Real Talk About Addiction Recovery For Healthy Living

The National Institute on Drug Abuse says about 23.5 million people 12 years of age and up need to get treatment for illicit drug or alcohol use. Out of all those millions, only 2.6 million people receive treatment. That leaves too many people without a way to conquer their addiction, much less stop it.

That’s why it’s important to:

Encourage Early Treatment

Some people believe you have to wait until the people suffering seek out treatment for themselves. Otherwise, they won’t be in a state of mind to accept the treatment and recovery, to work hard for it. That could be dangerous, though, and fatal. If you wait too long, your friend or family might already be deep into the addiction. If you wait, it might be too late. The sooner you get your loved one to credible drugs and alcohol rehab center, the sooner his or her ability to stop depending on substance abuse can begin.

Not About Stopping the Addiction

The Addiction and Recovery Organization says that it isn’t about stopping the condition in the first place. Rather, it’s about creating a life that makes it easier for your loved one to live without the substances that they depend on. Because protracted alcohol abuse can change the human body, train it to need the substance constantly, turn the need for the next drink, the next shot, on tap and other tale signs of addiction. The only way your friend or family can kick the habit, then, is to create a new life that makes it easier to manage the condition.

Managing High-risk Situations

High-risk situations can undermine all the hard work, years and expense spent on recovery, though. Knowing what situations to look out for can make a huge difference.

These situations include the following:

• Hungry
• Angry
• Lonely
• Tired

Reach out to your loved one. Be there to offer emotional support to keep him from reaching for the bottle. Addictions are often a sign of a person’s inability to emotionally cope with a situation. By being there, you can keep minor urges from escalating into strong cravings. With familial support, alcoholics have a bigger chance of making a full and speedy recovery.

Stay Away from Triggers

Aside from high-risk situations, there are other triggers you need to be aware of as well. If you’re serious about helping your loved one get back on their feet, then knowing what things, people or places trigger an attack is crucial. By knowing what these factors are, you’ll be in a better position to help your loved one avoid them in the first place.

• Things – anything that reminds your loved one of drinking
• People – your loved one’s drinking buddies or people who make him want to drink, whether it’s his work or toxic boss
• Places – where he used to get his steady supply of alcohol

Your loved one won’t be able to avoid these triggers forever, though. That’s where counseling and rehabilitation helps. With the help of Southern California rehabs that are trending towards better future, your loved one can find ways to cope and deal with breaking the habit that much better in the future.