How Families of Addicts Can Help Their Loved Ones

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When your child, spouse, or other family member is suffering from addiction, things get very confusing, and sometimes, the pain and fears become too much to bear. It all seems like it would be so easy to ignore it, give up, and hope it goes away. Yet, most families go on for years, suffering needlessly and jumping the hurdles to make sure the addict is ok, long before they take care of themselves. This is not helping the addict to be sure. Instead, it’s a form of enabling that allows the addict to continue spiraling to destruction.

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So what can families of addicts do to help their loved ones? The following are some suggestions:

Offer to Help

There are ways you can help your loved one without enabling their addiction.

The first “rule of thumb” is to get the addict into treatment, but this is most often easier said than done. Talk to the person about your concerns, offer to help, and support them throughout their recovery. Be honest, but don’t try to blame or shame them. In the same token, don’t try to be a martyr, preach, bribe, or lecture because that is more likely to push them away and give them a perceived excuse to use. Don’t try to argue while they are using, as this will get you nowhere. But, like any other chronic disease, the earlier treatment is obtained, the quicker your family can be restored.

Get Others Involved

Families of addicts can help locate addiction treatment facilities and do the research necessary to pave the way, but they should get others involved, including extended family members, friends, pastors, counselors, doctors, etc. Addicts can get used to the frequent turmoil they cause in the family, put up a front, and avoid making treatment decisions, but once others are involved, it gets harder to avoid treatment necessity.

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Take Care of Yourself and Your Family

Neglect, distrust, abuse, anxiety, worries, shame, denial, depression, isolation, and guilt are just a few of the problems families of addicts deal with. Consider going to a Nar-Anon or AL-Anon family group meeting to get with people who know a little bit about addiction and obtain valuable resource information. These mutual aid groups are non-judgmental, free, and highly advocated for their honesty, knowledge, and concern for the recovery of others with addicted loved ones.

Stop Enabling

Trying to hide a family member’s addiction, covering for their mistakes, or making excuses is not productive. Doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. Stop giving the addict money, rides, or any other resources that they can use while maintaining their habit.

7 Signs Your Loved One Needs Narcotic Addiction Treatment

If your loved one shows any of these warning signs, it’s imperative that you help them seek addiction treatment help.

Educate Yourself

Learn all you can about addiction and the consequential aspects, including the common behaviors, so you can be prepared, protect yourself and other family members, and know what resources are out there for help.

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