Addiction is often a debilitating condition, affecting not just the individual struggling with it but also their friends, family, and other loved ones. Whether or not a loved one has experienced addiction in their own life, it is not uncommon for them to acquire the responsibility of assisting an individual in treatment and recovery. However, loved ones may question when or how to intervene. Working with local treatment centers, professionals, and other loved ones to learn more about appropriate and effective ways to intervene can be essential for fostering treatment entry and a newfound commitment to sobriety.
We at Renaissance Ranch understand that loved ones may experience overwhelming pressure to intervene in a friend or family member’s problematic alcohol or other drug use. On the one hand, this pressure can allow loved ones to reflect on their relationship with addictive behaviors and promote positive behavior change. Yet, on the other hand, such pressure can also cause conflict in relationships, especially when the individual engaging in destructive substance use is not ready to commit to change. Fortunately, our team of mental health professionals is here to assist you by providing education and support about intervening in a loved one’s addiction.
To Intervene… or Not?
It is not every day that we take the time to reflect on the quality of our relationships and how they are contributing to our lives. Yet, when we are faced with difficult situations in our relationships, such as the surfacing of a loved one’s addiction, we are directly faced with the opportunity to reflect. Similarly, we must be intentional with how we will respond.
During the early phases of a loved one’s addiction, we may ignore the presence or progression of a substance abuse problem. Heck, we may even be partaking in alcohol and drug use together with them. At some point or another, however, addictive behaviors will progress, and we must be willing to accept that and do something to change or we will experience consequences that interfere with our lives and the lives of our loved ones.
If you are questioning whether or not it is your place to intervene in a loved one’s addiction, ask yourself, “Is accountability important to me in my relationships?” As Youth.gov explains, healthy relationships are characterized by mutual respect, honesty, problem-solving, understanding, and good communication. Wrapped up in these characteristics is also accountability. If you were struggling and did not want to accept your need for help, would you want your loved one to make sure that they know they are willing to support you through treatment?
Steps to Take Before You Intervene
Perhaps you know that you want to intervene and talk to your loved one about their addictive behaviors. If this is the case, avoid jumping right in and bringing up your concerns, as doing so can trigger defensiveness and denial. Instead, consider taking some of the following steps:
- Educate yourself about addiction: Learning about how alcohol and drug use affect brain functioning as well as the short- and long-term consequences of addiction can ensure that you are well-educated about the topic.
- Seek out support from others who are in recovery: If you have not experienced addiction before, talking to others in recovery can help you gain empathy and understanding about your loved one’s current situation.
- Identify warning signs: Learning about the warning signs of addiction can help you pinpoint warning signs in your loved one when you are ready to intervene.
- Seek out local treatment centers and programs: Knowing what addiction treatment services exist in your area can be especially helpful and allows you to make suggestions for your loved one when they are ready to enter treatment.
- Focus on empathy and support: When you are ready to talk with your loved one, remember to speak from a place of empathy and unconditional support as this will ensure that they know you are a trustworthy support person.
Additional Considerations for Intervening In Your Loved One’s Addiction
Perhaps your loved one already sees that their alcohol or drug use is a problem but they are not yet ready to enter treatment and commit to sobriety. More often than not, alcohol and drug addictions develop in an attempt to self-medicate underlying distress. Thus, you may choose to encourage your loved one to acknowledge the presence of any unresolved trauma from their past and empower them to seek trauma treatment instead of treatment for their addiction. Make sure that they seek treatment from a center that offers dual-diagnosis treatment.
Nevertheless, intervening in your loved one’s addiction may or may not be a one-time thing. You may intervene by planting a seed, such as making it known that you’d only like to hang out with this loved one during events where alcohol and other drug use are not present. In other cases where a loved one has been in addiction for years, you may give an ultimatum, such as if they do not enter treatment, you have to distance yourself from them for the sake of your well-being. Talking with other loved ones as well as those who are in recovery can provide you with invaluable insight for how to approach the topic.
For additional help and support, reach out to your local treatment center or us at Renaissance Ranch. Above all, remember that having faith in your loved one’s ability to establish and sustain sobriety can do wonders for their growing confidence and willingness to commit to treatment.
Knowing when or how to intervene in a loved one’s addiction is a challenging feat. Before intervening, it can be helpful to talk with others in recovery, as they can provide you with helpful insight into what your loved one is truly going through. Additionally, connect with professionals at your local treatment centers to become more educated about addiction and the addiction treatment process. At Renaissance Ranch, we offer educational programming for families of individuals working to establish sobriety from addictive behaviors. With education and support, you can learn how to set appropriate boundaries and expectations with your loved one and their addiction so you can maintain your well-being. Call (801) 308-8898 to learn more today.