Recovering from drug addiction is a long-term process, and it is certainly not one that happens overnight. There are many factors involved in quitting drugs, beginning with the acknowledgment that drug abuse has become a serious issue, and continuing with the willingness to seek and receive professional treatment. There are also many barriers at play when it comes to seeking and receiving professional addiction treatment.
Interestingly enough, the most significant and detrimental barrier is the belief that drug abuse is not a serious problem or the insistence of the user that he or she is not ready to stop. What does it mean when someone is not ready to stop using drugs, and what can you do to help a loved one overcome this barrier and go on to seek the professional help that he or she so desperately needs?
Why People Might Not “Be Ready” To Recover
There are many reasons why people choose to continue along a path of self-destruction and active addiction, adamantly refusing to receive the help they so clearly need. Some of these reasons include (but are not limited to):
- Denial. Drug addiction is a disease of denial, meaning that men and women who are in the throes of addiction have a difficult time acknowledging the fact that they are out of control.
- The idea of never using drugs again can be overwhelming.
- Some people assume they can’t afford to cover the cost of treatment.
- Many people are unaware of the recovery-related resources that are available to them.
- Some people don’t know how to get started on a journey of recovery.
If someone says that they are not ready to stop using drugs and that they are not ready to seek professional help, this usually means that they are simply not willing to seek the help they need. The good news is that there are still steps you can take to help your loved one enter into a program of recovery. At the end of the day, he or she will need to develop some sense of willingness – however, it is important to note that treatment does not have to be voluntary to be effective.
What to Do if a Loved One Isn’t Ready
If your loved one is clearly on a path of self-destruction, but if he or she insists that drug use is not a problem, there are several steps that you can take. For additional help and support, remember that you can reach out to Garden State Treatment Center at any point in time.
- If possible, try having a one-on-one conversation with your loved one. Make sure that he or she is not intoxicated at the time, and make sure that you do not point fingers or place blame. come from a place of concern and compassion, calmly expressing to your loved one how his or her drug use makes you feel.
- If your loved one is willing, schedule a family therapy appointment with an addiction specialist. The specialist will facilitate the conversation, and help you set and maintain personal boundaries that can ultimately help prompt your loved one to seek treatment.
- If nothing else seems to work, it is a good idea to stage a professionally facilitated intervention. Schedule a phone call with a licensed interventionist and begin the planning process – which can take several weeks. If you are not sure how to get a hold of a licensed interventionist, call Garden State Treatment Center today.
Garden State Treatment Center and Drug Addiction Recovery
At Garden State Treatment Center we work very closely with several highly experienced and trained interventionists. If your loved one is not ready to stop using drugs, it does not mean that he or she is not in desperate need of treatment. It simply means that an extra push in the right direction might prove to be necessary. To learn more about our comprehensive recovery program, or to be put in touch with one of our professional interventionists, reach out to us today.