Help for A Friend or Loved One

People who know someone struggling with an addiction often wonder how to help an addicted friend or relative. The decision to try and get help for someone you care about who has an addiction is never easy. Fortunately, with your support, they have a greater chance of overcoming their addiction.

No one wants to watch a friend or loved one destroy themselves and hurt their family. Speaking up and seeking help is the best thing you can do for them. Educating yourself on the complex disease of addiction and understanding your role in the treatment program can increase the odds for a successful recovery.

An important component of our treatment program is working with family members of addicted to develop the most appropriate treatment for his or her needs. We offer a continuum of care after initial treatment, we also offer special services for family members including counseling, education and group therapy

Making the Decision to Help

When deciding whether to speak to your friend or loved one, you may have some concerns, such as:

Fear or mixed feeling about getting involved in someone else’s affairs. Just remember, addiction to alcohol or other drugs is a leading cause of death.
You believe someone else will say something. But, it’s important not to wait for someone else to step up.
You may feel hurt by past actions or behaviors of the person with addiction, so it is important to take responsibility for your feelings, too.

It’s also important to have an idea about the amount of alcohol or drug abuse. Think through how it is affecting him or her as well as others. If your friend or Loved one has alcohol- or drug-related problems, he or she needs help.

Signs of a Problem

How can you tell whether it might be time to start that conversation?

Below are a few psychological and physical symptoms that might help you decide.

Psychological and Behavioral Signs and Symptoms

Alcohol and drugs begin to take an increasingly important role in their life
The person spends more and more time drinking or using drugs
The person begins to drink or use higher amounts
The person is more often seen as under the influence of alcohol or other drugs
The person sees alcohol or drugs as a solution rather than a problem
They become preoccupied constantly with obtaining drugs or alcohol
They often feel anxious, irritable, depressed or moody
They may skip work or school because of hangover effects from alcohol/drugs
They have difficulty fulfilling responsibilities

Physical Signs and Symptoms

Sleep becomes disrupted and irregular
They feel and appear fatigued and tired
They may have accidents and suffer physical health problems
They may noticeably gain or lose weight
They experience physical withdrawal symptoms when not drinking/using drugs (e.g., sweats, tremors)

How to Talk

The following can help you talk with your friend or loved one:

Do not try to talk when your friend or loved one is drunk or high. It is also a good idea to meet in a friend in a neutral place, but not at a bar or any other place that serves alcohol.
Talk about the effect your friend’s or loved one’s drinking or drug use has on whatever the person cares about most like career or children. Your friend may not be concerned about his or her situation, but may care deeply for the children and what the problem may be doing to them.
Become aware of treatment or recovery resources available in your community. Find the local phone number for Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Learn what treatment resources are available in your area by calling your state’s Office of Substance Abuse Services or searching the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s treatment locator for your state. Also, you may feel free to contact us to answer questions that you may have.
If your friend or loved one does not want to go to AA or NA, talk with other people who know and care about them to see if they have other ideas.

Taking an active role in the treatment process and creating a nurturing environment for your friend or loved one loved one can help speed recovery and reduce the risk of relapse.

To learn more, contact us anytime. We’re here for you and your friend or loved one.