Watching a loved one struggle with substance use disorder (SUD) or other unhealthy relationships with alcohol and other drugs is wrought with challenges. Further, if you have personal experience with addiction or recovery, you may feel even more responsible for helping your loved one find healing. While your loved one’s decision to go to rehab is ultimately a choice that they must make for themselves, there are actions that you can take to encourage and support that choice. However, before doing so, there are things you must consider to protect your own well-being, and this involves fully understanding the addiction recovery process and all that it entails.
We at PCP – The Perry Clayman Project understand how challenging it can be to see a loved one held by the grips of SUD and other maladaptive behaviours. Further, it is likely that these maladaptive behaviours have had consequences on your own life and the relationship you share with your loved one. Whether you are a friend, romantic partner, family member, or other, your dedication to your loved one is worth addressing as they work to establish healing in their life. Furthermore, our staff at PCP can help you discover how to best support your loved one and know what to expect as they begin this new journey in their life.
Understanding Addiction as a Brain Disorder
Although much of the stigma surrounding SUD has dissipated over the last few decades, there are still many people who believe those with addiction are just perpetually making the decision to use substances despite the consequences it is causing to their lives. Despite the fact that your loved one’s initial decision to use alcohol or other drugs was likely a voluntary choice, repeated substance use alters the brain significantly over time. Thus, the development of SUD is marked by “an inability to control [the] use of substances like legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications,” according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Brain Areas Affected By Repeated Drug Use
Moreover, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains that repeated substance use triggers lasting changes to brain structure and functioning, altering “brain areas that are necessary for life-sustaining functions and can drive the compulsive drug use that marks addiction.” Some of the brain areas most affected by repeated substance use include:
The Basal Ganglia
Also known as the brain’s reward circuit, the basal ganglia are responsible for identifying and motivating activities that bring about feelings of pleasure as well as being involved in the formation of routines and habits. When affected by drug use, this circuit becomes overactivated, leading to perceived pleasurable effects of euphoria associated with the drug’s high. Over time and through repeated drug use, this circuit adapts to the presence of repeated substance use, reducing its sensitivity and making it increasingly difficult to experience pleasure from any stimuli other than drug use.
The Extended Amygdala
This brain circuit plays a pivotal role in regulating feelings of stress, including anxiety, irritability, and unease. Once this circuit becomes exposed to continued drug use, it will inform various uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal following the drug high. In response, those who use drugs will feel motivated to seek out substance use repeatedly in an attempt to manage withdrawal symptoms. Thus, over time, those with SUD will find themselves using drugs to achieve relief from withdrawal rather than to achieve the desired effects of the drug.
The Prefrontal Cortex
According to NIDA, this circuit “powers the ability to think, plan, solve problems, make decisions, and exert self-control over impulses.” As this is the last part of the brain to mature, adolescents and teens are uniquely vulnerable to experimentation and recurrent use of alcohol and other drugs. Moreover, as the prefrontal cortex works together with the extended amygdala and basal ganglia, an individual with SUD will seek out substance use compulsively with reduced impulse control.
Can My Loved One Heal From SUD?
One of the most pressing questions you may be asking yourself is if your loved one can truly recover from SUD. Despite SUD strongly affecting your loved one’s brain and behaviour, the NIMH highlights that SUD is a treatable mental health disorder. Further, “Symptoms can be moderate to severe, with addiction being the most severe form of SUD.” Understanding that SUD exists on a spectrum can help you and your loved one better understand the severity of their symptoms as well as the level of care they need to secure lasting sobriety and recovery.
Thus, while addiction is treatable, there is currently no known cure. Similar to the treatment of other chronic diseases, like heart disease or asthma, there are ways to achieve symptom management as well as counteract the disease’s disruptive effects. As NIDA explains, “Research on the science of addiction and the treatment of substance use disorders has led to the development of research-based methods that help people to stop using drugs and resume productive lives, also known as being in recovery.”
Will My Loved One Return to Substance Use in Recovery?
You may also be wondering if a return to substance use will play a part in your loved one’s recovery journey. Unfortunately, due to the chronic nature of addiction, a return to substance use once substance use has ceased can be a common experience for many in recovery. NIDA suggests that between 40-60% of individuals who attempt sobriety will revisit substance use at some point in their healing journey. Often, this happens because an individual loses motivation for sobriety, discontinues participation in aftercare, or simply stops following their medical treatment plan.
Therefore, do not be discouraged by these statistics. A return to substance use does not have to affect your loved one’s recovery. Still, it is important to be prepared and recognise that it can be a part of the process. If a return to substance use does happen during your loved one’s recovery, it may be an indication that they need a higher level of care in treatment or they need to modify their current treatment plan.
When Is It Time for My Loved One to Pursue Professional Treatment?
Now that you are a bit more familiar with addiction and how it can deeply affect your loved one, you may question when it is time for your loved one to pursue professional treatment. As a general rule of thumb, treatment should never be recognised as a last resort. Rather, it should be utilised as a resource as soon as any mental, emotional, or behavioural health concerns are brought to the surface.
Still, those with SUD will often try to deny their struggle with alcohol and drug use and perhaps even attempt to rationalise their behaviour. When this happens, it is important to take a step back and seek to notice any warning signs and symptoms of SUD or other mental health problems. The U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) highlights the following warning signs and symptoms of SUD:
- Increased urge to engage in substance use
- Inability to stop using alcohol and other drugs
- Engaging in substance use in potentially hazardous situations
- Increased interpersonal conflict and relational concerns as a result of increased substance use
- Feeling guilty, shameful, or depressed about substance-using behaviours
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when substance use has ceased
- Noticing an increase in tolerance to achieve the desired effects of substance use
Thus, if you recognise any of the aforementioned warning signs in your loved one, it can indicate their need for professional treatment.
Understanding Available Treatment Options for Your Loved One
One of the last pieces of knowledge that you may need to best support your loved one as they delve into their recovery journey is what treatment options are available. Most clients seeking recovery from substance use will need to begin their healing with a detoxification programme.
Detoxification Programmes
The brain and body of your loved one with SUD have become accustomed to their substance of choice, likely needing it to function normally in their daily lives. Thus, any attempt to quit substance use cold turkey can lead to a host of health complications and withdrawal symptoms, some of which can be life-threatening. For this reason, we do not recommend that your loved one attempts to detox without the support and guidance of medical professionals.
Alcohol and drug detoxification programmes offer medically assisted services to individuals as they wean off or cease chronic substance use. In these programmes, your loved one will have access to 24/7 care and medical support as necessary. Medications are available to help decrease the intensity of withdrawal symptoms and to ensure that your loved one is as comfortable as they can be during the process.
Moreover, it is also important to note that as your loved one endures various withdrawal symptoms as a result of detox, their mental health will also be tested. Fortunately, with a professional detoxification programme, there will be on-site staff to provide psychological care, encouragement, and compassion as well.
Lastly, it is necessary to note that detoxification is not treatment; rather, it is considered to be an essential step in the pre-treatment process. Following detoxification, treatment facilities typically offer two main categories of treatment programmes: inpatient (residential) treatment and outpatient treatment. These programmes will help your loved one address the root causes of their continued substance use and help them reestablish control in their life.
Residential Treatment Programmes
These types of treatment programmes require clients to reside at the treatment facility for the duration of their care. Often, residential programmes are offered in monthly formats, requiring anywhere from 30 to 90 or more days of residence. These programmes are highly structured and intensive, which is why they are most often recommended for those struggling with moderate to severe symptoms of SUD and addiction.
Outpatient Treatment Programmes
On the other hand, outpatient treatment programmes offer greater flexibility compared to residential programs. Treatment schedules are individualised to meet the client’s needs, enabling a client to live at home and tend to other responsibilities while participating in treatment as little or as often as necessary throughout the week. One of the most important considerations to keep in mind with outpatient programmes is that a client must be able to return to a home that is free from substance use and other concerning triggers. Some clients live in sober living homes or supported housing to attend outpatient treatment to ensure that their home environment complements their healing journey.
How Can I Convince My Loved One to Enter Rehab?
Unfortunately, it is unlikely that you, yourself, can convince your loved one to enter rehab. Rather, to reiterate, your loved one’s decision to enter rehab must be a choice that they are making for themselves. To do this, however, they must come to terms with the destruction that their continued substance use is bringing to their life and the lives of those they love. Understand that this process often takes time and that your loved one may be “stuck” in the contemplation stage of change for quite a while before they can commit to recovery.
Still, there are ways that you can encourage and support your loved one while they work to recognise the harms of their substance use. Consider some of the following suggestions:
Discuss mental health openly and honestly: By regularly sharing conversations about your and your loved one’s mental health, you may discover that your loved one will feel more comfortable talking openly about their struggles. With time, they may even discover their use of alcohol and other drugs to self-medicate emotional distress.
Set boundaries for your relationship: If your loved one is not willing to recognise the consequences of their substance use, you may want to consider setting boundaries for the sake of your relationship. For example, if they struggle with alcohol use, you may choose to no longer engage with them in contexts where alcohol use is centralised.
Share your concerns: If your loved one is exhibiting some of the warning signs of SUD mentioned earlier, it is worth sharing your concerns. Remember to avoid placing blame and share your concerns from a place of compassion and understanding.
Host an intervention: If other family members and friends are noticing your loved one’s problems with SUD, consider hosting an intervention to encourage your loved one to enter rehab.
Become educated about the harms of alcohol and other drug use together: Suggest watching a documentary, reading an article, or surfing the web to better understand the harms of SUD and recurrent alcohol and drug use together. Over time, your loved one may gain the motivation to participate in treatment for the sake of their health.
Suggest a family programme: Perhaps your loved one isn’t the only member of your family to struggle with substance use. Rather than encouraging your loved one to enter treatment solely on their own, you can consider participating in a family programme to establish healing for all family members.
Treatment Options for Your Loved One at PCP
At PCP – The Perry Clayman Project, we offer a number of treatment options to kickstart your loved one’s addiction recovery journey. In addition to our alcohol and drug detoxification programmes, some of the treatment options we offer include:
- Alcohol rehabilitation
- Drug rehabilitation
- Secondary programme
- Third stage supported housing
- Daycare rehab
- Support for families
- Aftercare
If your loved one is experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of SUD, we strongly suggest participation in our 12-week (90-day) treatment programme. In this programme, your loved one will work through each of the Twelve Steps, one step per week. This allows an ample amount of time to create a foundation of sobriety and recovery.
When it comes to encouraging a loved one to go to rehab, we at PCP want you to remember to take care of yourself first. Consider prioritising self-care, social support, and engagement in treatment to ensure your own well-being as you work to support healing for your loved one. Moreover, we at PCP are here to support you and your loved one every step of the way.
While you cannot convince your loved one to go to rehab, you can encourage and support them as they resolve any ambivalence about recovery and contemplate participation in treatment. Gaining a basic understanding of addiction and the addiction recovery process can be beneficial for both you and your loved one, as it helps to normalise the journey and ensures you know what to expect. No matter where your loved one stands in their journey to recovery, we at PCP – The Perry Clayman Project are here to meet them where they are at. Give us a call today at 08000 380 480 to learn more about our treatment options and programmes.