| Just about everyone who abuses alcohol or drugs | | | | interventionist if your efforts fail, but having things |
| has heard about it from their family or friends who've | | | | lined up will enable you to get them there before |
| tried to get them to drink less, quit drinking or drugs | | | | they change their mind. And they will. |
| altogether, or get help in an alcohol rehab or drug | | | | Once they agree to go to an alcohol rehab or drug |
| addiction treatment center. Often, however, the | | | | addiction treatment center, take them there |
| advice, suggestions, pleas and demands fall on deaf | | | | immediately. Day or night. It's pretty much |
| ears. This is very frustrating for concerned parents | | | | guaranteed that if you go along with waiting until |
| and spouses who know the abuser is seriously in | | | | tomorrow, tomorrow will never come. The person will |
| need of an alcohol or drug addiction treatment | | | | have all kinds of reasons why they can't go to a drug |
| center. What causes this breakdown in | | | | addiction treatment center right now. And you'll be |
| communication? And is there anything you can do | | | | tempted to agree with them - they can't just quit |
| about it? | | | | their job without notice, they have to take care of |
| First of all, if you haven't figured this out by now, no | | | | the bills, there's no hurry because they said they'd do |
| amount of talking - whispered or screamed, friendly | | | | it and they will - you'll hear all kinds of things. |
| or hostile - is going to get the person to stop even | | | | What should your reaction be? Don't fall for it, no |
| though the addict would usually like nothing better. | | | | matter how logical the reasons seem. It isn't that the |
| But he just can't do it. Addiction isn't an incurable | | | | person isn't trustworthy - they probably are, |
| brain disease, as some would have you believe, but | | | | underneath it all. But as long as they're going to need |
| the horrible symptoms experienced when you need | | | | another drink, another fix, another pill, you can |
| your next drink, pill or fix make it all but impossible to | | | | depend on whatever stellar personality traits they |
| quit on your own. And these symptoms are very | | | | have going right out the window. The person is out |
| real, sometimes even medically dangerous. | | | | of control. |
| Also, if the person quits drinking or taking drugs they | | | | When you arrive at the drug addiction treatment |
| will no longer have an escape from whatever drives | | | | center you've chosen, you can make arrangements |
| them to alcohol or drugs in the first place. | | | | to handle the reasons the person said they couldn't |
| Both the withdrawal symptoms and the reasons | | | | go. used as After they're checked in, go through |
| behind the addiction can be helped in a drug addiction | | | | those details with them so you can handle any |
| treatment center; your goal is to get them there. | | | | problems that may arise during their absence. You |
| That said, here's a few communication do's and | | | | can tell the boss there's an emergency family |
| don'ts. | | | | situation (which there is), handle the bank transfers, |
| Don't make them feel guilty. It won't help. Chances | | | | bills, and so, on yourself. Just get the information you |
| are they already feel guiltier than you can imagine - | | | | need. |
| despite what they say or do that makes you think | | | | Last, but not least, realize they might be in the |
| otherwise. In fact, their guilt may be one of the | | | | alcohol or drug addiction treatment center for a while. |
| reasons they continue. | | | | In fact, it could take months. Get help and support |
| Don't talk to them about it when they're drunk or | | | | from friends and family, whatever you need to cope |
| high. Get them when they're thinking straight. | | | | with it. |
| Don't get drawn into a screaming match or break | | | | This may seem like a lot to handle but, really, |
| down in tears. This can be hard. Someone who's bent | | | | consider the alternatives; if you don't do it, things will |
| on defending their actions - especially when they | | | | get worse, not better. And you might even lose |
| know they're wrong - can get very argumentative. | | | | them altogether. A good, long-term residential alcohol |
| Maintain your calm or the conversation will end | | | | rehab or drug addiction treatment center can handle |
| without resolution. | | | | their problem, but you have to get them there. Find |
| Line up a drug addiction treatment center before you | | | | the best treatment center you can right now, and |
| even have the conversation. Have it all arranged, no | | | | get things rolling. Your life could be very different, |
| matter what it takes. You can always call an | | | | very soon. |