Resources for Substance Abuse:
What to Do if a Loved One Is Battling Addictio
The AAMC reports that 21.2 million adults suffer from a substance abuse disorder. No matter the age of the person, over time addiction can alter brain chemistry, cause serious health complications, lead to legal repercussions, and lead to job loss and financial issues. Eventually, serious drug or alcohol abuse increases a person’s risk for suicide and death. So what can you do if someone you love is struggling with substance abuse? Here, Basic Counseling Skills provides some helpful resources.
Is Your Loved One An Addict?Addiction is a serious disease that changes a person’s body chemistry to make them dependent on the psychological and physical effects of drugs or alcohol. It’s not always easy to spot addiction. Sometimes people will hide their destructive behavior until it is out of control. The term “high-functioning addict” is often used to describe those who maintain a functional day-to-day life while abusing their substance of choice. However, eventually all substance abusers – even the high-functioning ones – will break and succumb to the destructive effects of letting drugs or alcohol control their lives. Early intervention can help prevent the most devastating effects and make recovery a less difficult endeavor. Look for the early warning signs of addiction:
Available Treatment OptionsAlthough addiction affects many, there is not one right way to treat it. What works for one person may not work for another. Sometimes, substance abusers will need to try multiple avenues of treatment before finding a combination of therapies that work for them. It’s important to show your loved one patience, but it is also just as important to be up front and honest with them. Treating addiction is never easy and feeling supported can be a major boon to a person’s recovery efforts.
You can also help them to find programs or facilities that offer treatments they want to pursue. Listen to them carefully to ensure you understand what options they want to try, then search together for rehab centers in your area that offer those programs. Note that many facilities offer both inpatient and outpatient options, so know what your loved one prefers moving into their treatment.
Here are some of the addiction treatment options available:
While you should never carry the burden of being your loved one’s counselor or only confidant, you may find it helpful to learn some basic counseling theories as you support them through this process. Basic Counseling Skills can be a great resource for this information. The site is organized like a book, so you can read through it at your own pace and return to specific places of interest.
Find Ways to Support Your Loved One’s JourneyAddiction is a disease that affects both the mind and body. Seeing the signs of addiction is not always easy, but in time the problem eventually destroys the addict’s life. Seeking treatment as early as possible can help mitigate problems. There are many treatment options available – 12-step, religious, holistic, etc – and each person responds to treatment differently. It’s important to be patient and supportive as a person struggling with substance abuse goes through recovery. Doing so helps improve their chances of making it through treatment and returning to create healthy and productive lives.
Is Your Loved One An Addict?Addiction is a serious disease that changes a person’s body chemistry to make them dependent on the psychological and physical effects of drugs or alcohol. It’s not always easy to spot addiction. Sometimes people will hide their destructive behavior until it is out of control. The term “high-functioning addict” is often used to describe those who maintain a functional day-to-day life while abusing their substance of choice. However, eventually all substance abusers – even the high-functioning ones – will break and succumb to the destructive effects of letting drugs or alcohol control their lives. Early intervention can help prevent the most devastating effects and make recovery a less difficult endeavor. Look for the early warning signs of addiction:
- Changes in behavior or mood swings
- Social withdrawal
- Neglecting obligations
- Changes in appetite
- Dental decay
- Lack of attention to hygiene or appearance
- Seeming spaced out or distracted
- Red, bloodshot, or glassy eyes.
- Sudden complaints of feeling ill or having flu-like symptoms
- Problems at work or school
- Financial issues
- Excessive fatigue or agitation
- Sudden changes in social group
- Physical changes such as losing weight
Available Treatment OptionsAlthough addiction affects many, there is not one right way to treat it. What works for one person may not work for another. Sometimes, substance abusers will need to try multiple avenues of treatment before finding a combination of therapies that work for them. It’s important to show your loved one patience, but it is also just as important to be up front and honest with them. Treating addiction is never easy and feeling supported can be a major boon to a person’s recovery efforts.
You can also help them to find programs or facilities that offer treatments they want to pursue. Listen to them carefully to ensure you understand what options they want to try, then search together for rehab centers in your area that offer those programs. Note that many facilities offer both inpatient and outpatient options, so know what your loved one prefers moving into their treatment.
Here are some of the addiction treatment options available:
- The 12-Step Program is a system used by Alcoholics Anonymous and other compulsion therapy groups like it. When going through the 12-steps, the participants surrender themselves to their “higher power” while they seek healing through the process of making amends, taking a moral inventory, admitting fault, self-reflection, and participating in service.
- Religious-based recovery methods often use the 12-Step Program, but instead of simply using the concept of a vague “higher power,” the treatment is more specific about which higher power the person is surrendering to.
- Holistic drug rehab programs seek to treat the whole person mentally, spiritually, and physically. The idea behind holistic drug treatment is that if one aspect of the person is suffering, it will affect the other aspects just as much. Holistic drug treatment doesn’t just treat addiction, it also addresses the underlying concerns that contribute to it.
While you should never carry the burden of being your loved one’s counselor or only confidant, you may find it helpful to learn some basic counseling theories as you support them through this process. Basic Counseling Skills can be a great resource for this information. The site is organized like a book, so you can read through it at your own pace and return to specific places of interest.
Find Ways to Support Your Loved One’s JourneyAddiction is a disease that affects both the mind and body. Seeing the signs of addiction is not always easy, but in time the problem eventually destroys the addict’s life. Seeking treatment as early as possible can help mitigate problems. There are many treatment options available – 12-step, religious, holistic, etc – and each person responds to treatment differently. It’s important to be patient and supportive as a person struggling with substance abuse goes through recovery. Doing so helps improve their chances of making it through treatment and returning to create healthy and productive lives.
