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Substance abuse and addiction are serious problems in the United States. The 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that while more than 23 million people needed treatment for a substance use disorder, only 2.5 million of them received treatment. These numbers suggest that many people are in denial about their substance abuse.
The reasons for denial are complex, but one common reason people are in denial about their addiction is enabling from family and friends. As a family member or friend of a loved one struggling with a substance use disorder, it’s natural to want to help them in any way possible. Unfortunately, sometimes the steps you take may actually be enabling their addiction rather than helping them.
When you love someone, it’s easy to enable their behavior—even if you don’t realize you’re doing it. While some enabling behaviors are obvious, others are harder to recognize. Below is a list signs that you’re enabling your loved one and their substance use disorder:
If you start changing your schedule to pick up the kids because your loved one is still hungover from last night or you’re completing your child’s schoolwork because they’re high, you’re enabling their addiction.
If you find yourself making excuses for why you’re loved one didn’t attend a family gathering, left an event early, or spent all night throwing up, you’re enabling their addiction. While you may feel as though you’re protecting them, you’re actually preventing your loved one from taking responsibility for their behavior.
Maybe you avoid bringing up your child’s prescription pill abuse because you don’t want to cause drama at home. Or you avoid mentioning your concerns to your spouse about their cocaine use in hopes it’ll go away on its own. Addiction impacts the brain in a profound way, and it’s only a matter of time before your loved one’s behavior gets worse. As difficult as it may be, the best thing you can do is to address their substance use and its effect on your relationship.
When you spend most of your time worrying about your loved one, catering to their needs, or making sure their responsibilities are taken care of instead of focusing on yourself, it’s a sign of enabling.
Substance abuse and addiction are expensive habits. Not only will your loved one need money to buy drugs, it’s likely that they’ll also need money to pay for necessities like gas, rent, or groceries.
Maybe you’ve bailed your child, spouse, or loved one out of jail. Or you’ve lied to their boss about why they missed work for a week. Cleaning up after their messes only supports their addiction.
It’s not easy to stop enabling your loved ones, especially if you didn’t realize you were doing it in the first place. Here are several ways you can stop enabling your loved one:
Just because you’ve enabled your loved one’s addiction does not mean that you can’t get them help. In fact, the best thing you can do is to encourage them to seek treatment for their addiction. It’s not an easy conversation to have, especially with someone so close to you, which is why the team at The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake is here to help. We offer a variety of treatment programs including medical detox, outpatient drug treatment programs, partial hospitalization, and family programs. If you’re ready to stop being an enabler and help your loved one overcome their addiction, contact us today.
Changing Enabling Behaviors. (2003). Retrieved December 13, 2016, from http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/addiction/berman/family/changing.html
Enabling Behaviors. (2003). Retrieved December 13, 2016, from http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/addiction/berman/family/enabling.html
Written by: Christina Bockisch
Christina is a blogger based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She writes about mental health, fitness, and life as a whole on her blog,My Life in Wonderland. Follow her on Twitter.
The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
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