You know your loved one needs drug treatment. They are out of control and teetering on the precipice of disaster. You’ve used every argument for change, every threat that you can think of to no avail. What can you say that will make them get help for their drug addiction and/or alcoholism? What can you do to make them drop their denial and just admit they have a problem?
How Can I Convince Them to Get Drug Treatment?
Denial is an essential component of becoming addicted to alcohol or drugs and a major barrier to overcoming alcoholism or drug addiction. If we deny that we have a problem, then we don’t have to fix it. After all, you can’t fix what doesn’t exist.
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When a person struggling with drug or alcohol addiction and who suffer from denial refuse to acknowledge that they have a problem, they are not lying. Their denial can be so strong that they just don’t recognize that substance addiction is their problem. Through a hundred forms of self-deception, rationalization, justification and excuse making, a person can actually believe that they do not have a drinking or drug addiction.
As long as they are unable to see beyond their denial, they will not have the motivation to stay sober. If they do manage to quit, it will only be to appease other people and it will be only a temporary solution. It will not be long before they relapse and are once again abusing chemical substances.
The First Step Toward Drug Treatment
It’s been shown that an individual’s motivation to change can be strongly influenced by family, friends, emotions and community support. How can you motivate your loved one to admit they have a problem and agree to get the help needed to overcome it?
For many people struggling with addiction, the biggest and toughest step toward recovery is the very first one: deciding to make a change. It’s normal to feel conflicted about giving up your drug of choice, even when you realize it’s causing problems in your life.
If your loved one has admitted to having an addiction problem but still resists help, see if you can at least convince them to get an evaluation from a doctor. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes that people will often listen to professionals rather than have painful conversations with friends and family members.
NIDA advises that you emphasize to your friend or loved one that it takes a lot of courage to seek help for a drug problem because there is a lot of hard work ahead. Assure them that they have your support in their courageous effort.
Take the Initiative to Help Your Loved One Reach Addiction Recovery
You can encourage your loved one by exploring drug treatment centers that might appeal to them, either by their location or medical approach. NIDA points out that “treatment approaches must be tailored to address each patient’s drug abuse patterns and also their other medical, psychiatric, and social problems. Some treatment centers offer outpatient treatment programs, which allow patients to continue to perform some daily responsibilities. However, many people do better in inpatient (residential) treatment.”
Located in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, The Discovery House provides clients with a specialized drug treatment plan designed to meet their individual needs. We deliver the highest level of care while maintaining the dignity and respect that every individual deserves. Whether your friend chooses our inpatient residential addiction rehabilitation or our intensive outpatient program, our addiction professionals, therapists and counselors bring a vast spectrum of knowledge to the drug treatment process.
People of all ages with substance use disorders live in fear of what will happen to them when their drugs are taken away. You can assure the person you care about that The Discovery House will keep them as comfortable as possible if a detoxification process is needed. Remind your loved one that The Discovery House drug treatment center is very experienced in helping patients get through this process and keeping them safe during it. Depending on your loved one’s situation, there may also be medications to reduce these symptoms, which make it easier to stop using.
Inpatient drug rehab is an individual’s first step after detox. The Discovery House helps residents transition gradually from our sub-acute detox program to our residential rehab program.
Remember: Relapse Happens
If your friend or loved one was in rehab before but then relapsed, they might be skeptical about trying again. However, the fear of relapse should not get in the way of giving treatment another try. People being treated or recovering from addiction relapse about as often as do people with other chronic diseases, but it doesn’t mean treatment failed. A return to drug abuse indicates that treatment needs to be started again or adjusted and your loved one might benefit from a different treatment approach.
At The Discovery House, we conduct full assessments of residents in order to establish an effective treatment plan for them. Once the resident has transitioned fully to our inpatient drug rehab program, therapists continue to monitor and assess the resident to determine their progress and any need for an adjustment in their treatment program.
It is important to tell loved ones struggling with addiction that you admire their courage for tackling this medical problem directly through treatment and that as long as they stick with the treatment plan, you will offer encouragement and support. NIDA cautions that when residential treatment is over and your loved one re-enters the community, it will be a difficult time. There will be triggers everywhere that could promote a relapse, such as driving by places where the person once took drugs or seeing friends who provided those drugs. You can encourage your friend to avoid these triggers. However, people addicted to drugs have to fight much of this struggle on their own using the knowledge and skills learned in treatment. Offer as much love and support you can as long as they continue to follow the treatment plan. If your loved one relapses, you should encourage additional treatment without judgment.
Begin Inpatient Drug Rehab Today
The Discovery House utilizes a variety of treatment programs that allow each client to receive the individualized care they deserve. Our Southern California rehab centers offer a variety of inpatient and outpatient drug treatment programs to help people addicted to drugs and alcohol achieve and maintain long-term recovery. Each client receives customized care to end their dependence on heroin and other opiates and/or alcohol and to live a sober life.