When you’re a parent, there are many things in life you need to be wary of. It’s your duty to be responsible and take care of your family. Among the various daily issues you face, there will often be a big thing that takes centre stage. One big issue that could arise is that of addiction in your family. What can you do, as a parent, when someone in your family suffers from addiction? If you read on, you’ll find some helpful tips:
(Image Source: https://goo.gl/vCzU2g)
Talk To Them
It seems like such a trivial thing, but you have no idea how important just talking to someone can be. If a family member is an addict, then you must confront them about this. Sit them down and talk to them about the addiction. Figure out what caused them to become addicted in the first place. It could end up being down to things at home, so in finding out you can help to set things right. Talking can also help them realise they have a problem, and they’ll start to look for professional help.
Treatment Centres
If the person has a severe addiction problem, you should check them into a treatment centre (if you’re in San Diego, you could consider https://westcoastrecoverycenters.com/ as one of the options available to you). These centres are specifically designed to help people recover from addiction. You’ve probably heard of ‘rehab’, and that’s essentially what a treatment centre is. They work to rid people of addiction by using many different scientific methods. It can take a long time to work, but it’s the best way to get someone sober again.
Sober Homes
Sometimes it’s best that you find a sober living home for someone suffering from addiction. These differ from drug/alcohol treatment centres in that they aren’t medical facilities. They’re just places for addicts to live in and put them on the road to recovery. Places like A Fresh Start to Sober Living provide housing and support for those suffering from addiction. They will be placed in a house with other people like them and receive counselling. It’s also a great way to get someone more accustomed to life after medical treatment. It conditions them better for living life sober and staying that way too.
Don’t Become An Enabler
Becoming an enabler means you are the thing that enables the person to become addicted. Sometimes you feel like you’re helping someone when in fact you’re just enabling them. If your teenage son/daughter is low on money and you keep giving them some, you could be enabling them. If they have an addiction, they’ll just use your money to buy more drugs and alcohol. Addicts will rely on money in order to keep being addicted to things. If they don’t have the money, they can’t buy any alcohol or drugs, can they? It can be hard because if you see someone you love struggling financially, you want to help them out. But in this case, it’s much better for them if you don’t.
(Image from Flickr https://flic.kr/p/8e3rVS)
Treat addiction seriously and recognize the effect it’s having on the person suffering. Make sure you sympathize with them and find the best ways to help them.
