Parents of teen or young adult children suffering with a drug or alcohol addiction often feel helpless. If you are a concerned father, you may have attempted to communicate with your son about his addiction. Unfortunately, most addicts do not want to discuss their addiction with other people, and prefer to handle it on their own. The problem is that they do not seek treatment for it, and instead continue to use substances until they suffer legal or health complications. There are a few things that you can do to help your son’s recovery from addiction.
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Understand the Nature of Addiction
Addiction is a powerful disease. Addicts often feel like their substance of choice helps them in some way and will do anything to protect their addiction until they develop a strong desire to recover. Unfortunately, it can take years for an addict to want to get sober on their own, which is why it is important to encourage them now. Before attempting to do this, you should take the time to learn about your son’s addiction. Gather facts about mortality rates, health conditions it causes, and other shocking information.
When you are ready, ask your son to sit down and talk with you. Tie the facts that you have researched into your conversation, followed by positive reinforcement. Avoid yelling and arguing, as it will only push your son away and make him overly defensive of his addiction.
Arrange for a Professional Intervention
If you can’t seem to get through to your son on your own, you may need help from a professional interventionist. An interventionist acts as a neutral, third party whose goal is to encourage an addict to begin a recovery plan. Interventionists are highly trained and skilled at communicating with addicts. He or she can promote open communication between you, your son, and other family members or friends involved in the intervention process.
During the intervention, the interventionist will discuss treatment options with your son. A rehabilitation facility, counseling, or other treatment methods may be recommended. To further motivate your son to overcome his addiction, the interventionist can offer help with finding the right facility for his needs.
Rehabilitation
A rehabilitation facility is one of the most successful forms of treatment for addictions. It provides a structured approach to recovery. Since it is a live-in facility, your son will need to feel comfortable with the current patients as well as the staff. An all men rehabilitation facility may be a good option for your son. This type of facility allows for communication between patients and can also deepen your son’s sense of belonging to a community of recovering addicts. Rehabilitation facilities often incorporate exercises and other therapeutic techniques that promote a supportive environment. After completing treatment, patients often choose to return regularly for group counseling, which further increases their success.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2010, over 22 million Americans over the age of 12 use illegal substances. This is almost 10 percent of the population in the United States alone. If you ever feel alone, you should know that other parents are going through similar situations. You can seek help for yourself by attending a local support group for family members of addicts.
