The world of addiction is full of harmful and even dangerous myths. Family members are given advice that, while coming from a well-intended place, isn’t supported by science and is in fact driven by stigma.
One example of this is the rock bottom belief. It’s simply untrue that you have to wait for someone to hit bottom before they can get better. It’s also dangerous. The longer you wait to help someone you love, the more unwell they’ll get – which can have deadly consequences. As drug overdose deaths continue to rise in El Paso county and across the country, it’s more important than ever to do what you can for the person who’s struggling.
To clarify, this doesn’t mean you should put yourself in harm’s way or maintain a relationship without boundaries, which are critical. What it means is you can help the person in your life with addiction in a healthy manner. You can tell them you love them and you won’t give up on them. You can offer to help research treatment options when they’re ready. And in the meantime, it also means you can model positive change, improve your communication style and establish boundaries – all while putting your own well-being first and foremost.
As with all chronic diseases, early intervention is key. It’s much easier, and less costly, to deal with addiction early. People who get help before addiction is severe have more resources to draw upon, such as supportive family members or their employer, to help them successfully recover. The sooner someone gets help, the better.
In addition to the rock bottom notion, you may have heard other harmful myths about detaching with love or cutting people out until they stop using drugs. These misconceptions put even more blame and shame on families than they already feel. They paint well-meaning families who don’t want to abandon their loved one with addiction as “enablers” and “codependents.”
The reality is compassionate methods work better than angry confrontations and isolation from family members. Approaching with compassion usually feels better, too. So many loved ones are terrified of doing the wrong thing or being called these hurtful labels when they should be focused on taking care of themselves and their families.
These are all complex, emotional decisions to make. If you’d like more personalized guidance based on your family’s circumstances, please reach out to Face It TOGETHER. They offer free, effective peer coaching to families impacted by addiction. Their support is caring, nonjudgmental and driven by data and science. Loved ones can engage with a coach regardless of where the person at risk is on their addiction journey.
This product was supported by grant H79TI083760 from SAMHSA. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or polices of SAMHSA or HHS.
