When a friend or family member battle chemical addiction, it’s not just that person who suffers: their friends, family, coworkers, and associates all suffer in some way. Drug and alcohol addiction affects millions of people every day. People battling excessive substance use risk losing their jobs, their home, their material possessions, their loved ones and even their health the deeper they descend into their addictions.
There are many ways to help someone that you care about to overcome their addiction. Interventions, Drug Rehab Centers and personal counseling are some of the more commonly used methods for identifying and treating chemical addiction. Finding healthier ways to occupy that person’s time is another popular tactic.
Here are 4 ways in which family members and friends can help loved ones effectively recover from addiction:
1. Encourage them
When they feel like talking, listen attentively. If they decide to do something constructive with their free time, like taking up a new hobby or a new career, do your best to motivate and encourage them. It can sometimes take a lot of courage for them to speak up or try something new, and the more you support them, the more successful they will be.
2. Practice patience
Sometimes the person with a substance use disorder (SUD) will make mistakes, relapse or take a longer time than expected to achieve a goal. We’re all human, we all make mistakes. Instead of getting mad and taking your anger and frustration out on them, take a minute to understand the situation from their perspective. It may take some practice, but staying calm and patient with an addict is a necessary step towards their recovery.
It will also be helpful for them to visit the center to check if treatment for substance abuse is again needed if they still have addiction problems. People with substance use disorder often need encouragement to maintain long-term sobriety. They usually experience cravings from time to time, so encourage them to reach out and ask for support instead of giving up on their goals just because they are having a difficult day.
3. Don’t shame or blame
Talking to the person experiencing addiction in a condescending or rude manner when they do something wrong doesn’t help anything. Many addicts are already ashamed and embarrassed about their addiction, the mistakes they’ve made and the fact that they’ve hurt people who they care about.
People going through the trials and tribulations of addiction need love and support from the ones they care about, so talk to them in a calm, even tones. It’s okay to be angry at times, but negativity, threats or anger rarely brings about positive change. Treat them with the same courtesy, dignity and respect that you would like to receive from others.
4. Create a drug and alcohol free environment
It’s hard for someone battling addiction to stay clean when there are addictive substances everywhere they go. The temptation is always lurking. While you can’t control the outside environment, you can make sure there are no drugs, alcohol or other active addicted persons living in your home. If you want your loved one to stay clean, then one of the best things you can do is remove anything from their house that could possibly trigger a relapse. When you host parties or social events at home, you can even make them sober events. As long as your guests understand the reasoning behind this, there’s no reason why the event won’t be fun and memorable for everyone.
These are just a few suggestions to help support a loved one who is fighting the daily battle of addiction. That person won’t change their life until they realize they have a problem, and they understand that they can’t do it alone. Do all that you can remain positive and comforting for your loved one. Knowing that they have people who are standing up for them can make all the difference between staying addicted and making a choice to seek treatment and start improving their lives and the lives of the people who matter to them the most.