance use disorder. It often has a ripple effect, causing harm to those close to you who witness drugs or alcohol taking over your life. If someone you love is struggling with addiction, you may wonder what you can do to support them and get them to agree to receive help at an outpatient addiction treatment center near Columbus.

BrightView is here to guide you when you need help supporting a loved one to recover from addiction. Our outpatient addiction treatment centers offer family therapy as a part of our comprehensive addiction treatment programs so you can participate in your loved one’s recovery. Call us today at 888.501.9865 to learn more about how our addiction rehab center can help your loved one break free from addiction at our outpatient MAT clinics.

How Can You Support a Loved One Struggling with Addiction?

When a loved one suffers from addiction, you will want to help, but you may not know how. Here are some tips for supporting a loved one who is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction:

• Encourage them to get help. Share information about local addiction treatment centers.
• Set boundaries and stick to them. This may take some tough love.
• See a therapist who is experienced with addiction. You will benefit from counseling even if you are not the one with the addiction. They can provide you with support and guidance since your loved one’s addiction can be tough on you too.
• Set an example by making healthy choices. If you use drugs or alcohol, you can offer to quit together.
• Do not make excuses for their behavior. Be honest about how their addiction has affected you and your relationship with them.

Should You Arrange an Addiction Intervention for Your Loved One?

A person suffering from addiction has to be ready to recover to get the most out of treatment. If you confront a loved one about their addiction, you may be met with resistance if they do not feel they have a problem. You may wish to start with a heart-to-heart talk, being careful not to be too confrontational but rather expressing concern for their health, safety, and well-being. If you are not comfortable having this talk or do not feel your loved one will respond well to it, you may prefer a more structured approach with the assistance of others. For some, an addiction intervention may be the most effective way to prompt healthy changes or outpatient addiction treatment.

If you are interested in setting up an addiction intervention for someone you love, but you are not sure where to start, here are some steps to help with your planning:

• Reach out to friends and family members of the person suffering from addiction to see if they are interested in participating in the intervention.
• Consult with a drug and addiction counselor, an intervention specialist, or even a religious leader if applicable. They can help guide you through setting up an intervention and can even help facilitate it for you.
• Have each person participating in the intervention devise a list of ways the person with the addiction has impacted their life. The idea is to get the person to see how their addiction hurts those closest to them.
• Have each person decide what to do if the person with addiction refuses treatment after the intervention. Boundaries must be set, and each person should be prepared to follow through on consequences if the person does not get help.

Discover How to Help a Loved One Overcome Addiction at BrightView

At BrightView, we realize the importance of family support for recovery, so we highly encourage participating in family therapy when a loved one is enrolled in our comprehensive addiction treatment program. To learn more about how we can help your family through recovery at our Ohio-based outpatient MAT clinics, call us today at 888.501.9865.