A Simple Guide on How to Help a Friend With an Addiction

Addiction is a complex disease that not only affects the person suffering from it but also their friends and family. It can be heartbreaking to watch a loved one spiral and harm themselves, but it’s important to remember that addiction is an illness and not a character trait.

As such, addiction should be treated with care, understanding, and support. If you have a friend who is struggling with addiction, there are some things you can do to help motivate them to get the help they need.

1. Talk About The Consequences

Every type of addiction – whether it is drugs, alcohol, gambling, video games, or anything else – always has detrimental consequences. The people from the Clinic Les Alpes addiction treatment center state that the truth about addiction is that it has fatal consequences, and the first step to getting better is facing that reality.

If your friend isn’t exactly responsive to a gentle approach, talk to them about the very real consequences that addiction can have, such as job loss, financial ruin, legal problems, and even death.

Explain that they aren’t only harming themselves, but the people that care about them as well. Try to do this in a non-judgemental tone. You don’t want them to feel guilty – you want them to realize that their illness is serious and that they need to get help.

2. Offer To Give Up Any Addictive Substances You Might Be Taking

In most societies, having a drink every now and again isn’t really seen as a problem. An addict, however, can try to rationalize their addiction by comparing what they do to others who might partake in the same activities but to a lesser degree.

If you want to help your friend see that their addiction is a problem, offer to give up any addictive substances you might be taking yourself. This can be alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, or anything else.

Explain that you’re doing it to support them and because you want to see them get better. This show of solidarity can be extremely powerful and motivating for someone who is struggling with addiction. Even if you don’t have a problem yourself, offering to make this a joint effort can still be helpful.

3. Ask For Professional Advice

Addiction changes the way a person thinks and acts. Even if you’ve known your friend for years, their behavior can suddenly become completely unpredictable to you. It might be helpful to schedule a session with a therapist that specializes in addiction treatment for yourself so that you can get some advice on how to approach your friend in the most effective way possible.

They may even be able to talk to your friend directly and help them get on the path to recovery if that’s something your friend is open to. However, don’t try to trick your friend into going to therapy. That will probably just make them feel cornered and like they can’t trust you.

4. Don’t Enable Their Addiction

One of the most important things you can do for a friend with an addiction is to not enable their behavior. This means that you shouldn’t do anything that makes it easier for them to continue using, such as giving them money or letting them stay at your house when they’re high or drunk.

It’s important to set boundaries and make it clear that you won’t tolerate their addiction. This doesn’t mean that you should be unkind or uncaring – just firm. Remember, you’re doing this because you want to see them get better, and enabling their addiction will only make it harder for them to recover.

5. Be There For Them No Matter What Happens

The road to recovery is a long process. The first step in that process is actually getting clean. Even if you’re friend isn’t abusing a substance but is instead addicted to something like gambling or sex, they’ll still need to go through withdrawal and make some major lifestyle changes.

Usually, addicts become depressed, anxious, and short-tempered in the first few weeks of recovery. Because of this they can say hurtful things and may even push you away. It’s important to stick by them no matter what happens and to be there for them when they’re ready to talk. This includes being understanding when they’re struggling and celebrating with them when they make progress.

Just knowing that you’re in their corner can be a huge motivator for someone who is trying to overcome addiction.

If you have a friend who is struggling with addiction, it’s important to try to motivate them to get help. Addiction is a serious illness that not only affects the addict but also their friends and family.

There are some things you can do to try to motivate your friend, such as talking to them about your concerns, offering to give up addictive substances yourself, asking for professional advice, and not enabling their behavior. The most important thing you can do, however, is to be there for them no matter what happens.