It can be agonizing to watch a loved one suffer with a drug or alcohol addiction. The feelings of helplessness can be overwhelming, and you may feel compelled to take charge and get the individual into a rehab treatment program. The reality is that unless the person is suicidal or is a danger to others (e.g. their children), you can’t force them to get help, and it can be difficult to get someone to go into rehab against their will. What you can control, however, is how you choose to interact with the individual. If you have been enabling their behavior in any way, now is the time to stop.
Let your loved one know how their addiction is affecting you and encourage them to get help. Let them know you’ll do everything possible to support them in their recovery. Getting help is a choice and can’t be forced—an individual must want it for him/herself.
An intervention can be incredibly powerful for encouraging your loved one to get help for their addiction. Being confronted by close family and friends in a loving but firm way is often what it takes to compel an individual to go to rehab. In those moments during an intervention an addict may finally realize just how deeply their addiction is affecting those they love and respect the most.
Northbound Treatment Services offers comprehensive treatment programs at its rehab treatment centers. The professional clinical staff specializes in addiction medicine and dual diagnosis treatment, tailoring programs to meet the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of each client. For more information about our services, visit our website.
Author
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Paul Alexander is the CEO, President & Founder of Northbound Treatment Network in Newport Beach, California. He believes wholeheartedly in transformational leadership, organizational health and effective, fully integrated substance use disorder and mental health treatment. With over 27 years of experience in behavioral healthcare, Paul has extensive knowledge of “in vivo” treatment modalities, clinical development, operations, strategy, marketing and financial planning. He has been widely recognized for his development of collegiate-based residential treatment programs for students in recovery and authored a research study at The University of California confirming this modality’s effectiveness.
Paul’s comprehensive professional experience, willingness to innovate, and emphasis on organizational health are vital factors in Northbound’s continued success. Paul received his Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist training at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA, and was awarded Outstanding Alumni Service Award in 2002. Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology, Law and Society, Summa Cum Laude, from University of California, Irvine, and a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles. Paul currently serves on The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) board. In addition, he serves on The Family Recovery Foundation board and The CarePossible board in Orange County; both organizations are committed to raising funds for family recovery and treatment for former military personnel. Paul is in recovery himself and lives in Orange County with his wife Silvana and his two young sons, Noah and Dean.
