When a loved one is struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol, it can be difficult to know how to help. One way that family members can help those battling addiction is by assisting them with the search for a rehabilitation program. Drugs and alcohol can cloud your love one’s ability to make an informed decision, so doing your own research and following the steps below can make a big difference in your loved one’s recovery.

Determine How You Will Pay for Addiction Treatment

It’s tough to have to consider cost when you’re searching for the right rehab program. Unfortunately, effective treatment can be fairly expensive, so it helps to check into any benefits or insurance that may offset some of these costs for your loved one. If your family member is one of the roughly 20 percent of veterans who struggle with addiction, PTSD, and other related issues, he/she may be able to use Medicare benefits for veterans to cover treatment, but that coverage can vary by policy. So, read through your loved one’s policy thoroughly and research VA addiction treatment coverage; combining these two benefits can make treatment more affordable. Those who are not veterans, are not eligible for Medicare, and do not have coverage through their health insurance will need to think about treatment costs, and they may even need to look into free or low-cost programs to help loved ones.

Look for Comprehensive Addiction Treatment Programs

If your loved one has the benefits and finances to pay for addiction treatment, searching for the most comprehensive program possible may be best. These programs will assist your loved one with all aspects of addiction, from helping him/her through the initial detoxification period to offering cognitive behavioral therapy to get to the root of the addiction. Therapy and counseling services are especially important since addiction and emotional wellness tend to have a cyclical connection. Some people turn to alcohol and drugs as a way to escape the stresses of mental illness, while substance abuse tends to make those conditions worse. So, it’s vital for your loved one to have access to mental health care to address any underlying issues or help sort through any past traumas that may have spurred the addiction. In addition to therapy and basic addiction treatment services, a good program will help those in recovery develop better self-care habits, such as eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise.

Offer Support During the Transition Into Rehab

Getting help for addiction is never an easy process, but by admitting to a problem and seeking treatment, your loved one has already taken the most difficult step in this journey. However, that doesn’t mean the road ahead will be easy. Once you’ve decided if an inpatient or outpatient treatment center is the best option, you need to decide how involved you need to be in treatment. Residential treatment centers tend to be the most effective at curbing addictions, and many of them encourage family members to participate in educational programs aimed at supporting the individual in recovery.

If your loved one will be using an outpatient recovery option, it’s even more important to know how to support that recovery. It can be tempting to get overly involved but at the end of the day, recovery is really up to the addict. So, be there are much as you feel comfortable, but also allow your loved one plenty of time to become self-sufficient. Also, allow yourself the freedom to exit a truly toxic situation and seek help for yourself if being involved in your loved one’s treatment is causing you emotional harm.

Choosing the right recovery program is such a crucial step in helping your loved one through addiction treatment. Still, it’s up to your loved one to follow through with that treatment and make the best of the services that addiction recovery programs have to offer. So, do what you can to make the choice easier for your loved one, offer love and support, and know when it’s time to get back to taking care of yourself.

Photo Credit: Pixabay