This is likely the very definition of the conversation no one wants to have and there’s no truly comfortable way to handle it. Just shades of pain and levels of discomfort that you can work to minimize through your own education and preparedness.
You’ve gotten to a point where watching your friend, brother, sister, parent, cousin, etc. spiral down and wither away is no longer tenable. It can’t go on but you’re also not exactly sure how to stop it or, more bluntly, how to talk to a drug addict.
It’s a fair concern, we’re not naturally equipped to have these conversations and when the goal is getting someone the help they desperately need, it’s crucial to be prepared as possible for that talk.
How to Talk to a Drug Addict About Going to Rehab
If you’re at the stage of wondering how to talk to an addict, it’s clear you’ve already had a keen eye on their behavior and have seen many warning signs of addiction. The key thing then about broaching the subject is coming from a place of compassion.
There’s no better way to wreck a potentially fruitful conversation about helping your loved one than by being on the attack and accusatory. These types of dialogues can quickly escalate into anger from both parties. If they feel attacked, they can close down, shut you out or push back hard and vice versa, if you’re not prepared for that you may boil over too. A totally useless scenario.
Compassion and love need to rule the moment. There can be sternness but avoiding assigning personal blame or getting loud can go a long way in moving them towards the light of recovery. You want to paint the picture of what harm their using is causing them and why it’s of concern.
Have this discussion when they aren’t under the influence of their drug of choice and, again, try not to make it lecture.
The idea is to get them to acknowledge an issue that creates a want to go to rehab.
This is where knowledge comes into play. Before you suggest treatment, you yourself should understand the options available
Different Types of Treatment Options for Drug Addicts
Knowing what you’re offering is important to making a compelling case for it.
The last thing you want is for them to agree to treatment and for you to have no additional information on what that entails or where it would even be. Particularly these days with so many options out there, it’s essential to have a good handle on it.
Here are the very basics:
Detox – This is the first thing they’ll have to deal with so leveling with them and explaining why doing it in a facility makes it easier and safer is huge.
Inpatient – After detox, and depending on the severity of the addiction, inpatient care is a highly effective avenue. Of course, this is the most demanding as it pulls them totally out of their daily life and they live at the treatment center. The focus is on getting the mind right through counseling, individual and group therapy.
Partial Day – Just short of inpatient treatment where they live-in, partial day is a very comprehensive, multi-faceted treatment that still accommodates other responsibilities in life.
Outpatient – The emphasis is on the same types of evidenced-based therapies that partial day and inpatient focus on but comes after they’ve safely left a hospital or primary care facility or have completed inpatient care. They would come and go for treatment and can live their regular lives with ease.
Aftercare – Recovery doesn’t end after treatment and aftercare includes things like alumni groups and support groups.
How Multi Concept Recovery Can Help A Drug Addict Today
Drug addiction is by no means a life sentence and here at Multi Concept Recovery we have a wide array of treatment options for those suffering from addiction. Give us a call and talk to us about what your friend or family member is going through and we can help equip you with the tools and knowledge to have a conversation that inspires change.
