Watching a friend or loved one struggle with drug addiction is a devastating experience. It can leave you feeling hopeless as someone that you care about deeply loses touch with themselves and rapidly begin to decline. There is however, light at the end of the tunnel; it’s not as hopeless as you might think. In this article we’re going to share some tips on how to encourage a loved one to tackle their substance abuse problem head on and check into a rehab facility.
Steps to get someone into rehab
- Leave judgement at the door
- Educate yourself on the nature of addiction
- Better understand the drug they are abusing
- Consider a one-to-one discussion before planning an intervention
- Adopt a non-confrontational approach
- Remind them of how much you care
- Come prepared with a rehab facility and treatment plan in mind
- Consider hiring a professional interventionist
How to tell if someone needs drug rehabilitation
Drug abuse can quickly take its toll on a person. What may have started out as some recreational fun can soon spiral and take control of a person’s life. Fortunately, the early warning signs are quite easy to spot – if you know what to look for. So, how do you tell if someone love you needs drug rehabilitation?
Let’s take a look at some different drugs and how they can affect a person.
Alcohol
Alcohol addiction is more common than you think and often something that goes overlooked. For those who struggle with alcohol abuse, staying sober can be quite the challenge. Here are some signs that a loved one may need alcohol rehabilitation:
- Drinking excessively (every day or every other day)
- Visible weight loss from drinking over eating (with a noticeably bloated ‘beer belly’)
- Dry skin, brittle hair, and the appearance of aging
- Broken blood vessels on the face and nose
- Yellow eyes and skin (due to liver damage)
- Poor hygiene
- Often needing to drink more to get drunk
- Continuing to drink despite any problems caused
- Frequently falling out with people or getting into trouble while drunk (abusive behaviour)
- Skipping work due to being hungover
These are just a handful of the symptoms, with the long-term effects being much more severe. If someone that you care about ticks six or more symptoms off this list then it’s a clear sign that they have a severe addiction and require alcohol rehab.
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Marijuana
Here are some signs of addiction to marijuana:
- Strong cravings
- A loss of interest in activities (often neglecting passions)
- Irritability
- Trouble sleeping
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
- Hiding drug paraphernalia
- Paranoia
- Memory issues
- Frequently missing work / school (inability to fulfil commitments)
- Financial instability
If someone that you care about is starting to neglect their responsibilities and commitments, it can soon become a serious problem in their lives. Marijuana has a way of immobilising people and eating away at their ambition and if they are displaying the above signs, it might be worth thinking about checking them into an addiction treatment centre.
MDMA (Ecstasy)
Here are some signs of addiction to MDMA:
- Frequently going out and coming home in the early hours of the morning
- Using MDMA in dangerous situations
- Passing on important events
- Frequently missing work due to late nights and feeling unwell
- The addicted individual goes out of their way to get hold of their drug
- Staying awake for days at a time
- Dilated pupils
- Sweating
- Mood swings
- Paranoia
- Impulsivity
When someone is addicted to MDMA it can fast deteriorate into a serious problem, not to mention the effects it can have on a person’s mental health. Drug or alcohol addiction on their own can be dangerous, but often people take MDMA and consume alcohol together, making the long-term damages even worse.
Cocaine
Here are some signs of addiction to cocaine:
- Loss of appetite
- Staying awake for days at a time
- Often acting hyper and overly exited
- Paranoia
- Frequently missing or being late to work
- Irritability
- Depression
- Financial troubles
Ketamine
Here are some signs of addiction to ketamine:
- Issues with relationships
- Spend a lot of time and effort trying to acquire the drug
- Lack of control over use
- Ignoring obligations and responsibilities
- Depression
- Slowed movement
- Slurred speech
- Psychotic episodes
LSD (Acid)
Here are some signs of addiction to LSD:
- Loss of appetite
- Staying awake for days at a time
- Sweating
- Anxiety / panic attacks
- Memory loss
- Lack of motivation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Paranoia
Heroin
Here are some signs of addiction to heroin:
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Hostility toward others
- Irritability
- Scabs and bruising on the skin
- Lying about drug use
- Avoiding friends and family
- Lack of commitment
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What are the treatment options for drug addiction?
There are a number of difference treatment options for drug addiction, each one with varying levels of success, depending on the individual. Treatment providers tend to tailor their rehabilitation programmes to the individual and in order for them to be successful, the addicted person must accept the right treatment willingly.
Here are some of the treatment options for drug addiction:
- Detoxification: through medically assisted detox (often requiring partial hospitalisation), a person suffering from drug use can cleanse their bodies of drugs or alcohol. Not only is this incredibly dangerous absent the proper medical supervision, but other treatments will likely need to be used in addiction in order to get to the bottom of the addiction and what may have caused it in the first place.
- Cognitive behavioural therapy: CBT is a valuable tool that can be used to treat a wide variety of addictive behaviours. It is designed to help a person to recognise their unhealthy behaviours and also identify triggers and develop coping skills.
- Rational emotive behaviour therapy: REBT is intended to help an individual recognise patterns of negative thinking and adopt new coping mechanisms to overcome feelings of self-defeat rather than pursue dangerous self-medication through drugs.
- 12-step programmes: 12-step programmes like the one alcoholics anonymous is famous for can help people stay sober by joining and regularly attending a support group with other addiction individuals.
- Contingency management: CM is a form of treatment that reinforces positive behaviour (e.g., abstaining from drugs) with tangible rewards.
- Treatment with medication: medication can play a crucial role in a person’s recovery from abusing drugs, particularly if they are addicted to heroin and other incredible harmful and addictive substances such as benzodiazepines. Certain medications can be used to reduce the painful symptoms of withdrawal and decrease addictive behaviours. Often, medication is used alongside various other treatments, such as psychiatric care.
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How to get someone into drug rehab if they ask you for help
One of the best things that you can hope for is a loved one to come to you for help, as opposed to you trying to convince them to seek substance abuse treatment against their will. That being said, just because someone asks you for help, it doesn’t mean that they won’t get cold feet or change their mind before you can get them booked into a treatment centre.
The best thing to do is act fast and contact an addiction specialists. The sooner they can sit down and receive professional treatment advice, the sooner you can book them into a treatment centre.
Caring and compassionate staff will guide you through the process as well. You can find the appropriate treatment locations and help you friends and family members receive all the support they need to enter treatment and work toward overcoming their addiction for good.
How to convince someone they need to go into rehab
Convincing someone you care about to go into rehab, seek addiction treatment, and take part in the recovery process is one of the hardest things to do. A) because it is never nice seeing someone that you love suffer, and B) because broaching such a sensitive subject with someone who is likely unwilling to accept that they have a substance abuse problem is a minefield of its own. In any case, there are ways to increase your chance at success when talking to someone about drug rehab programmes:
- Try not to be too judgemental
- Understand addiction and recognise that it is a disease and not an individual failing
- Educate yourself on the nature of addiction. You’ll want to be prepared with the facts before broaching the subject
- Consider a one-on-one discussion before bringing the whole family in for an intervention
- Ask the right questions (e.g., how can I help you?)
- Remind them of how much you care
- Don’t give them ultimatums
- Make sure it is their decision
- Go in prepared with a rehab treatment facility in mind
Remember that there is a strong likelihood that the addicted loved one is going to deny having a problem. Expect to face resistance and perhaps even some irritability and abuse. Try not to force the subject too hard and perhaps circle back in a week if you don’t have much luck.
The other option is to explore professional intervention.
What is the most effective intervention for substance abuse?
Intervention works differently from individual to individual. If you are looking for the most effective form of intervention for substance abuse, the prospect of joining a rehab programme has to be the addicted individual’s idea.
Approach with care and compassion, listen to what your loved one has to say, and allow them to draw the conclusion themselves.
Can you force someone into rehab against their will?
You can certainly try, but involuntary commitment is often a waste of time. The critical aspect to rehab success is individual commitment. If someone does not want to go into rehab, then there is a good chance that the rehab programme will fail entirely.
Certainly, if your child is under 18, then you can force them into involuntary rehab. However, this is not advised. It can be a last resort, but your best option is to try and convince them that rehab is in their best interest.
As for individuals over 18, forcing them into rehab is practically impossible and again, likely to fail.
The admissions process works best when the addicted person wants to recover from drug use. That way, when they receive life changing care, they will be more susceptible to the support system put in place and recovery is far more achievable.
The only other way that a person can be forced into rehab against their will is via court ordered rehab. This is something that happens when someone who is struggling with drugs or alcohol continually gets into trouble with the law and is given the option of rehab or prison.
