Day: May 27, 2020

When someone you care about deeply has turned to drugs or alcohol, the world can become an incredibly uncertain and challenging space. Not only do you have your own life to worry about — and you must always put yourself first — but now you’ve got constant fear over their well-being hanging over your head. If you’ve been painstakingly searching for the best way to help your loved one, rest assured recovery is 100% possible. Discover how to get someone into luxury rehab and find out the most effective ways to approach an individual who’s struggling with addiction.

How Do You Know When Substance Abuse Becomes Addiction?

While no one should be taking illegal drugs under any circumstances, it does happen. In some cases, people experiment or go through a phase of using recreational drugs and nothing more occurs. However, people with the potential to develop an addiction become preoccupied with using the substance and getting inebriated, despite an array of negative consequences. Alcohol is legal, and the majority of people have no difficulty moderating their intake. But someone with an alcohol use disorder drinks habitually, even if bad things keep happening to them as a result of drinking. Addiction is a disease that hijacks the parts of their brain that are responsible for motivation, pleasure and reward, making it increasingly difficult to maintain responsibilities. According to the diagnostic criteria, they only need to meet two or three criteria to be diagnosed with a mild substance use disorder. Four or five is equivalent to a moderate substance use disorder, and six or more suggests they’re suffering from a severe substance use disorder. Addiction is a progressive and chronic disease, so wherever your loved one lands on the spectrum, they need professional help.

The DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Substance Use Disorders

The 11 criteria that denote whether someone is medically considered to have a substance use disorder are:

1. Withdrawal symptoms or negative physical and mental effects that arise when they haven’t had any/enough alcohol or drugs
2. Building a tolerance to the substance or needing increasing amounts to feel the same effects
3. Taking drugs or using alcohol even when they know it’s causing physical or psychological problems
4. Using substances and putting themselves in dangerous situations as a result
5. No longer taking part in social, recreational or vocational activities they used to enjoy in favor of getting drunk or high
6. Not being able to fulfill duties at home, work or school
7. Continuously craving the substance
8. Repeated failed attempts to cut down how much they use or stop altogether.
9. Interpersonal issues as a result of substance use
10. Repeatedly taking or drinking more than intended
11. Spending a disproportionate amount of time thinking about, seeking and using the substance

Why Choose Residential Rehab?

Generally speaking, there are two types of rehab: inpatient and outpatient. We prefer to call ourselves a residential treatment center instead of an inpatient facility because we provide a luxurious home-away-from-home environment. Outpatient treatment might be suitable for someone who only meets a couple of the DSM-5 criteria. However, in most cases, a new environment is the best place to begin the journey to recovery.

Benefits of Residential Rehab

• Residents have around-the-clock access to medical care — particularly important during the acute withdrawal stage.
• They’re plucked from their daily life and put into a highly structured environment that teaches them how to develop new, healthy habits.
• When they’re in a rehabilitation center with the beautiful rocky Agua Dulce, California, scenery, they don’t have access to temptation.
• Residents have the opportunity to form close bonds with each other and their caregivers, which facilitates the open communication necessary for healing to begin.

Is Involuntary Commitment to Rehab Possible?

Yes, involuntary commitment is an option. However, it requires a court order, and it’s a lengthy and often expensive process. You’d need to be able to demonstrate extensive proof that they are putting themselves and other people at risk to get legal action underway. We’d only recommend forcing them to go to rehab through the courts as a last resort.

Never Make These Mistakes (Some Might Surprise You)

Don’t Use Bribery

It’s so tempting to offer people you care about a reward to stop using drugs or alcohol, but ultimately, it’s damaging for you both. You’re at a real risk of being lied to, and they’re at risk of withdrawing further into the addiction for fear you’ll take away their rewards if they tell the truth. Remember also that ultimatums are only useful if you stand by your word every time. Otherwise, you’re showing them you can be fooled.

Never Let Them Fool You

Addiction makes people dishonest because it tricks their brain into obsessing over their substance of choice as their number one priority. You shouldn’t take it personally or let it damage your mental health because it’s the disease’s fault — not your loved one. Make sure they know you’re too knowledgeable about the situation for them to be able to pull the wool over your eyes.

There’s No Place for Blame, Name-Calling or Labels

Be incredibly careful what you call the people close to you, because labels tend to stick. While it’s your place to offer encouragement and support your loved one while they seek the help they need, it’s no one’s place to call someone else names or make them feel bad. Even if the alcohol or drugs has given them a sharp tongue, you’re still in a positive place to rise above this behavior.

Rise Above Arguments

Anytime they try to engage in confrontation, take a deep breath and count to 10. If you can’t stay calm, just walk away. People aren’t in the position to listen when they’re being defensive in the middle of an argument. Just let them know you’ll discuss the matter when you’ve both had a chance to calm down. Write letters to each other or find creative ways to express how you feel to each other; it’ll do a world of good.

How to Get Someone Into Luxury Rehab in 8 Steps

Getting someone to start a drug or alcohol treatment program isn’t necessarily going to be easy, and it might take several failed attempts. However, if you’re consistent, compassionate and knowledgeable, you’ll be able to use these steps as a blueprint for helping your loved one to get into recovery.

1. The Research Phase

This first stage is so crucial because it will shape your actions after that. Gain as much knowledge as you can about addiction, particularly with regards to the substance your family member is addicted to. The more of an authority you are, the harder it will be for them to lie to you and the more they’ll trust your opinions. When researching, remember to be discerning about who you seek facts from and who you seek opinions from. Seek solace in friendships and let off steam to your closest circle, but don’t take their advice or opinions as facts. We’d recommend speaking to someone who works in the medical field for information about your loved one’s situation. To speak to an addiction specialist, call Valley Recovery Center today at 866-986-2486.

2. The Discussion Phase

Once you’ve gathered all the information you need for yourself, it’s time to start approaching the idea of rehabilitation with your family member. Instead of telling them to book their place immediately, ask them what they think of the concept of rehab. Find out what their understanding of a treatment program is and share what you know with them. Correct their misconceptions and gently suggest that it seems like an incredibly helpful first step for individuals struggling with drugs or alcohol. Share pictures or brochures of the type of facility you think they’d be suited to. Not only are you giving them a nudge in the right direction, but you’re also showing them how much you care and that you’re seeking solutions to help them.

3. First Attempt to Get Them Into Rehab

If they’re receptive to your initial efforts, that’s fantastic news — get them booked in! At Valley Recovery Center, we’re a men’s luxury rehab with an intake of just six, so each resident has space to get the attention they need. All of our suites are decorated to an exceptionally high standard, and we have a pool, Jacuzzi, gym and games room. Contact us to find out more. Sadly, it’s not usually this easy. The first attempt might be met with what seems like disproportionate resistance. Bear in mind that you’re challenging their way of life and threatening to take away something that has become their focal point. Change is difficult for everyone. The more you meet their initial resistance with compassion, the easier it will be to overcome.

4. Find Out Why

To avoid getting angry or frustrated, or engaging in an argument, agree to sleep on it before having a discussion. Respect their decision and understand that they’re not ready to accept help yet, but feel proud that you’ve made the first step. When you talk, find out their reasons. Don’t offer any advice at this stage; just listen to what they have to say.

5. Try Another Approach

At this point, it would be a good idea to seek advice from a specialist again. Explain what happened and tell them about the reasons behind your loved one’s resistance to going to rehab. They can explain what’s behind their fears and provide advice about how to appease them. They might suggest you ask someone else close to them to encourage them to go to rehab or, in severe cases, take them to a doctor. If they don’t take the advice from a medical professional, you’ll need to pull together every resource available to you to get them to rehab.

6. Arrange a Family Meeting

People are the most valuable resource when it comes to addiction, and a support network is often the difference between successful and failed recovery attempts. Arrange a meeting with every person who’s trusted by them and close to them. Share that you think approaching the situation as a unit will be the best method. Ask each person to write a letter explaining how much they love the afflicted family member and the reasons they need them to go to alcohol or drug rehab.

7. Stage an Intervention

In the family meeting, describe what an intervention is and how it works. Organize another meeting with your loved one present, but ensure it’s not before they’re going to work or have something important to attend to. It’s likely to be a highly emotional meeting, and they might need time to recuperate afterward. When you’re all together, each person will read their letter aloud and lovingly and compassionately implore them to go to rehab. If they’ve been entirely resistant up until this stage, it’s a good idea to book the facility and organize transport in case they agree right then.

8. Find a Rehab That Offers Family Therapy and Aftercare

Addiction is a family illness, so make sure you and the rest of the family have access to the support you need as well. Choose a rehab facility that offers family therapy and has extensive options for continued care. It’s essential you all rebuild healthy channels of communication and constructively vent negative feelings. With love, support and medical care, anyone can overcome addiction and get better for good.

Can You Admit Someone to Rehab Who Doesn’t Want to Go?

It’s not as vital that the change comes from within as you might think. Sometimes, it takes a nudge in the right direction from the people who love us the most to help us follow the right path. For more advice, call Valley Recovery Center today at 866-986-2486.