Drug addiction is considered a chronic disease and a brain disorder because it can chemically change brain function and structure. Drugs can impact a person’s “reward system” and trigger the unnatural stimulation of dopamine neurotransmitters.
This is why people who get addicted to drugs find it hard to quit, especially since their brains make them feel rewarded and happy when they take the drug.
An addiction can even go as far as changing how the brain works, as it reduces the response of cells in the reward circuit to accommodate the unnatural stimulation of dopamine brought by the drugs. This causes an overwhelming craving for the drug, no matter how much it physically, mentally, and emotionally damages a person.
There are many cases where people with addiction refuse to get treatment or even admit a problem.
It’s particularly difficult when your loved one is suffering from addiction and rejects any help. Friends and family of a person with an addiction to alcohol or other drugs would often feel frustrated, helpless, and guilty.
An addiction is an extremely difficult disease to cure, but it is not impossible to achieve recovery. The loved ones of the person with addiction may be the ones affected the most but are also those who can help with the problem.
How To Help Someone on Drugs Who Doesn’t Want Help
One of the first steps in helping a loved one to seek treatment for addiction is to first prepare yourself and accept the situation. It’s natural to be in denial of a loved one’s problem, especially if it becomes serious. However, it is crucial to accept the situation as it is and admit that a loved one needs professional and medical help.
To cover up and deny a person’s addiction can be instinctive and done to protect that individual. However, this does not help at all and only enables the addiction.
The next step would be to learn about the situation thoroughly. Each addiction is different and is the result of various situations and choices. It is essential to understand the habits of the person who is addicted as well as their potential withdrawal symptoms.
To prepare for the worst-case scenario, you must do your research and be on the lookout for signs of potential overdose. You must also be very observant about the telltale signs a person exhibits to determine which stage of an addiction they are in. This is particularly helpful so you can empathize with your loved one properly, without judgment and condemnation.
Don’t do it ALL by yourself
You may also seek help or advice from a medical professional to be more informed about the current situation. Suggesting a routine check-up may help the person with an addiction to realize their current physical and mental wellbeing. Doctors will protect the doctor-patient confidentiality and will still be able to recommend the best courses of action.
Professional opinion outside of the family is proven to be wake-up calls to people with an addiction. It has been proven that people outside a person’s social circles may help them think clearly, and recognize issues logically.
The steps after that are all about offering support to the individual. Seeking help must be from the will of the person suffering from the addiction, and thus will need consent and their own decision. One cannot heal if he/she does not want to heal.
How to Approach Someone With Alcohol Use Disorder
Surprising as it may sound, approaching an individual with an alcohol addiction needs to involve self-adjustment and self-assessment first. It’s difficult to accept this; after all, it is not you who has the problem. However, the only person you can control is yourself, and your approach regarding the addiction is vital to help the person suffering from it.
Be objective
It’s vital first to detach yourself from the situation emotionally. Addictions are complex and difficult to manage; people who suffer from them can’t even control themselves. It’s crucial to admit to yourself that you don’t have full control of a person’s decisions no matter what you try to do.
Learn more
It is also good to learn about your loved one’s alcohol use disorder to know what you’re dealing with. Alcoholism is more than just drinking too much at certain times. Sometimes drinking is just a coping mechanism or a social habit built over time, which can be mistaken for addiction. However, people with a diagnosed alcohol use disorder do not drink in moderation, even if they promise to do so. Signs and symptoms of this problem are important to be aware of.
Spread positivity
The next thing that you can do is to create a positive and supportive message carefully. People with an addiction will not listen to anyone who guilt-trips or blames them for their problem. It’s important to avoid making it sound like an accusation and instead make it sound like you want to help them.
Be more reassuring
Using “I” statements when talking to your loved ones will make them feel that you are involved in the conversation. It can help bring up specific instances and concerns that you have and explain the consequences of actions they have done in the past.
Instead of saying, “you need help now because you have alcoholism,” you can say, “I care about you very much. I’m concerned about how much your drinking may be affecting your health.”
You must prepare yourself for any response and react calmly while assuring them that they still have your full support. It’s essential to listen to them with honesty and compassion while still understanding their point of view. Give them time and space to think about your discussion.
Can You Commit Someone to Rehab?
The laws are different per state; however, there are certain areas in the US where involuntary confinement for drugs or alcohol is illegal. Not only is this act prohibited by law, it most likely won’t work. To recover and rehabilitate fully, the person suffering from the addiction must decide to do so independently.
It is challenging to convince someone to go to treatment for their substance use disorder, but it is not impossible. Positive encouragement and support can go a long way. The moment a person suffering from the addiction shows signs of trying to resist the habit, it is already a big first step in the recovery process.
However, when all else still fails, proper intervention is needed. Interventions, which give serious ultimatums to the person with the addiction, are statistically one of the most effective tools to get a message across. This is very different from using guilt, as it can usually mix up with ultimatums. Interventions are a form of “tough-love,” showing the individual, real-life consequences if the addiction prevails.
It may take a lot of time to heal from intervention emotionally, but the risks and rewards are needed to finally turn a person’s life around. Interventions talk about ultimatums, emotional pain, and concerns of family members constructively. Interventions are designed as the last push for people with addiction to seek treatment, but we still need to give them space to decide independently.
Help Is Just A Click Away
Struggling with addiction is more common than you think. Every day more and more people turn to alcohol and drugs to cope with the stress of trying times. As we know, this is no way to go about any problem. In fact, it can lead to even more problems down the line.
Living a sober life is not impossible, especially when you have the right people around you that can help you turn your or your loved one’s life around. Our caring professionals are equipped with the skills to turn the struggle into a new success story.
From alcohol detox, substance abuse detox, and rehabilitation programs, to trauma therapy, sober living support, and more, our services are specially made to help lighten the burden.
A happy life is just a click away. To learn more, you can visit our website at https://www.restorecenterla.com/.
