Imagine the horror of discovering that your son or daughter has become addicted to opioids, another entry into the ever-growing and ever ravenous epidemic called the Opioid Crisis. At first, you would probably respond with a mixture of sadness and anger, which would quickly stem into frustration. Nevertheless, you must remember one thing. As much as parents want to ensure their children are safe from such a problem, ultimately, the fact that their child has fallen victim to opioids is not their fault. So, on that note, how do you help your child? Do you get them the treatment they need at rehab? Do you hold an intervention to force them to go? Do you call the police? As strange as that last question sounds, this was an all-too real situation for a Maryland mother, whose love turned into sheer desperation. Would you do the same? Let’s take a closer look and find out whether parents should call the cops over a child who is addicted to opioids.

Planting Pills on the Passenger

As the Opioid Crisis continues to wreak havoc across our streets, many parents are turning to law enforcement officials to intervene in their children’s addictive behavior. In the most extreme situations, mothers and fathers are calling the cops to arrest their kids in a desperate attempt to prevent a fatal overdose.

Though harsh on the surface, this is yet another piece of evidence proving effectiveness of tough love. At least, that is the opinion of Romas Buivydas (vice president of clinical services at Spectrum Health Systems, Inc.). As he puts it, in the most extreme cases, children are more likely to learn from a terrifying night in jail than an intervention program.

To Imprison or Not to Imprison?

Ultimately, some of you might say, “I could never do that to my child. I love them too much to scare them like this.” That is an understandable statement, but addiction clinicians argue that this form of “tough love” is more effective than you would think. Deni Carise (chief clinical officer at Recovery Centers of America explains that most parents who do this are dedicated to preventing their children from dying, first and foremost. Sometimes, to help your child, the fear factor must be turned up a notch.

Always remember that drugs do not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance use disorder or a severe form of addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.

The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your drug abuse or addiction troubles today.