How to Help an Addict Without Enabling Them

Does your loved one struggle with addiction to drugs or alcohol?

According to a 2015 report, 10 percent of American adults experienced drug use disorder at some point in their lives. Since then, that number is steadily increasing.

A significant contributing factor is the Opioid epidemic that is sweeping the nation. This crisis accounted for 42 thousand overdose deaths in 2016.

Addiction is a difficult experience for both addicts and those who support them. However, family members can help an addict find their way toward recovery. Read on to learn how to help an addict without enabling them further.

1. Don’t Offer Money Or Shelter

Do you feel pressured to offer money or shelter to your addicted loved one?

Though money and a place to call home may seem like the best resources to offer, they actually enable your loved one to continue using. An addict spends any available resource on their drug of choice. Therefore, if you cover living necessities such as a home, you’re freeing up some of their own resources, and enabling them to support their drug habit.

It’s difficult to imagine your loved one surviving without your assistance, but sometimes, an addict has to hit rock bottom in order to realize they need help. You can offer to give them a place to stay when they decide to take steps toward recovery instead.

Any money you offer an addict will likely be spent on their drug of choice. So if you feel compelled to help with material necessities, a meal is a better option.

2. Stage An Intervention

Convincing your loved one that they need help is no easy feat, but successful interventions have steered addicts toward recovery when executed with love and persistence. You can try to confront the person about their addiction one on one before staging a more traditional intervention.

Talk to your loved one when he or she is sober. Let them know how their addiction affects you. Tell them about the changes you’ve observed in them since they started using.

Remember, whether you choose a one-on-one intervention or a more traditional route which involves the addicts full support system, it’s important to talk to them in a loving manner. The goal is not to judge your loved one or to spew anger toward them; the goal is to offer help and guidance toward recovery. If your loved one feels judged or isolated, they will resist your effort to help and the intervention might cause them to spiral further into their addiction.

3. Gather Helpful Resources

Before you talk to your family member about their addiction, do some research. Look into helpful resources such as the Dana Point Drug Rehab Center and other paths to recovery.

If you present your loved one with viable options for treatment, they may be more likely to go to rehab or participate in a support group for addicts.

Remember, no one can be forced into rehab. The choice to choose recovery belongs to the addict. You can only collect helpful resources and offer to help them make a plan for treatment and recovery beyond rehab.