How to Help a Drug Addict

Often times, when people mention "drug addiction" they associate it with crime and depravity. What most don't realize is that behind the addiction are actual people and their families who love them even in their suffering. The association with criminal elements has made it very easy to dismiss drug addicts as hopeless, but what many forget is that what a drug addict needs most is help. A proper support group and the right steps can turn a person's life around.

Ideas

There are several ways to help a drug addict recover and beat the addiction. First of all, eliminate blame. It is very easy to look at someone suffering from an addiction and claim that it's all a matter of will power. In reality, it's much more complex than addicts not wanting recovery enough. More importantly, people become addicted to drugs for a variety of reasons, including traumatic experiences such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, so to judge and blame them during this difficult time in their life is uncalled for. What they need is compassion and understanding.

Second, stage an intervention. This is the first step towards helping the addict on the path to recovery. It isn't easy at all, considering that an intervention essentially gives the family their chance to speak frankly to the addict, no matter how painful the subject might be. It's so easy to sweep things under the rug that when it's time to truly face the addiction head on, asking a professional (a psychiatrist or therapist can be very helpful) to attend and facilitate the intervention is the best way to go.

Third, look for the right drug treatment recovery center. There are a lot of facilities out there claiming to offer the best possible treatment, so it's very important that the family conduct thorough research before they make a decision. Make sure to pick a drug rehab center with a reliable track record, proper facilities, and reputable medical staff. Since drug addiction can be considered a disease, the medical credentials of the drug rehab facility have to be taken into consideration.

Overall

Family and friends of the addict should realize that once a commitment to the treatment program is made, they should do their best to uphold their part. They are to cooperate fully; often times the failure of the treatment stems from family members or friends who still coddle and enable the addict. It is a combined effort, so in order for an addict to fully recover, cooperation from everyone is required.

Fourth, anticipate failure along the way. The road to recovery is not easy at all. During this period, it is very likely that the drug addict will find the treatment at the drug recovery center too difficult. There will be times of frustration, and at some point the family may feel that the treatment won't work. Do not be discouraged. Relapses are to be expected, and the best thing that the addict's family and loved ones can do is to continue being supportive throughout the treatment process.

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