How to Help an Addict or Alcoholic
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If you want to know how to help an addict then here are some things you can do:
1) Encourage treatment - this is the big thing that you should always be striving for in regards to help an alcoholic or addict in your life. If you can get them into a treatment center then there is a better chance for real change to start occurring.
Now realize that drug rehab is not a magic bullet by any means. Many, many people go to treatment every day and fail to stay clean and sober. There are no guarantees when it comes to rehab, and many will fail. In fact, most who try will fail. But that is not to say that there is no hope. Many struggling addicts do find a new life through treatment.
Sometimes a person has to go to a number of treatment centers before they "get it." This is actually pretty typical for a struggling addict. They do not usually get it on the first time around, so it is very important that you not give up on them.
There is no magic bullet out there. It is not a certain treatment center or treatment philosophy that they need to be exposed to in order to succeed. It is more a matter of timing. When they have had enough pain in their life then they will start to change. Which brings us to our next point:
2) Don't deny the addict of their pain - this sounds a bit strange at first so let me explain. Why would a drug addict decide to get clean and sober? Because they are having a great time getting high? Of course not. No one chooses sobriety when things are going good. The only way that an addict will choose to get clean is if their life is a complete train wreck and they are tired of struggling. They have to be tired of the pain and misery that they have created for themselves. This is the only path to real change.
3) Set a boundary and stick to it - An example of a boundary might be: "I will not bail you out of jail again if you get pulled over for drunk driving." Do not make a hollow threat without intending to follow through with it. If you decide to kick someone out if they continue to use drugs, then don't just threaten them with this because it sounds good. Chances are good that you will have to make good on your promise, so don't say anything that you don't intend to keep. This is very important.
Follow these tips and stop enabling the addict in your life. Doing so will help move them closer to the decision to change their life.
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Good information. Praying for them helps too.
Not enabling is important as well. Stick to your guns over and over. As often as it takes. Eventually they will hear you. More importantly, they will agree. Good luck to all.
You're really right about the boundaries point. I think that the biggest problems family members run into when dealing with addicts is that they can't stick to a boundary that they set.
dogfishcat 3 years ago
Great post lot of good stuff to help an a person get clean.