How to Help a Loved One Battle Opioid Addiction

No matter how your loved one behaves under the influence of opioids, or how often they demand to be left alone, they need your support.

Your task isn’t easy as you face the many struggles and stressors caused by a loved one’s addiction, but Sirisat Khalsa, MD, and her compassionate team at Clarity Medical Group can help.

As addiction and family medicine specialists, we help you navigate a path supporting your loved one while also protecting your well-being. We offer addiction treatment through at-home detox, allowing your loved one to recover from their opioid addiction at home.

Here, we recommend six tips to follow when helping your loved one.

1. Seek support for yourself

You need to prepare yourself for the road ahead by learning about addiction and the recovery process. You also need someone to talk with who understands addiction and the challenges faced by you and your loved one.

During this journey, you’re vulnerable to fatigue, depression, and isolation from friends. You can’t help your loved one if you’re tired and stressed.

As addiction and family medicine specialists, our team has the expertise and understanding to provide the care you need every step of the way.

2. Remain compassionate and nonjudgmental

When trying to help a loved one with an opioid addiction, you will sometimes feel angry, frustrated, and like you can’t cope. It’s easy to lash out at your loved one during these moments.

However, if you want to help them, it’s vital to stay calm, compassionate, and nonjudgmental, always striving to build a foundation that supports their future recovery.

We understand that’s easier said than done. That’s why seeking support and learning about addiction was our first tip.

It’s easier to stay steady in the face of stress and challenging behaviors when you know that addiction is a brain disease causing intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms compelling your loved one’s behaviors.

Always remember that addiction is a disease they can overcome with treatment.

3. Don’t enable your loved one

Staying calm, compassionate, and nonjudgmental does not mean you should enable their addiction. Enabling takes many forms, from giving them money to covering their addiction by giving excuses to friends and employers.

One general guideline is essential for everyone: Don’t protect your loved one from the consequences of their behaviors.

Watching a loved one get in financial or legal trouble is painful. However, easing their path may prolong their opioid abuse. Offer your support and ask how you can help, but don’t step in to take care of the issue and make the problem disappear.

4. Set healthy boundaries

Defining boundaries means clearly stating what you need and the behaviors you won’t tolerate and then firmly but gently enforcing those boundaries. Boundaries allow you to care for yourself, stay safe, and prevent burnout.

Boundaries are highly personal and depend on variables like your relationship with your loved one. Talk with one of our caring providers if you need help with setting or maintaining boundaries.

5. Keep communicating

Keep the lines of communication open. Tell your loved one you care and are concerned about their well-being. Never accuse, punish, or bribe them (such as statements like “If you love me, you’ll stop”).

Be prepared for them to deny their opioid use and become angry or defensive. You may decide to let the conversation drop, but don’t let their response stop you from talking again later.

It may take many conversations before your loved one seeks help. In the meantime, they need to know they can approach you without fear of your response.

6. Learn about opioid addiction treatments

Learn about addiction treatment and talk with your loved one about their options. Entering treatment as soon as possible can be life-saving, considering opioids are potent drugs that cause many overdoses. 

Many people don’t know that their loved one can detox and recover without entering a hospital or inpatient clinic.

We treat opioid addictions with an at-home detox, prescribing outpatient medications, including anti-craving medications, that prevent problems like cravings and withdrawal symptoms throughout detox and recovery.

We’re here for you

Request an appointment online or call Clarity Medical Group today if you need help supporting a loved one with an opioid addiction or want to learn more about outpatient treatment.