How to Help a Loved One Get Help with an Addiction
One of the most difficult things that a person can do is try and convince a family member or close friend to get help with a drug or alcohol addiction. Addicts frequently lash out when confronted about their problems, distancing themselves from the people who love them and are trying to help them. This leads friends and family members to back away rather than insisting that their loved one check into a drug or alcohol abuse center.
It’s important for someone who is trying to help a friend or family member get the drug treatment they need to become more information about addiction, said H. Wesley Clark, director of the Center for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in Rockville, Maryland, in an interview with Everyday Health.
“A critical first step when you suspect someone is an alcoholic or has a problem with drug abuse is to become informed about addiction,” Clark said. “The more you know, the easier it will be to figure out the best ways to help” and convince them to get into a drug rehab program.
