When a Loved One Refuses to get Treatment

When a Loved One Refuses to get Treatment Mesa, AZ

You're fully aware that your loved one is abusing drugs or alcohol, however he or she refuses to seek substance addiction treatment. Even worse, the addict refuses to acknowledge that a problem with drugs or alcohol exists. It's agonizing to watch a person you love destroy their life with drug or alcohol addiction.

Although addiction is a trenchant and illogical mental disease, your loved one is not outside the realm of a full recovery. There are actions you can take to help drive the addict or alcoholic towards the path of sobriety.

Set Boundaries and Follow Through

You can threaten the addict or alcoholic endlessly but unless you follow through, those threats will not make the addicted person seek treatment. Creating boundaries lets the addicted person know what type of behavior you expect and that you're serious about guiding them into rehabilitation.

The consequences will range for addicts but actions such as removing drugs or alcohol from the home or refusing contact with addict when he or she is high or drunk are a good way to start. Depending on how severe the addiction is, you may have to implement even further drastic measures like:

Moving out of a shared home

Taking away vision rights with you have children

Contacting authorities

The boundaries that you set should be dire enough to want to prompt your addicted loved one to enter drug or alcohol treatment.

Quit Enabling their Addiction

You may be indirectly enabling the addict or alcoholic by supporting or covering up for them. You may be giving them small amounts of cash here and there when the addict claims that funds are tight. You could be providing cheap housing and in turn, the addict spends their leftover money on alcohol or drugs. Are you doing house, school, or professional work for the addict?

If you're enabling the addict, then the reality of addiction won't hit them until you withdraw your help. When the addicted person realizes their habit is unsustainable, that's when they'll seek treatment.

Brace Yourself for Emotional Fallout

The cunning effects of addiction are baffling and irrational. When the enablers and supporters of the addict or alcoholic cut their ties, the addicted person will emotionally retaliate. It will be that much harder for the addicted loved one to get their substance of choice and in an attempt to continue their drug or alcohol abuse, they will make emotional appeals.

The disease of addiction is enveloping and the addict will threaten, cajole, promise, and deceive you in order to sustain their habit. You can interrupt the cycle of addiction by refusing to offer the addict or alcoholic your help until they have entered inpatient treatment.

The life of drug or alcohol addiction is not easy -- especially for the family of the addicted. The addict or alcoholic must eventually recognize the wide range of effects their addiction has on their lives and on the lives of those people who love them.

If your loved one is suffering from drug or addiction, call Mesa Drug Treatment Centers at (877) 804-1531 to talk to a member of their staff.