What Role Do Families Play in the Rehab and Recovery Process

Clinically Reviewed by Matt Hawk ICAADC, CACII, Written by Karen Hadley

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Methamphetamine is, without a doubt, one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs on the illicit market. If you have a family member who is using meth, you must take action as quickly as possible. Meth addiction can quickly take over a person’s life, causing their life to spiral rapidly out of control. It is absolutely vital to take action immediately. Here are some steps you can take to minimize damage and restore healthy family relations.

Get Educated about Addiction

The more you understand the effects of the drug and how it creates addiction, the better equipped you are to deal with what’s happening. Meth use creates an intense rush that lasts between five and 30 minutes. After that, the person experiences increased energy, focus, confidence, and excitement that can last as long as 12 hours. During this period, their fears and problems fade away, including the problems caused by their drug use.

When they come down from this high, they will feel fatigued, depressed, and irritated. The only solution they have is to use more of the drug. However, as this person uses this drug repeatedly (occasionally, even the first time they use it), cravings will kick in. Their need to avoid cravings and the painfully low mood that follows the high will motivate them to use more meth. This is the rapid path to meth addiction. When your loved one is on this fast slide into addiction, you need to find an effective rehab program to get them turned around.

Participate in Treatment Planning

The family is most often the key to getting an addicted person into rehab. It is difficult for an addicted person to ask for help. For many addicted people, it is impossible. They will often refuse any offer of help. When a person is addicted, it’s more like the drugs are making decisions instead of the person themselves. They are driven to alleviate their depression and prevent withdrawal sickness by using more meth.

Therefore, it is normally up to the family to find the right rehab and orchestrate the person’s arrival. As a family member, you may also be instrumental in helping rehab staff understand the person’s situation so their first days in rehab can be beneficial.

Maintain Appropriate Boundaries

You can play an important role in keeping your loved one in rehab until their program is complete. It’s important to understand that, early in their program, they may say anything to get you to let them come home. They may lie about conditions in the rehab, or they may make emotional promises that they will do whatever you say if you just let them come home. You’re going to have to stay strong. Choose your rehab carefully and select a rehab staff member you are comfortable talking with so you have someone to go to with any concerns. It is possible that there could be problems in the rehab, but it is far more common for you to hear complaints because your loved one does not want to do the work of recovering from addiction.

Provide Emotional Support Without Enabling

The more you can reinforce your loved one’s interest in recovery and progress through the program, the better. A simple way to do this is to acknowledge every improvement. If a person complains or even whines about being made to do this program, do your best to redirect their attention to their recovery. Praise them every time you can for sticking with the program so they can maintain long-term sobriety when they get home. Help them focus on their program and a sober future as much as possible.

Create a Stable, Drug-Free Home Environment

Just because a person successfully completes a rehab program does not mean that their journey is over. They will still need support after they get home. Typically, a person re-integrates into their home environment a little at a time. They may want to wait weeks or months before they begin socializing outside the home. While your loved one is still in rehab, let them know that you will support them fully when they get home. Eliminate any alcohol or drug use from the home. Remove anything that could trigger cravings, such as images of people drinking or liquor in cabinets or refrigerators. You could even stock your home with family entertainment that increases communication and a sense of community among family and friends.

Participate in Aftercare Planning

At Narconon drug rehab centers, each person goes through careful and detailed aftercare planning. A specially trained staff member will review each step of the person’s rehab program with them, helping to reinforce the benefits and training they received. The skills and benefits will then be applied to the development of a plan to be followed after they get home. There are relationships to be repaired. They must decide if they are going to get a new job right away or go back to school. There may be people they harmed that they now need to help. All these steps are laid out in the aftercare planning. You may be consulted during this planning. Keep your comments positive. Provide encouragement. As much as possible, allow this person to make amends to you and the rest of the family.

Be Patient with the Recovery Process

Very commonly, someone who needs drug rehab has hurt and upset every close member of the family. They may owe everyone money. It’s only human to be upset and possibly resentful toward the addicted person. The more family members can be patient as this person recovers, the better. Perhaps the best guideline is to treat this person as you would want to be treated if you were in the same situation. Be patient, let the person make amends and repair relationships. However, it is also your job to hold the line. Don’t allow this person to backslide, justify any laziness, or blame others for the problems they created.

You Can Have Your Loved One Back in Your Life

You really are a big part of the solution. It starts with finding an effective drug rehab like the Narconon program. For nearly 60 years, the Narconon program has helped tens of thousands of people to recover from addiction to meth and other drugs. Your role continues through your loved one’s rehab program and after they get home.

If a member of your family is struggling with addiction to meth, contact Narconon now for help from someone who can guide you on your next steps to get your loved one into treatment.