You’ve watched addiction change a loved one from a caring and adoring individual into a withdrawn, sullen, and complicated person. That kind of change is devastating to see in someone you love and may cause significant emotional issues in both of you. Thankfully, there are ways that you can help. Knowing how to help an addict recover requires understanding the extent of their addiction, as well as the steps that you can take to walk them back to a sober lifestyle.
Gauge Their Addiction Level
When learning how to help an addict recover, you need to gauge their level of addiction before you start. Doing so can give you an idea of what to expect from them and help you predict how they may react to you. The following questions should help give you an idea of what stage they are at in their addiction and what type of help they’ll need:
- Do they take drugs at more substantial amounts than necessary?
- Have they tried to quit in the past but cannot?
- Are they lying to you or trying to hide their drug abuse?
- Can you smell evidence of drug abuse on them?
- Did you find drug paraphernalia in their home that they claim is “someone else’s”?
- Do they suffer from health problems related to drug abuse?
- Are they isolating themselves from you and other loved ones concerned with their addiction?
All of these behaviors indicate a severe level of addiction. People who cannot control their drug use have fallen into an abusive state from which it can seem impossible to remove them. Sadly, they may even try to claim that they have the situation under control or deny their abuse. As a result, you need to gather up friends and family members to stage an intervention.
Stage an Intervention
When asked about the best methods to take for learning how to help an addict recover, many care specialists are likely to mention interventions. This useful technique forces your loved one to see how their addiction has impacted the lives of others. They’ll be confronted with multiple concerned people who will express their love, their concern, and their dedication to helping that person.
No less an authority than the Surgeon General has stated that evidence-based behavioral interventions can help increase a person’s motivation to quit drugs. The success rates of these interventions vary depending on the person and the type of therapy that they receive. As a result, it is crucial to seek out a high-quality substance use treatment center that can help.
Get Them to Rehab
Addiction is a disease like any other and requires specialized treatment. This type of medical care is available at rehab facilities, and the professionals here understand how to treat substance use medically. Beyond that, they also know the psychological counseling techniques necessary for recovery. Your loved one will experience many therapy options here, including:
- Outpatient treatment – Allows clients to come home to care for children or work
- Inpatient care – Intensive 24/7 care helps to keep clients away from drugs
- Dual-diagnosis recovery – Manages emotional and psychological problems that influence addiction
- Family therapy – Work with family members to make treatment more effective
- Holistic treatments – Receive alternative therapy options, such as yoga, to calm the mind
All of these methods are great choices when learning how to help an addict recover. Each provides the kind of acute care necessary for this sometimes difficult process. Thankfully, rehab specialists fully understand all of these recovery choices. And with their help, your loved one can walk away from addiction with a fresh start and a newly sober mind and body.
How to Help an Addict Recover: Reach Out for Help
If you need more help learning how to help an addict recover, please call 866.262.0531 today to contact us. At Crestview Recovery, we have years of experience helping people with addictions. Our care modalities are diverse and include a myriad of options that should help your loved one recover. So please make sure that you verify any insurance before you contact us. Doing so can help you know what types of payments you’ll need to make or whether or not your loved one will have the coverage for our care.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
