Addiction recovery is a lifelong journey, and it requires a lifelong commitment. Both the substance abuser and his or her family have to keep in mind that no one returns from a rehab facility “cured” from addiction. This is not only realistic, it can set the addict up for a relapse. Think of it as a chronic disease. A person may come home from the hospital in remission from cancer, but that doesn’t mean they can stop living a healthy life and going to follow-up appointments, because there’s always a chance of relapse. An addict must take sobriety day-by-day, and as a family member or spouse, your role is to offer support to allow your loved one to focus on his or her health and recovery.
Recovery can mean lifestyle changes for the entire family. You may be dealing with financial burdens as a result of the addict’s spending and/or loss of employment. Family members who are able might help their loved one find employment or even supplement their income, but be careful not to cross the line into enabling by allowing them not to be responsible for themselves. It will also be necessary to maintain a drug-free and alcohol-free environment within the household, especially during the early days of recovery.
If you’ve been living with or are close to a person struggling with addiction, you know it can be exhausting. Your loved one isn’t the only one who needs time to recover from the addiction. Take the time to take care of yourself, remember that you are not in control of anyone’s choices but your own, and you can’t force anyone else to change. Ask for help if you need it. There are support group meetings like Al-Anon or Nar-anon that are specifically for family and friends of addicts.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), people with less social support are more likely to relapse. The more involved the family is, the more everyone can understand the factors that led to addiction and the triggers for relapse. The best way to help your loved one is to become involved from the beginning. Participate in getting them into a rehabilitation program and choosing the correct treatment. Learn about the treatment and the recovery process by attending individual, family, or group therapy. Work on the issues that the addiction has caused, but try to remain nonjudgmental.
According to research by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, people struggling with addiction or substance abuse whose families did not participate in family therapy had a 10 percent greater incidence of untimely death. On the other hand, people who had family therapy as an integral part of the recovery process had a two percent lower incidence of untimely death.
If you or a loved one need help to quit drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504.
