Getting a Loved One into Treatment

Drug abuse is itself a clear signal that a loved one needs help. Drug abuse never has a positive association, and with continued use, it is always only a matter time before the signs and symptoms of abuse grow more severe. The signs of substance abuse can vary, depending on the drug abused, but changes to the user’s quality of life can be a major tipoff of a problem.

Diminished quality of life markers of drug abuse can include the substance user:

  • Experiencing intense drug cravings
  • Requiring more of a drug to get the effects of earlier use
  • Spending money on drugs, even when it’s out of their budget
  • Not being able to honor work, family and personal obligations
  • Acting out of character, like stealing, driving under the influence, or being reckless
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when use stops or the amount of intake is reduced


There are no hard and fast rules on how to help a loved one into treatment, but there are ways to make the need for treatment apparent to the substance abuser so that ultimately she will make the decision to enter rehab.

One of the most unfortunate aspects of substance abuse is that the user can lose his ability to gauge the extent of the problem, or willfully refuse to do so in order to keep using.

As New York Times bestselling author David Sheff discusses in his book Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy, denial is one of the most powerful preservation tools that substance abusers have to keep them locked in the cycle of abuse. Sheff points out that some addiction specialists follow the credo that a substance abuser may need to “hit rock bottom” before overcoming denial. But for some, the descent into addiction is a bottomless pit, and often it is only the substance abuser’s loved ones who can help. An intervention is one way to stop the dangerous downward spiral into addiction.

Find the Right Treatment Program for Your Loved One

Our expertly trained admissions coordinators can help you determine the next step to take in helping your loved one. FRN treatment facilities offer a variety of programs that can help your loved one leave substance abuse behind for good. Call us today to learn more.

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