For a Loved One

Recover Today

a loved One's Guide to the Addiction Treatment Process

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Stepping Up to Help Your Loved One

Healing the whole person and not just the addiction should be the main goal when investing in long-lasting treatment. With relapse rates so high, having comprehensive treatment changes the person’s perspective on turning to drugs to solve his or her problems.

Having professionals evaluate patients addictions ensures they are receiving the proper treatment. A Better Today Recovery Services believes this level of care must be life-changing and individualized.

Having options like inpatient and intensive outpatient program (IOP) is important, because each person’s experience with addiction is different. A Better Today Recovery Services understands that considering and investing in substance abuse treatment is not cheap.

That is why we want to help you find care that ensures the level of care is an investment that encourages long-lasting recovery.

Whether you choose an inpatient or outpatient program, the important thing is that your loved one gets the help they need.

Plan for a Better Future with A Better Today Recovery Services

outpatient treatment program

After a 90-day treatment program, patients were 129% more likely to be entirely abstinent from drugs and alcohol.

Helping Your Loved One Before Rehab

Addiction treatment can vary and range from self-help programs to inpatient or residential care facilities, depending on the individual’s needs.

On a more basic level, there are about 6 levels of Addiction care available: detox, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs, outpatient programs, and outpatient addiction counseling.

For more extensive information visit levels of care. 

Yes, many drug and alcohol rehabs have a waiting list due to the high demand for rehabilitation services. However, this depends on several factors including how you’re paying for treatment, where you’re going for treatment, and what level of care a patient needs.

 Availability is usually limited by the resources at a particular facility, meaning that if more people are attempting to access care than can be served within reasonable time periods, a waiting list must be imposed.

While frustrating and difficult to accept, waiting lists are an important way to ensure that everyone who needs assistance will eventually get it.

If you’re concerned about a waiting list, please give us a call and we can direct you to getting help for your loved one as soon as possible.

The length of an individual’s stay in rehab can vary greatly depending on the specific reasons for seeking treatment.

Detox can last up to 2 weeks. Inpatient rehab stays range anywhere from 30 days up to 90 days; however, individuals may need to stay longer if there is a complex and deep-rooted history of addiction or mental health issues.

Each person is different and has unique circumstances, so their treatment plan must be tailored accordingly. The recovery process is most successful when an individual takes the necessary time to create meaningful change.

Rehab staff are critical for successful rehabilitation programs and the best staff have an impressive combination of qualifications.

They must possess both formal education – such as a master’s degree in counseling or psychology – as well as practical experience.

In addition, its important that rehab staff understand the unique mental health issues that challenge their clients and can provide advice and comfort when needed.

Further, they should be certified in CPR, First Aid and other emergency relief procedures to ensure they can take prompt action if necessary.

Above all, skillful rehab staff should have a genuine care and passion for helping those suffering from addiction – a trait you simply can’t teach!

Addiction may be a disease that requires treatment. However, it’s important for those dealing with an addiction to understand the rules and regulations that come with the road to recovery.

Depending on a person’s placement in an addiction treatment program, there could be restrictions on how many visitors they can have, what types of activities are allowed, such as unsupervised outings, and other guidelines, such as attendance at regular support group meetings.

Knowing these rules can go a long way in making sure your loved one feels supported while they focus on their recovery.

Ultimately, understanding the rules of conduct for the treatment center will ensure everyone knows what’s expected throughout the journey ahead.

Addiction treatment can be a challenge for everyone involved. Family and friends must stay in touch with the individual in treatment, offering support and encouragement as they progress.

Every treatment center is different, but typically, one or two visits per week are allowed by friends and family under certain conditions.

It’s also important that visits are conducted in an environment appropriate for the treatment process. Finally, visitors are often advised not to bring surprises, such as cards or gifts, without clearing them beforehand with the facility.

Helping Your Loved One During Rehab

Understanding addiction can be a difficult and daunting task, but with the right resources, it is entirely possible. A great starting point is to speak with friends and family who may have gone through similar experiences or are knowledgeable about addiction.

Additionally, many online resources provide helpful information about understanding addiction and coping with substance abuse. To search all of the resources available, visit our addiction and recovery guides.

Our guides include articles, blogs, videos, and other materials that explain the nature of addiction, various types of treatment programs, support services, and more.

There are even some mental health professionals that specialize in providing education and guidance on topics such as substance abuse disorders.

Finally, attending an intentional support group such as Al-Anon can greatly help broaden our understanding of how to cope with addiction in both ourselves and those we love.

Supporting a loved one undergoing rehab can be challenging, but it is an essential part of their journey to recovery.

One of the best things you can do for your loved one is to act as an emotional support system.

This means being available to listen when they need someone to talk to and reminding them that they are not alone in their struggles.

Sometimes simply reassuring them of your love and commitment can make all the difference in their recovery process.

Additionally, encourage your loved one to participate in as many structured activities as possible in their rehab program – these will usually involve communal or team-building activities that can be great ways to help boost confidence and form new connections with peers on the same path to wellness.

Above all, always remain positive and patient throughout their journey; they may have some difficult moments, but ultimately, participating in a rehabilitation program will set them up for lasting success.

One of the hardest things while in rehab is feeling discouraged. When dealing with addiction issues, discouragement, and hopelessness can be very common.

If your loved one is struggling with these feelings, there are a few things you can do to support them through this difficult time.

It is important to let your loved one know that recovery is possible no matter how bad it feels and that consistent effort will help bring positive changes into their life.

Because addiction treatments can be full of ups and downs, remind them to stay focused on their goals and reward themselves for their successes.

When it’s feeling tough, please encourage them to take breaks from therapy sessions or exercises, which can provide a needed respite.

Finally, reminding your loved one they have strong support behind them goes a long way in aiding their recovery process – show up, listen actively, and be an active part of their journey towards sobriety.

According to a study conducted in 2011, nearly 23 million people are in need of treatment for chemical dependency.

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Staging an Intervention

You may feel overwhelmed and powerless if you struggle with a loved one in active addiction. Your loved one’s addiction escalates, and you are worried about their future. You may have mustered the courage to confront your loved one about the substance abuse, only to be met with lies and denial. Now, more than ever, you need help. Not only from finding a reliable substance abuse treatment center but to convince your loved one that treatment is the right decision for the growing addiction. An intervention is a planned event where loved ones convey their message of love and concern to someone actively abusing drugs and alcohol. A loved one or an interventionist can host this event. The most effective interventions are often structured to defuse potential problems and offer quick and direct solutions to getting your addicted loved one into treatment before they use again. Unfortunately, convincing a loved one to embrace sobriety is not that easy and often drives the person to leave frustrated and looking to get high. To ensure an intervention goes well, families will look to a professional interventionist to plan, guide, and arrange for their loved one to go to drug and alcohol rehab. Not only does an intervention offer a solution of seeking substance abuse treatment, but it also provides closure to family members. Interventions can be the first step in healing family relationships that may have been stretched thin due to the loved ones’ destructive behaviors in active addiction. In many ways, an intervention is the first step toward a healthy lifestyle in recovery.
You may have confronted your loved one about their drug or Alcohol abuse, only to be met with lies and denial. Their denial and anger may have left you feeling overwhelmed and powerless. If so, you should seriously consider using an intervention. An intervention is a planned event where loved ones convey their message of love and concern to someone who is actively abusing drugs and alcohol. The most effective interventions are often structured to defuse potential problems and offer quick and direct solutions when it comes to helping the addict receive help. This event can be hosted by a loved one or by a professional interventionist. An interventionist is an intervention specialist that is trained to defuse the potential for aggression and remind your loved one that you are worried about him or her. It’s not a time to blame on your loved one for walking this dangerous path of addiction. Unfortunately, convincing a loved one to embrace sobriety is not that easy; when confronted, some may leave frustrated and upset, which can cause them to run to drugs or alcohol. To ensure an intervention goes well, families will look to an intervention specialist to help them plan, guide, and arrange for their loved ones to go to a drug and alcohol rehab that is reputable, effective, and worth investing in. Check out ABTRS’ 7 Step Guide to Hosting an Intervention to help your loved one see their substance abuse problem for what it is. An intervention not only offers a solution of seeking substance abuse treatment, but it also provides closure to family members. It can be the first step in healing family relationships that may have been stretched thin due to the escalated abuse. In many ways, an intervention is the first step toward a healthy lifestyle in recovery.
The worry and fear you may be feeling about your loved one’s drug and alcohol abuse may be keeping you up at night. Your mind may drift to the worst scenarios, fueling your suspicions of the drug she or he is using or the level of the abuse. You may smell something suspicious, notice odd secluded behavior, see him or her becoming too aggressive or defensive over simple questions about the day, overindulging in alcohol too often. You should trust your instinct. You know your loved one better than anyone, and if you believe he or she is suffering from drug or alcohol abuse, you may be up late at night feeling as though you can’t do anything to help. In general, drugs and alcohol are an outlet. Whether it is a self-medicating coping mechanism, or a need to fit in or let loose; noticing these changes in his or her life is a good indicator that he or she could be abusing drugs for a reason. Other key indicators of excessive drug & alcohol abuse are secretive behavior, hiding phones, short or snippy answers to questions about daily activities, and withholding information regarding plans or lying about his or her whereabouts or social circle. Drug-seeking behaviors like stealing or sneaking around, or physical changes like needle marks and/or bloodshot eyes can be key indicators of your loved one abusing mind-altering substances. If your gut is telling you something is off, trust yourself.

When experimentation with a substance becomes an addiction, your loved one cannot just stop all of a sudden.

When your brain becomes dependent on a substance, the chemical composition changes, forcing the body to need the substance just to operate on a normal level.

When someone stops all of a sudden, it leaves the body vulnerable to dangerous side effects.

If someone stops using cold turkey, the absence of the drug can cause them to go into withdrawals. This means they can have hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, and intense seizures.

Depending on the drug of choice, they may become suicidal due to the disrupted brain chemistry.

Sweating, shivers, and convulsions could cause them to do anything to get the drug, and organ failure can occur depending on the drug of choice.

This bodily function breakdown has made the strongest of people cave in and give their addicted loved ones cash to calm the withdrawal symptoms. No one wants to or likes to, see their loved one suffer.

Many struggle with withdrawals, and each time they cave in; it makes it harder to get clean and sober the next time. The fear of the pain from withdrawals will keep many people from abusing drugs and alcohol; some feel defeated and hopeless, no matter their efforts.

This is why we highly encourage going into a medical detox center, rehabs with a detox facility, or a hospitalized detox.

We also recommend watching the video that talks about the addicted brain to get a better understanding of everything.

Paying for Rehab

Paying for a loved one’s drug and alcohol rehab is an important way to show your support and help them get the best possible chance at success.

Investing in a high-quality rehab program can provide them with access to experienced professionals and a range of treatment approaches that can help them work through the underlying causes of their addiction and build the skills and strategies needed for a successful recovery.

It can also provide the structure and support needed to prevent relapse and create a strong foundation for long-term recovery.

Ultimately, investing in a loved one’s rehab is an investment in their future and can help provide them with the tools and resources needed to live a healthy, sober life.

When it comes to getting your loved one the resources he or she needs for long-lasting recovery should not be what stops him or her from getting their life back. When paying for drug and alcohol treatment, you have options. Substance abuse treatment is an investment in a better future for your loved one. Take action now before the drug-seeking behavior of substance abuse takes more control of his or her life.

Insurance Coverage

Not many people really know what is covered and what is not because the insurance policies that people sign up for are often confusing or littered with medical jargon.
Insurance Companies are Required to Provide Rehab Coverage
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 states that group health plans and health insurance companies must provide the same level of benefits for mental and substance abuse treatment services that they do for medical and surgical care. The Affordable Care Act expands the MHPAEA’s requirements by guaranteeing that qualified plans cover many behavioral health services and treatments.

Financing

With the right budgeting and support from family and our addiction specialists, treatment centers can find a way for your loved one to get treatment and start living their life again. No one should have to spend his or her lifetime feeding an addiction. Talk to one of our addiction specialists to explore financing options.

Support Groups for Family Members

Nothing is more difficult than watching a loved one spiral downwards as a result of addiction. The frustration and pain can be almost too much to bear. For the family members of someone stuck in the devastating cycle of substance abuse, the future can seem bleak.

You are not alone. Many people struggle with addiction and for each addicted person, there is an entire family that may be enduring their own struggle. 12-step programs have chapters that cater specifically to the friends and family members of those struggling with substance abuse.

Al-anon, Nar-anon, and others all center around helping family members and friends cope with the dysfunction and pain of addiction in a loved one. These support groups teach members such invaluable lessons as healthy coping skills, boundaries, how to avoid enabling behaviors and other things that prevent the drama and hurtful nature of addiction from spreading throughout the family.

Talking to others who are going through the same turmoil that you are can make an enormous difference. Knowing that you are not alone always helps alleviate the burden. Here at ABTRS, we understand how difficult it can be to have a loved one who struggles with substance abuse. That is why we also provide services and information to friends and family members – to ensure that all recover from the traumas of the past.

Resources and Links

Saving Your Loved One’s Life Starts with Reliable Resources

Realizing that your loved one has a drug or alcohol abuse problem is nerve-wracking. When put in that situation, people tend to feel powerless to help their addicted loved one,; the only way to help them is through learning. Knowledge is power, and when it comes to substance abuse treatment, the only power we have over their need for their drug is to educate them.

Getting knowledge from reputable sources that are unbiased and proven to be effective in the scientific or psychology community is vital. A Better Today Recovery Services takes pride in offering knowledge from reliable sources that are up to date and relevant in helping you convince your loved one they need to get clean in rehab. Check out the list below to learn more about where we sourced our information. 

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Brief Interventions and Brief Therapies for Substance Abuse. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 34. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 12- 3952. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1999. 

NIDA. (2018, January 17). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition). Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition on 2019, February 12

Medically Reviewed Articles & Resources