Help for Family Members of Drug Addicts

Educate Yourself about Addiction

Seek Professional and Specialist Help

1. Provide help for family members of drug addicts by looking into detox rehabilitation centers. Ask a health professional or search online for health facilities and inpatient care centers that can treat individuals or willing drug addicts

• Many drug addicts and alcoholics have other conditions – such as an undiagnosed mental health issue that adds up to their addiction, so finding a detox center that can address all aspects of health for your loved one can make the difference between temporary and permanent rehabilitation and recovery.

2. Provide help for family members of drug addicts by searching for local anonymous support groups

• Aside from detoxification and rehabilitation, your loved one may need to attend individual and group therapy.

• Many organizations and groups exist with regular (usually daily) meetings to promote alcohol and drug-free living and a support network of people who have conquered their drug or alcohol. 

• These groups usually offer anonymous support and follow the 12-Step program initially developed for Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

3. Provide help for family members of drug addicts by speaking with a professional counselor or therapist 

• Besides learning about resources for your addicted loved one, it can be beneficial for you and other family members to speak with a family counselor or therapist.

• Living with a drug-addicted loved one can cause significant stress on other members of the family. Family therapy can be of great help to stressed or confused parents, children, or partners. Many rehabs have counselors available to help parents deal with drug-addicted children.

4. Provide help for family members of drug addicts by encouraging your loved one to seek help

• Do not ignore the drug use of your loved one. Instead, accept the addiction and the strain it is putting on the family or relationship. Encourage or respectfully ask your loved one to attend a therapy session, anonymous support group session, or detoxification facility.

Stage an Intervention

1. Seek help from a professional

• Interventions should be led and planned by a professional for a better chance of success. A botched intervention risks your loved one becoming even more committed to their drug addiction.

2. Plan the intervention

• Decide who should be involved, who will lead the intervention, how you will involve the addicted person, and what activities and steps you will do during the intervention. Many interventions are led by a trained alcohol and drug specialist or family therapist and have friends, family members, church members or teachers, and other influential individuals from the addict’s life in attendance. Consider all these options while planning an intervention suited to your loved one’s situation.

3. Confront your loved one about his or her substance abuse

• Some interventions involve a series of personal requests from loved ones to ask the addict to enter a detox facility and rehab, while others involve reading letters to the addict aloud or sharing personal feelings about the hardship of seeing a loved one struggle with addiction. Be ready for what you will do depending on your loved one’s response.

Persevere But Set Boundaries

1. Provide emotional support but do not enable the drug addiction

• Do not provide money to your loved ones to allow them to buy drugs or alcohol, but remind them that you are willing and ready to help.

2. Develop effective communication skills

• Many relationships can fall into communication ruts that make it harder for both parties to express themselves effectively.

• Consider speaking with a counselor or reading a self-help book about the appropriate way to address a loved one who struggles with addiction.

• Learning how to communicate better can enable you to focus on conversations that make progress toward seeking help instead of spiraling into negativity, threats, blaming, or shouting matches.

3. Offer to attend therapy with your addicted loved one

• If you suspect that your loved one is unable or unwilling to attend support groups or therapy alone, make it clear that you are willing to offer support by attending sessions or detox treatment with him or her.

4. Know your limits and don’t tolerate unacceptable behavior

• Be prepared to maintain personal safety by cutting ties if the addict’s behavior warrants it. Behavior that may lead you to consider whether you need to separate yourself and any other family members you care for from the situation include:

• If your family member or loved one is abusive or violent toward you or other family members.

• Endangering the family with risky behavior (such as conducting drug deals on the property or using drugs near children)

• Putting the family’s financial stability in jeopardy (by selling items from the home to pay for the habit, or draining the bank account)

• If necessary, consider options such as reporting the addict’s illegal behavior to civil authorities, admitting a person to an inpatient substance abuse program, relocating without announcing your new location, or demanding the addict leave the house and not return until sober.

Go to Family Therapy Sessions

Below are specific types of family-based treatments shown to be effective in treating adolescent substance abuse.

Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT)

• BSFT is based on a family systems approach to treatment, in which one member’s problem behaviors are seen to stem from unhealthy family interactions. The therapist and counselor establish a relationship with each family member, observe how the members behave with one another and assist the family in changing negative interaction patterns.

Family Behavior Therapy (FBT)

• FBT, which has demonstrated positive results, combines behavioral contracting with contingency management to address not only substance abuse but other behavioral problems as well. The individual and at least one parent participate in treatment planning and choose specific interventions from a menu of evidence-based treatment options. Therapists encourage family members to use behavioral strategies taught in sessions and apply their new skills to improve the home environment. 

Functional Family Therapy (FFT)

• FFT combines a family systems view of family functioning (which asserts that unhealthy family interactions underlie problem behaviors) with behavioral techniques to improve communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and parenting skills. 

Principal treatment strategies include:

• Engaging families in the treatment process and enhancing their motivation for change 
• Modifying family members’ behavior using contingency management (CM) techniques, communication and problem-solving, behavioral contracts, and other methods

Benefits of Family Therapy for Addiction

Some benefits gained by people in treatment and their families are:

Look Into Professional Treatment and Drug Rehab Services for Them

Once your family member is committed to recovery, it’s time to explore their treatment choices. While alcohol and drug addiction treatment can vary according to the specific drug, a successful program often includes different elements, such as:

Detoxification. Usually, the first step is to purge your body of drugs and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Behavioral therapy. The individual, group, and/or family therapy can help you identify the root causes of your drug use, repair your relationships, and learn healthier coping skills.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) may be used to manage withdrawal symptoms, prevent relapse, or treat any co-occurring mental health condition such as depression or anxiety.

Long-term follow-up can help to prevent relapse and maintain sobriety. This may include attending regular in-person support groups or online meetings to help keep your recovery on track.