Family programs provided within drug and alcohol treatment centers are there to assist by offering education, crisis support, counseling, and support to family members with loved ones who are struggling with an addiction or mental health disorder. Family members are usually always caught in the middle of these issues, and in so many cases are unable to cope with the stress and quite often do not know how to help their loved ones. In the United States, it is estimated that over 8 million children who are under 18 years old are living with at least one adult who is suffering from a substance use disorder. Addicts will tend to push their family and friends away throughout their addiction, and this is why it is important for them to begin to rebuild their family life again and repair their current relationships with immediate and extended family.
How Do These Types of Programs Help Family Members?
There are numerous ways that these types of programs help family members with their current problems, and this does include establishing a support network within his or her local community, which is extremely beneficial in the long-term. Other methods include helping the family recognize the different ways they affect the people around them, which assists with them learning new ways to support and help their loved ones struggling with an addiction. One of the more important ways family programs help is educating them about chemical dependency and addiction, how it happens, what it does to the person, and all the many ways family and friends can help and support their loved ones.
How Do the Family Support Programs Typically Operate?
Family members can work with the drug rehab programs their loved one is attending or reach out to family support programs locally if their loved one is not attending treatment. The intake process or screening process will determine the severity of the situation and what type of support will be best and will recommend any urgent referrals if needed. Programs operate in many different ways, whether it is a night program or during the day; the family will be set up with a schedule of services and meet who they will be working with. Once the program has been completed there will typically be on-going support upon completion to ensure the family is maintaining what they have set out to accomplish.
Are There Special Circumstances Where the Family Can Stay at the Same Treatment Center?
Every circumstance is unique, but not every drug and alcohol rehabilitation program will provide this type of service. However; some residential drug rehab centers have services available where the family can stay in the center for a specific duration of time, this is more found with mothers who have children and require the help of the center to take care of their kids during treatment. Regardless of the approach taken, family counseling and support programs play an essential role within the whole rehabilitation process and is a key part in helping a former addict maintain their sobriety and strong family relations.
Drug & Alcohol Rehab Centers with Family Services in the United States
Millions of Americans struggle with drug and alcohol addiction, and there is always a direct impact on the family and loved ones. Any family will find it difficult to witness their loved one struggle with a substance abuse disorder. Once they find help, there is still a struggle watching them face their demons, and push through the treatment process. Healing yourself from a substance abuse problem is not easy, and is something that does take a significant amount of work. There will be stress and other issues related to the addiction, placed on the family. Because of this, much of the substance abuse treatment services across the United States offer children and family counseling. Counseling for family members does provide insight into what their loved one is going through while they are in treatment. Through this counseling, the family can address their issues, and the problems they are facing because of the addiction. Family counseling is an important process for both the addict and the family, and this option should be considered whenever you are choosing a drug treatment program.
Many other types of family programs for addicts, do include programs that can help pregnant women struggling with a drug problem. It is not uncommon for female addicts to become pregnant, and continue the use of drugs throughout the pregnancy. Unfortunately, this does place the child in harm’s way, and if the child does survive, it will be born with possible physical problems, and essentially is being born addicted to drugs. Throughout the United States, you can find drug treatment programs for pregnant women. This type of facility will have the capability to house women who are pregnant, and provide them with the proper medical supervision and care they require. In some circumstances, this may require the baby to be delivered during treatment, depending on their due date. Substance abuse during pregnancy is dangerous, and if this is a problem, you should be seeking out help immediately. Along with treatment for pregnant women, there will be rehabilitation facilities in the country that provide residential beds for client’s children. This is not an uncommon occurrence, where a single parent is struggling with addiction and requires help, but has no one to take care of the children. Some residential drug rehab centers in the United States can provide child care at the facility, while the parent is going through the treatment process. Each program that does provide this service, who does offer beds for a client’s children, will be different from the next, so it is a good idea to speak to the facility and find out how this process does work.
Family programs during the treatment process will ensure the family members are better equipped to be a stronger and more stable support to their loved one when they leave treatment. When you begin to address the concerns of the family and help them work through their own feelings, it will begin to build a stronger family dynamic. Whenever you are searching for drug and alcohol treatment programs in your state, you should consider the types of family services the facility offers. Substance abuse and addiction are dangerous problems, which do require the proper help. Whichever type of treatment you plan to go with, you should make sure it does address all the areas of the addiction. It is also important to recognize that the family will be going through a tough time as well, and they too should be receiving some type of counseling or therapy. Family services are often part of outpatient and residential programs in the United States and can be found within both government-sponsored programs or throughout the private network of treatment centers.
How Can Families Receive Help and Support?
Inpatient drug treatment programs in the state will typically provide some type of counseling for families. This can be family counseling services or group support for families. It is important that a family take advantage of this help when needed, as it can be a difficult process to watch a loved one go through addiction.
How Can Families Recognize Drug Addiction?
One of the best ways to recognize drug addiction is to look for either very subtle or drastic changes in a loved one’s behavior. This can be things like missing work or other obligations, constantly borrowing money, or consistently running into severe debt. The family can notice physical changes with their loved ones, and this could be weight loss and other illnesses.
How Can a Family Support an Addict?
The best way for family and friends to support their loved ones is to continue to push them to get help, as this is the only way they will be capable of handling their addiction. There will be times where a family will want to give up and just forget about the situation, but there are many avenues a family can take before this can happen.
