Don’t Wait for Your Loved One to Hit Rock Bottom - Help Them Now

It's a myth that waiting for your loved one to "hit rock bottom" during active addiction will lead to better treatment outcomes. On the contrary, there is evidence suggesting screening for addiction early and starting treatment pre-emptively will lead to better outcomes.

If you have a loved one struggling with addiction, here are some things that you should know.

The Dangers of Waiting for Rock Bottom

Many people believe waiting for their loved one to "hit rock bottom" will eventually lead them to seek help. Unfortunately, this myth often has devastating consequences. Some of the risks associated with waiting for rock bottom include the following.

Increased Risk of Overdose

Addiction is a chronic and progressive disease. The longer someone uses drugs or alcohol, the more tolerant their body becomes. With tolerance comes the increased risk of overdose. However, this risk exists even with smaller amounts of drugs.

Take, for instance, fentanyl, which is lethal at doses as small as 2mg, or just enough to cover the tip of a pencil. In 2025, the DEA reported over 81 million deadly fentanyl doses were seized, showing just how prevalent (and dangerous) this drug can be.

It isn't just fentanyl that can lead to overdoses. Mixing medications with alcohol, using opiates and opioids, and taking multiple substances at once can all increase the risk of overdose. No matter what stage of addiction your loved one is in, the danger of a fatal overdose is always present.

Worsening Physical and Mental Health

Rock bottom might look different for everyone. Unfortunately for some, rock bottom might mean being diagnosed with irreversible health issues. Drug and alcohol use takes an immense physical and mental toll on the body. Some of the many issues your loved one might face if not getting help early on include:

• Cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders like ALS, Parkinson's, and Alzheimers
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Cardiovascular disease
• Stroke
• Cancer
• Mental health disorders and conditions like psychosis

The best way to reduce the chances of these health issues is to get your loved one help as soon as possible. Addiction treatment programs are designed to address both the physical and mental effects of substance abuse. Addiction counselors and providers can collaborate with physicians to help address physical health concerns during treatment.

Waiting For Rock Bottom Does Not Consider Addiction As a Chronic Disease

It's a misconception that once someone achieves sobriety, they are cured from addiction. On the contrary, the National Institutes of Health now recognizes addiction as a chronic, relapsing disorder. Like other chronic conditions, addiction has periods of relapse and remission, and people in recovery must work on managing their symptoms for life.

Even if your loved one has already undergone addiction treatment, this doesn't mean they need to wait to hit rock bottom before seeking treatment again. Some of the many factors that can lead to poor outcomes despite initial addiction treatment include:

• Stressful life events that trigger relapse
• Lack of proper aftercare or follow-up treatment
• Mental health disorders that go undiagnosed and untreated
• Poor social support systems
• Genetic predisposition to addiction
• Lack of motivation or readiness for change

To combat these potential roadblocks, your loved one should engage in initial treatment and follow-up care. They should also get treatment immediately if they relapse. Without immediate intervention, your loved one is at risk for relapse, overdose, and other fatal consequences.

Helping Your Loved One Accept Treatment

Your loved one might believe they are still healthy enough to skip treatment, or even convince themselves that their addiction is not bad enough to warrant help. For these people, getting them to seek help might be extremely difficult.

However, it's never too early to try. Continuing to communicate with your loved one about addiction treatment, avoiding blame and instead approaching them from a caring perspective, and giving them multiple options can all help in convincing them to seek treatment.

Other things you can do to help include:

• Addressing their concerns directly, such as, "What if I have to quit my job to go to treatment?" or "I can't afford rehab." By addressing their concerns, you can offer solutions and show them that there are options available.
• Educating yourself about addiction and the different types of treatments available. This will not only help you understand your loved one's struggles better, but it can also give you more knowledge and resources to present to them when talking about treatment options.
• Offering emotional support and understanding throughout the entire process. Recovery from addiction is a challenging journey, and having a supportive and understanding person by their side can make all the difference for someone seeking treatment.

Whether your loved one seems to be holding their life together with strings or seems outwardly successful, addiction does not discriminate and always leads to negative consequences. Never wait for your loved one's addiction to have the final say on their life. Get them the help they need for lasting recovery now.

About the Author

Mark Gladden is a U.S. Veteran-in-recovery who has been serving the recovery community of San Diego for a decade as Founder and CEO of Present Moments Recovery, a leading addiction treatment program for adults in San Diego that also offers a specialized military program for veterans and a 1-year long comprehensive inpatient addiction treatment program. If you're looking for help to battle addiction and live a sober life, contact Present Moments Recovery at (619) 367-4767.