If you’ve found yourself thinking my son is an addict, what do I do?, you’re not alone. Over 20% of men in the US have abused drugs in the past year, with young men being most at risk for developing a substance use disorder. [1]
While not everyone who drinks will develop a substance use disorder, it’s important to be able to discern whether your teen or adult son needs help. Getting them into a support group and/or reputable addiction treatment facility can make a massive difference in their recovery journey, as well as help you get the tools you need to support them without enabling them.
If you need help understanding how to deal with a drug addict son, this guide provides actionable steps that allow you to help your son on drugs move beyond addiction
My Son Has a Drug Addiction: What Do I Do?
It can be overwhelming and distressing when faced with the reality that your son is struggling with drug addiction. That said, there are constructive steps you can take to support him on his path to recovery.
- Acceptance and understanding: Acknowledge and accept that your son has a drug addiction. Denying or ignoring the problem will only prolong his suffering and delay the opportunity for intervention and treatment. Understand that addiction is a complex disease, and it does not define your son as a person.
- Educate yourself: Take the time to educate yourself about your child’s addiction. Learn about the signs, symptoms, and effects of different substances. Understanding the nature of addiction – a chronic and relapsing brain disorder – can help you approach the situation with empathy and knowledge, enabling you to make more informed decisions. [6]
- Maintain open communication: Establish and maintain open lines of communication with your son. Create a safe and non-judgmental space where he feels comfortable discussing his struggles, fears, and aspirations. Listen actively, without interrupting or passing judgment. Show him that you are there to support him unconditionally.
- Seek professional guidance: Reach out to drug abuse addiction specialists, therapists, or counselors who can provide professional guidance and support. They can help you navigate the complexities of addiction and offer advice on the most effective strategies for intervention and treatment.
- Encourage treatment: Approach your son with love, concern, and compassion, expressing your desire to see him overcome his addiction. Encourage him to seek professional treatment. Highlight the potential benefits of rehab programs, therapy, and support groups. Emphasize that seeking help is a sign of strength and a fundamental step towards reclaiming his life.
- Consider an intervention: In some cases, an intervention might be necessary to convey the severity of the situation and motivate your son to seek treatment. Consult with a professional interventionist who can guide you through the process, ensuring that it is conducted with empathy, respect, and effectiveness. [2]
- Set boundaries: While supporting your son, establish healthy boundaries. Enabling his addictive behaviors or rescuing him from consequences can perpetuate the cycle of addiction. Communicate clear expectations and consequences, reinforcing the importance of personal responsibility and accountability.
Overcoming drug addiction is a challenging and complex journey. It requires patience, resilience, and a comprehensive support system. By taking these proactive steps and offering your unwavering support, you can play a pivotal role in your child’s addiction recovery process and improve their long-term physical and mental health.
How Can I Help My Drug Addicted Son?
Whether your son is an alcoholic or struggles with narcotics, there are paths forward from this. If you’re wondering, “How do I get help for my drug addict son”, here are ten things to do right away:
- Encourage healthy coping mechanisms: Help your son explore and develop healthier ways of dealing with stress, emotions, and triggers. Encourage him to engage in activities that promote relaxation – meditation, yoga, or hobbies that bring him joy, for instance. Assist him in discovering healthy outlets for expression – art, music, or writing, for instance.
- Explore various support networks: Seek out local support groups or community organizations that specialize in helping families affected by addiction. Connecting with other parents who have a child struggling with substance abuse can provide invaluable emotional support, guidance, and shared coping strategies. Al-Anon and Nar-Anon are the most popular peer support groups for the families of loved ones with addictions. [3] [4]
- Encourage healthy lifestyle choices: Promote a healthy lifestyle for your son by encouraging activities such as regular exercise, nutritious eating, and adequate sleep. These lifestyle choices can contribute to his overall well-being and aid in the recovery process.
- Address co-occurring mental health issues: Drug addiction often co-occurs with mental health conditions. If your son is also struggling with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), etc, encourage him to seek professional help and support. Treating both addiction and mental health simultaneously is crucial for long-term recovery, and it is proven more effective than treating each condition in isolation. [5]
- Celebrate small victories: Recovery is a journey with ups and downs. Acknowledge and celebrate every small win your son achieves along the way, such as attending support group meetings, staying clean for a certain period, or making positive changes in his life. This reinforcement can boost his motivation and confidence.
- Practice self-care: Taking care of yourself is vital while supporting your son. Make sure to prioritize your well-being by doing things you enjoy, engaging in counseling or therapy for yourself if required, and nurturing your personal support network. By staying emotionally and physically healthy, you can provide better support for your son to overcome substance abuse.
- Be patient and understanding: Recovery is not always linear, and setbacks are common. Practice patience and understanding – relapse in recovery does not signify failure. Offer empathy, support, and encouragement, focusing on the long-term goal of sustained recovery.
- Advocate for your son: Be an advocate for your son’s recovery within healthcare systems, schools, and other relevant institutions. Familiarize yourself with your rights and available resources, ensuring that your son receives the necessary support and accommodations to facilitate his recovery journey.
- Empower self-reflection and self-awareness: Encourage your son to engage in self-reflection and introspection. Help him identify the underpinning factors contributing to his addiction and support him in developing self-awareness. By understanding the root causes of his addiction, he can work towards addressing and resolving them in a healthy manner.
- Remain hopeful and supportive: Recovery from addiction is a challenging journey, but maintaining hope and offering unwavering support can mean the difference between relapse and ongoing recovery. Let your son know that you believe in his ability to overcome addiction and that you are fully committed to standing by his side throughout the process. Celebrate his progress and encourage him to never lose sight of his potential for a fulfilling, substance-free life.
Every individual’s recovery journey is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. By implementing these strategies and adapting them to your son’s specific needs, you can play a vital role in helping him navigate the path to lasting recovery.
How to Deal With a Drug Addicted Son
If you’re wondering how to deal with a drug-addicted son without alienating them or overextending your boundaries, there are a few ways to go about it. Trying to help someone you care about get help can be an emotionally challenging and complex issue, but treatment is available to help both you and your son get help.
- Family Therapy: Family therapy is an incredible tool in addiction recovery, offering a safe and professionally mediated space for family members and your loved one to speak openly about what you’re feeling.
- Setting Boundaries: Setting healthy boundaries with your loved one is crucial, as your own mental health and well-being can be affected by this process.
- Don’t Enable Them: It’s also important not to fall into enabling your child, as natural consequences can often be the reason why they decide to finally seek help.
Remember that your son’s addiction is a complex issue that will likely require professional help to navigate. Working with addiction recovery specialists to guide your son toward recovery will have a far higher chance of long-term success in sobriety than just going it alone. The important thing is to not give up on your child, and continue to seek support for both your son and your family as you navigate this journey.
Who Can Help Me Get My Son Into Rehab?
If you’ve tried everything and still can’t reach your son, it may be time to seek help.
An addiction recovery counselor specializes in helping family stage interventions, which are often highly effective when done properly. An addiction counselor has the experience and training to not only help you stage the intervention, but also provide resources and emotional support for you and your family as you help your son get into a good rehab center.
To find someone to help you get through to your son, you can search for local specialists like:
- Professional interventionalists
- Social workers
- Addiction therapists
- Addiction counselors
- Addiction recovery centers/rehabs
If you need help getting your son into treatment, call our addiction recovery specialists at 866-751-8577.
Get Addiction Treatment for Your Son at Gratitude Lodge
At Gratitude Lodge, we’re committed to getting your son the help he needs. Our addiction treatment programs are highly rated and rooted in evidence-based practices to ensure long-term recovery.
With founders who have gone through addiction recovery themselves, we’ve made it our mission to create a comfortable, safe, and compassionate space where our residents can feel like they’re at home while receiving treatment.
Gratitude Lodge’s inpatient alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers are the perfect place for your son to begin the path to sobriety.
- Expert 24/7 staff
- Luxury accommodations
- Evidence-based treatments
- Mental health treatment
- Surfing, hiking, boating, & more
- Pet friendly
- Alumni & aftercare programs
- & More
Call our friendly team today at 844-576-0144 to learn more about our programs, and get a free insurance check for up to treatment 100% coverage.
Sources
[1] https://drugabusestatistics.org/
[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/in-depth/intervention/art-20047451
[3] https://al-anon.org/
[4] https://www.nar-anon.org/
[5] https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/co-occurring-disorders
[6] https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-misuse-addiction
