Addiction is a tragic disease that impacts a massive amount of the population. Nearly 21% of Canadians will be affected by substance abuse and addiction in their lifetime. There has been a rising and disturbing increase in addiction since the onset of the pandemic. Many factors play into the causes and reasons behind addiction. Unfortunately, those reasons don’t help much when you’re watching your own life spiral out of control or watching a loved one keep getting further in over their head. So just how do you get someone to stop being addicted? Unfortunately in fighting addiction there is no magic cure, no simple answer. However, there is hope, hard work, and many forms and types of help available.
An increase in isolation
Sadly the pandemic has had more consequences than just the lives it’s cost and the changes to the world. It’s made a distinct impact on those who have a tendency or suffer from addiction. One report found that more Canadians have had to seek medical attention for substance abuse since the pandemic started than in the previous years.
It may be years before we actually see the full impact of this problem. However, a lot can be seen about how the pandemic made it more difficult for those who were trying to stay sober or were just trying to get sober.
The pandemic has been more isolating for the average person than they have ever had to deal with in their life. Therefore, one of the most essential parts of recovery is a support system, which is challenging to maintain during the pandemic.
Stress is another major factor in addiction, and no one has escaped the pandemic without feeling the added stress. For some, the stress has been significantly worse than others, including losing a loved one to Covid, losing a job, or even losing a home. Those who never struggled with addiction before may have found themselves with another problem coping with the stress through substances.
Before you can help someone, it’s important to understand just how addiction works.
Understanding addiction
Addiction can be almost anything, though most people think of the most dangerous substances, like opioids, heroin, meth; when they think of addiction, it is actually quite wide-ranging. Addiction can take many forms and doesn’t have to be illegal. Alcohol, which is perfectly legal, is one of the problems that increased during the pandemic. Addiction can be almost anything. It’s defined as being addicted to any substance, object, or activity. When that substance or activity starts to impede on a person’s life, it may very well be an addiction.
Addiction is also often connected to mental health. More often than not, mental health issues are going on alongside the addiction. Those with more significant mental health problems are more inclined to struggle with addiction, usually resulting from an attempt to self-medicate.
Where to start the process of getting clean and sober
The first thing that has to happen to stop addiction is for the problem to be recognized by the addict. You cannot force someone to seek help or acknowledge that they have a severe problem. However, you can encourage them to look closer at their actions and point out that they aren’t acting like themselves. You can offer to assist them in getting help, and you can support them without enabling their addiction.
This is one of the most challenging things for most family members. They often think that they are helping the person with addiction when they are enabling the behavior that allows the addiction to continue.
This is why it’s so important to seek out professional help when it comes to helping someone get sober and clean.
Turning to treatment to stop addiction
Treatment facilities are among the most recommended options for those fighting for their lives against addiction. These facilities are filled with staff that has dedicated their lives to helping others overcome addiction. They understand the intricacies and struggles that someone fighting addiction faces. In addition, they almost always have trained mental health professionals on staff to help their clients deal with the issues driving their addiction.
There are various treatment types and styles out there that all take a slightly different but positive approach to helping people deal with their substance abuse problems.
Two of the most popular options include inpatient and outpatient treatment. They each have benefits and can lead to recovery.
Inpatient treatment facilities
Inpatient treatment facilities are designed for the addict to move into a monitored residency for a set time. They reside alongside others struggling with similar addiction issues. Some inpatient facilities offer detoxing programs for those addicted to substances likely to cause medical problems when they are stopped.
Inpatient treatment is an intensive program that is almost always individualized. A substance abuse specialist will help create a recovery program that fits the particular problems faced by the addict. Still, nearly all of them include group therapy, individual therapy, and education. One of the primary benefits that inpatient therapy programs offer is spending time focused on nothing but recovering from addiction. There are strict rules and regulations inside of the facility. Patients generally aren’t allowed to leave without sacrificing the remaining time in treatment, making it much more difficult for relapse. They also have the advantage of built-in support systems with the other patients.
Outpatient treatment
For some, outpatient treatment may be the right choice. It’s similar to inpatient, except that the addict does not live at the treatment center. Instead, they are usually required to make several appointments per week for group therapy sessions and educational sessions. However, they get to go home at night and stay in their own bed. Though this may sound like a benefit, it may be a drawback. Often addicts surround themselves with other addicts. It can be nearly impossible to get clean while others around you are using. Sometimes people will choose outpatient treatments after they have already graduated from inpatient treatment. Continuing treatment outside an inpatient facility can reiterate what they have learned and provide continued support.
Either treatment style can work, but because each case of addiction is so unique, it’s best to turn to professionals to help decide what is best. Both inpatient and outpatient can be done in a whole-person holistic manner.
So, as you can see, there is no set way to get someone to stop being addicted. However, there are various ways to help them start and stay on the road to recover with professional help. One of the most important things you can do to help someone dealing with the disease that is addiction is to support them, encourage them to keep trying to get help and let them know they still matter.
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