Trying to help someone in the active throes of drug addiction can be highly stressful. Those suffering from a substance use disorder will have a nearly endless supply of reasons they do not want to or are unable to go into a drug treatment facility. For many, they sincerely want help, but they are afraid and do not know if they can survive without their drug of choice.
However, for each reason, they have stopped them from going into treatment, there is a solution. Removing those barriers is often something that falls to the loved ones or certified peer support specialists if they are available in your area. The barriers that need to be addressed may include fear of what will happen to their possessions while in treatment, having a pet that needs to be cared for, not having clothes or personal care items to take with them to treatment, or free of losing their job.
Selfstoragefinders.com will help you find adequate and affordable storage units anywhere in the United States. You can find a storage unit and help your loved one move their stuff into the storage unit before going into treatment. This is an inexpensive and ideal solution if they do not have secure housing, or if they are living with people that they do not trust.
You can work with your local APL or Humane Society to find a foster home for pets; your loved one is afraid to leave behind going into treatment. Finding care for animals is a common problem and one that Humane Societies are aware of and want to help. From the perspective of the rescue, it is better to help find foster care than to have to find a forever home.
If you contact the treatment center before bringing them, you can get a list of anything they may need. This may include clothes and personal care items, but some facilities offer both, so you need to check first.
Many will argue that they cannot go into treatment because they are afraid they will lose their job. However, most employers prefer to have their employees drug free, but even if there is a problem, your loved one can protect their job by filing for FMLA. Seeking addiction treatment is a protective reason for extended medical leave.
Other problems that are easier to address may include they lost their I.D. or birth certificate. Those can be replaced. Also, if you check with the treatment center, they may be able to accept other forms of identification. Some centers will even take mug shots from official law enforcement websites as an acceptable form of identification.
Another common barrier is finding an open bed in the area. Of the hundreds of options, you will be able to find a drug treatment center in Los Angeles with an open bed. The difficulty in finding a bed will be dependent on where you live and what kind of insurance your loved one has. You may need to take your loved one to a treatment center outside of your area.
For many, going out of the area may be a good idea anyway. For those wholly immersed in drug culture, what is known as a geographic fix, often helps tremendously. A geographic fix is moving the person away from the people and places that trigger their drug use. This may include a boyfriend or girlfriend, along with a place of employment, an apartment, or a common hangout.
Helping someone with an addiction to drugs or alcohol can be mentally and emotionally draining. There are resources and support groups available to family members across the country. You can start by searching for Al-Anon meetings in your area, and go from there. Self-care is also important during this stressful process.
