What to do When a Loved One in Active Addiction Refuses Treatment
07/26/19: Addiction
When you have a loved one who is in active addiction, it’s common to hold an intervention for them. Unfortunately, many families believe that this will be the incentive that their loved one needs to get help for their addiction. This isn’t always the case, though. There are many times when people in the active addiction do not choose to automatically go to a treatment program. When this happens, it can be hard for the family to know what to do. The following guide walks you through a few steps to take when your loved one refuses to get help for a drug addiction.Be Realistic about Active Addiction
The first thing you need to do is be realistic. Remember that the drug has a hold on your loved one mentally, physically and emotionally. It may seem impossible for them to be able to stop in their eyes. Getting help for an addiction can be very scary because they do not know what to expect. It’s important to not try to push them before they are ready. This can cause the person to become distant and separate themselves from the family even more.Cut off All Funding
If someone you love refuses to get help for their addiction, you have to cut off all funding to them. If they can rely on you to pay their bills or support their habit, they will have no reason to overcome their addiction. It will be hard at times, but it is better than having them overdose because you gave the money to buy their drugs. Someone in active addiction can be very convincing when it comes to getting money. Be sure to be steadfast in avoid being manipulated into giving them money.Stay on High Alert
Once someone in active addiction knows that everyone around them has figured out that they are on drugs they will not be as likely to try to hide it. In order to support their habit, they will do just about anything. It’s important to stay on high alert to make sure that you notice if things start going missing in your house. Unfortunately, a drug addiction can cause people to do things that they would not normally do including stealing from their loved ones. If you notice that something has gone missing in your home, you need to mention it right away. This measure chances of being able to get the item back.Be Stern, but Supportive
It’s important to stand your ground when it comes to a relationship with someone in active addiction. It’s best to not have them around young children because their actions will be unpredictable. You want to still be able to support them during this hard time but need to be able to stick to your guns in order to protect other members of your family. Provide them with the open-ended offer to take them to counseling or rehab anytime they choose to go. Make sure to set limitations as to what you are and are not willing to allow them to do with or around your family.Talk to Professional Recovery Experts
Knowing what to do when a loved one refuses to get help for addiction can be very difficult. Fortunately, recovery professionals can help give you advice on what steps to take next. Talking to them about what you are experiencing and help you to know what to say and how to say it. They can also help to prepare you for the next stages of addiction that your loved one is going to go through. Knowing what to expect can make it easier to handle situations when they arise. You may also be able to hire a professional interventionist to help holding other intervention for your loved one. They will be able to know how to approach the subject in a professional manner to ensure that your loved one knows that they are loved and there is help available to them. It will be able to answer any questions that you or the person in active addiction has to make the choice to get help easier.Be Ready and Waiting
Eventually people in active addiction reach a point where they want to get help. When this happens, you need to be ready and willing to provide them with the support that they need. Help them find a rehab facility that has an opening for them. They may need to file for sponsorship or a payment program. Be willing to help them fill out the paperwork to make the process easier. Focusing their thoughts may be difficult while they’re in active addiction. Providing them with any help that you can show that you support them and are there for them.Support Recovery in Every Way Possible
While your loved one is seeking help for their addiction, do everything that you can to support them. Help them with their pets or their children, help them maintain their yard, gather their mail for them and do anything else that you can to support them. Knowing that they don’t have to worry about what is happening outside of the rehab facility allows them to focus on their recovery. Overcoming an addiction to drugs is never easy. Supporting a loved one to get the help that they need can be time consuming and sometimes frustrating. In the end it is well with your efforts if the person is able to overcome their addiction and change their life for the better. It’s important to know their relapses are common. Do everything that you can to help your loved one avoid their triggers and better their chances of staying clean and sober for the rest of their life. This can include keeping alcohol or drugs out of sight when your loved one is around, helping to decrease stressful situations and is not holding the things they did when they were addicted to drugs over their head. Starting their life over after addiction includes having their relationships with the people they love begin again too.If you or someone you know needs help with addiction, contact 602-737-1619 or email [email protected] to get the help you need. Our acclaimed recovery environment merges upscale, luxury accommodations with affordability, clinical expertise and an unwavering commitment to patient care and aftercare.
