If you believe someone close to you and your family, or a friend, is abusing drugs, it is natural to want the best for them, to want to help them go to rehab and recover. But trying to convince someone to go to rehab is not always as simple as it sounds.
What are the Signs a Loved One is Abusing Drugs?
An average of 14.5% of people over the age of 12 have abused drugs or alcohol in the last year. To tell if someone close to you is one of those 14.5% of people, you must know what the signs are.
Signs can be physical, behavioral, emotional, financial, and psychological. For example:
- Someone abusing drugs might exhibit behavioral and physical changes like a loss of appetite or otherwise extreme appetite changes, a change in their physical appearance, especially things like track marks around the elbow or a change in their skin color, even changes in their eyes. They might also exhibit symptoms like changes in mood where someone who might have previously been an outgoing, effervescent individual is now closed off, distant and antisocial.
- In other situations, someone abusing drugs might exhibit behavioral and psychological changes like pulling away from hobbies and activities they once loved. You might notice a significant drop in performance at work or school with no other noticeable explanation.
- Financial and legal signs are often associated with drug abuse. Someone who might have previously been financially stable might suddenly be out of money, stealing money, getting into trouble with the law, lying about their behavior, and so forth.
If you recognize the signs, it might be time to convince someone to go to rehab. The rate of drug overdose has increased 30% since 2019, and getting legitimate help with rehab can prevent your loved ones from that risk. But how?
How to Talk to a Person Struggling with Addiction
When you talk to an addict and discuss how to get a loved one help, always do so from a place of love and support. Criticism or blame will not go far. Do not be surprised if your loved ones isolate themselves from you, or even shut you out. Addiction is a brain disorder with uncontrollable behaviors no matter the consequences.
How to Convince Someone to Go to Rehab
When it comes time to convince someone to go to rehab, it might be easier for your family to plan an intervention before you talk to an addict. An intervention is something that helps you remain calm and compassionate, expressing the way in which your loved one’s addiction has hurt you or the family without coming off angry. And intervention lets you use “I” statements instead of placing blame and giving you an opportunity to listen to your loved ones.
You might also consider professional interventions, guided by someone with experience in the process. Never wait until your loved one hits bottom or until you think they will reach out and get help on their own. Be there to support them as soon as you notice the signs. Even if they seem hesitant or are not interested at first, you can continue to express yourself from a place of love and continue to urge them to get the help they need.
Before you convince someone to go to rehab, it is best to have a facility in mind so that if your loved one makes the decision to act immediately, you have somewhere they can go for inpatient or outpatient treatment.
How to Find Drug and Alcohol Rehab for a Loved One
If you are ready to help a loved one, consider Laguna View Detox. Our addiction treatment utilizes a combination of different evidence-based methods and therapies to help your loved ones overcome their addiction no matter the substance. When someone tries to quit drugs, they should not do it alone. Group therapy and individual therapy can help get at the root of their addiction, and help your loved ones figure out why they were using in the first place. Medically supervised detox programs can help them quit drugs in a safe and comfortable environment. Our residential inpatient programs offer a variety of holistic and evidence-based treatments in a luxurious facility. The oceanside environment is conducive to relaxation and introspection, giving your loved ones a chance to disconnect from their everyday stresses and triggers, and focus on getting clean.
Let Laguna View Detox help your loved ones with their drug and alcohol addiction.