Many friends or relatives of drug and alcohol abusers wonder how they can best help their loved one. Unfortunately, many actually make things worse because they help the substance abuser to avoid the consequences of their actions. And this only leads to more difficulty in recovering.

Here are some important but easy to follow steps that can help:

Don’t Rescue the Abuser

This is one of the key ways that supportive people can do more harm than good. They help the abuser cover up what’s happening to them by lying for them to help them get out of problems. They will also “save” them from suffering from the results of their substance use. Relatives and friends of abusers must stop saving them. It is essential that the abuser feel the negative impact of their behaviour.

Stop Enabling

Anyone who loves and cares for an addict will want to ease their suffering. They will tend to let them do what they want, figuring they have enough problems without being told what to do. This is the wrong way to look at it. Don’t pay their debts for them. Don’t pay their rent either. And, hard as it might be, don’t bail them out of jail.

Choose the Best Time to Intervene

It is very important that the addict be receptive to your approach when you’re trying to get them to change their behaviour. Make sure they’re not high or stoned or drunk when you talk to them. They won’t listen. And make sure you have privacy so that they’ll be receptive.

Give Specific Examples of Problems

Tell the abuser exactly how their addiction has hurt you. Give them examples of this so that they’ll understand. Let them know that you want to help but that you won’t facilitate their addictive.

Let Them Know the Consequences

It is important that the addict understand that you will impose consequences if they don’t change. These are designed to protect you, not to punish the addict. Consequences might include staying away from the addict when they are high, or even asking them to live somewhere else. Once you do this, don’t back down.

Get Others to Accompany You

Don’t confront the addict alone if you can enlist the help of other friends and family. The more people are involved in the intervention, the more impact it will have on the addict. Don’t gang up on the person; tell the person calmly and one at a time how you feel.

Listen to What the Addict Says

Watch out for signs that the abuser is considering your offer of help. If they begin asking questions about what would be involved in their going to rehab, this is a good sign. The best thing to do is direct the addict to a professional to get the correct answers. Be supportive but don’t wait to act. Make all necessary preparations for the addict to enter rehab.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites