Addiction is more prevalent than ever. There are many people who are battling an addiction and trying to hide it from their friends and family. This can be due to shame or simply because they don’t know how to stop using on their own. It can be hard to know how to help an addict if you have never battled addiction yourself. Fortunately, there is a lot of addiction help for a loved one available once you know where to look.

How to Help an Addict Who Is Ready to Make a Change

In order for someone to be able to recover from an addiction, they have to be ready to make a change for themselves. Trying to pressure someone into changing their life doesn’t often work. Holding an intervention to let the person know that people love and support them can be helpful. It’s important to have a game plan in place before holding the intervention, though. Know what you are going to say, have a treatment center in mind and ensure everyone is there with the right intentions. You don’t want to have the person feel attacked or shamed during the intervention. This can cause them to turn away from the help and fall deeper into addiction.

Be as Supportive as You Can Possibly Be

When a loved one has a problem with addiction and has relapsed multiple times, it can be hard to believe they really want treatment. It’s important to be as supportive as you can when a loved one says they want to overcome their addiction. There is a fine line between enabling and supporting addiction help for a loved one though. You need to be sure that you aren’t supporting their addiction accidentally. Do not give them money or pay their bills. This can be enabling because they can use the money to buy drugs. It’s best to instead offer to help them while they are getting the addiction treatment that they need. This could include watching their children, maintaining their house or simply assisting with the payment arrangements if they cannot afford it on their own. Other ways to be supportive include:

• Build trust and honesty
• Respect their privacy
• Don’t criticize them
• Be patient with them
• Don’t threaten them

Know That Multiple Treatment Options Are Available

There are many different treatment options available. Many people don’t know how to help someone choose which option is best for them, though. Meeting with the professionals at a treatment facility can make the process easier. They can go through all of the options that the person can choose from to help choose an option that suits their needs.

Inpatient treatment is ideal for someone who needs to avoid temptation. They can receive medicated assistance to make the withdrawal period more tolerable. With inpatient treatment, patients live in a residential facility and focus completely on their recovery. They’ll learn new life skills in a peaceful environment where they won’t be distracted by work and the public.

Outpatient treatment may be ideal for someone who needs to be able to go to work on a daily basis and still have some accountability. They will go to the treatment facility on a regular basis to seek medicated assistance if needed, go to counseling and meet with professionals.

If your loved one has any mental health conditions, they may need dual diagnosis treatment assistance. They can get help for their mental health condition and their addiction at the same time.

Help With Their Recovery

Once your loved one completes their addiction treatment, you need to provide them with the care and support that they need. Do not put temptations near them. Be willing to avoid alcohol or any drug use when you are in their presence. Help them rebuild their lives as much as you can. This can include providing them with a place to stay or simply being their moral support.

If you want to know how to help someone that you love, contact Kemah Palms for help to learn what options are available. Counselors can help walk you through addiction help for your loved one that’s available. Your loved one can go to a treatment facility that specializes in the intricate and specific care that they need.