Getting A Loved One Into Treatment: When They Don’t Want To Go

I was searching the Internet for some ideas on getting people into addiction treatment And found the following article.

How to Get a Resistant Alcoholic Or Drug Abuser In Treatment

By Mike Shery

There are compelling reasons why people become addicted to alcohol and drugs. Psychological factors are extremely powerful. The addicts conscious and unconscious cravings become the dominant software programs that run his self-destructive life.

Our brain as reflected in the day -to-day experiences of our mind is everything. Because of disorders in our brain or the way we think, the psychiatric implications of drug abuse are omnipresent, and can cause major dysfunctions in the life of the one who is addicted-and his family.

The psychological scripting or indirect hypnosis which determines the quality of the addicts lives is well known. To illustrate, if one is the child of a substance abuser it is likely that, as he grows, he will rapidly justify the use of these substances to himself and REALLY think that it is OK!

In some unintentional way, the addict has been programmed by his parents to think that since it is OK for them, it must be OK for him. He is, in effect complying with the suggestions of this powerful indirect hypnosis.

Mind-altering drugs and alcohol have a compelling, gradual, silent and insidious effect on ones brain and, consequently, the way the addict perceives his life. It is life-changing and becomes a serious brain, mind, perception and behavior problem.

Ones brain can get so accustomed to depending on these chemicals that over time it actually “talks” itself into needing them, producing various extremely compelling withdrawal symptoms in order to get the addict to feed its self-defeating and toxic cravings. The feelings and perceptions of reality created by his chemically-fed brain literally changes his reality.

Contrary to reality, his cravings and use are viewed by him as legitimate, in his control and actually life-enhancing. This addict fights treatment and feels misunderstood and unappreciated.

So what is required to overcome the psychological causes of drug and alcohol dependence on one who is in denial or refuses treatment? The answer: Getting help from a psychological counselor or interventionist; it is a tried and tested method.

Since, the addict in denial will resist any attempt to engage him in treatment, the professional help of an expert interventionist is a MUST! The professional interventionist can make it possible for the treatment-resistant addict to successfully overcome his denial of harm that has occurred to himself and his family.

Talking to a counselor or psychologist who specializes in the use of clinical interventions is a good start to finding ways to get the resistant addict to overcome his addiction. There are many excellent intervention specialists available to the families and significant others of treatment-resistant substance abusers.

The best of these will be licensed in the practice of psychology or substance abuse counseling. Even though the resistant addict will not go into a rehabilitation facility on his own, rehab facilities can be quite effective.

There, they learn how to live life without the use of mind-altering substances. The purpose of interventions is to get substance abusers out of their denial and show them the ways in which their disease is affecting the people they love the most and then, most importantly, to get them into a rehab center right away!

The goal of a professionally-led family confrontation or intervention in the home would be to break down his resistance so he will enter inpatient treatment, not tomorrow or the next day, but, immediately!

Doesn’t the drug or alcohol abuser have to want help? No, the abuser does not have to want help, however the most successful interventions occur when there have been significant destructive consequences resulting from the persons drinking or using.

These consequences are then used to show the abuser the ways in which his life has become out of control and unmanageable. Cost? It is true that inpatient treatment and the intervention itself can be expensive.

However, while the intervention itself must be paid for out-of-pocket, most alcohol and drug abuse patients will find that their health insurance will cover a substantial portion of their inpatient and treatment expenses. Do these interventions work?

It is believed an intervention has a 90-95% success rate when done under the guidance and supervision of a licensed specialist with the help of the family and friends who are close to the individual needing the intervention. They can be very successful because, although drugs and alcohol have taken over a persons life, it is still very painful for the abuser to be confronted with his/her abusive behavior and the pain it has caused to his loved ones.

A substance-abuse intervention is a last-ditch attempt by family members and friends, often in the home setting and under the guidance of a professional counselor or psychologist, to help a treatment-resistant chemically dependent person get help for his/her problem. The good news is that these interventions are often successful and can get the initially resistant patient into a drug and alcohol treatment program immediately.

With the help of a specialist and loved ones, the intervention process can be the beginning of a new life for the addict and those close to him.

Dr Shery is in Cary, IL, near Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Marengo and Lake-in-the-Hills. He’s an expert psychologist and interventionist. Call 1 847 275 8236 and make an appt or  learn more about counseling at: http://www.carypsychology.com