It can be extremely difficult to watch a loved one struggle with addiction. While all you want to do is get a loved one help for substance abuse, this is easier said than done. This is because you may not know what to say to help your loved one seek sobriety, or you may be afraid that confronting the individual about their addiction may fracture your relationship.
However, you shouldn’t bear the weight of helping your loved one quit using all alone. It’s essential to get a loved one into drug rehab so they are surrounded by highly experienced staff that can help them quit. At Rise in Malibu, we are an addiction treatment center committed to helping clients recover. We provide a series of treatment services so every client can receive the exact care they need to lead a life of sobriety.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, contact us to learn more about how we can help you lead a long-lasting life of sobriety.
What Are the Signs Someone is Using Drugs?
Addiction can sometimes be difficult to recognize, especially if your loved one who is struggling with addiction actively tries to hide their addiction.
However, there are several physical, behavioral, and emotional signs of addiction that are important to be aware of so you can recognize if your loved one may be battling addiction.
Physical Signs of Addiction
- Weight Loss
- Pale or malnourished appearance
- Red eyes
- Change in appetite (i.e. not eating as much as they used to)
- Disregard for their hygiene (i.e. skipping showers, not brushing their hair, etc.)
Behavioral Signs of Addiction
- Skipping school
- Lower Work / School Performance
- Fractured relationships with friends and family
- Skipping out on activities they once found enjoyable
- Isolating/ social withdrawal
Emotional Signs of Addiction
- Irritability
- Becoming Defensive of their behavior
- Denial
- Blaming others for their behavior
Addiction can sometimes be difficult to recognize; however, if you become aware of any of the above signs, or simply notice your friend or family member is acting different, especially when it comes to withdrawing from activities they used to love or a significant decrease in their school/work performance, these may be key underlying signs of addiction or another larger underlying issue.
How to Talk to Someone Abusing Drugs
If you notice your loved one showing any of the above signs of addiction, it can be difficult to know exactly what to do next or say to help get a loved one help for substance abuse.
This is because you may have mixed feelings such that someone else will eventually help that individual who is addicted, so you don’t have to carry the burden of saying something yourself. Or, you may be afraid that confronting your friend or family member about their addiction may hurt them and fracture your relationship.
However, talking to someone and setting them accountable for their substance abuse, although it may be hard, is an essential step to help that individual get the right help they need to quit using.
If you are unsure of how to talk with someone abusing drugs, follow these simple tips:
- Wait for the Right Time: Pick the right time for when you decide to talk with your loved one about abusing drugs. Don’t do so when the individual is drunk or high, rather wait for a quiet time when the individual will be able to most concentrate on you and your conversation.
- Be Prepared: Have a good idea of what you are going to say and how you are going to say it, and be prepared that your loved one will likely act negatively towards you. Therefore, be prepared that they may react with sadness or anger towards you.
- Highlight How their Drug Use Is Impacting Important People or Things in their Life: During your conversation, try to bring up important people (i.e. children, friends, etc) or things (i.e. their career) that have dramatically been impacted as a result of their substance abuse.
- Discuss how an Addiction Recovery Treatment Center Can Help Them: Before this conversation, look up addiction recovery treatment centers in your area so you can bring up one or a couple that the individual can find treatment.
- Reach Out for External Support: You shouldn’t bare the weight of getting your loved one help to fight their addiction on all your own. Consider contacting an addiction treatment center in your area to see how they can help/ give guidance on how to help your loved one battling addiction.
How to Get a Loved One Help For Substance Abuse
It can be difficult to watch your loved one struggle with addiction; however, knowing how to get a loved one help for substance abuse is key. It’s important to get a loved one into drug rehab, like Rise in Malibu, that can provide comprehensive care to effectively overcome their addiction. Rise in Malibu is an innovative Malibu luxury drug rehab center committed to providing all the support and resources essential for clients to lead a healthy, sober life.
If you or a loved one is battling addiction, you shouldn’t have to fight your addiction all on your own. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you on your addiction recovery journey.
