When assessing the impact that addiction has on a person, it is essential to take into consideration elements that may not be immediately obvious. For example, we often overlook the dangers of family and overdose risk. We often rarely discuss this among those who have an addiction. Therefore, it is critical to get high-quality help in a rehab facility that provides the type of treatment help that a person needs to recover. Read on to learn more about the problems that substance use can cause within a family and what you can do to prevent it.
Family and Overdose Risks: the Dangers
Overdoses can happen at any time when a person uses drugs. Some first-time users overdose simply because they are not careful enough with their dosage. However, overdoses are more common in long-time users as well. These overdoses can impact not only the drug user but they can also cause problems for a person’s loved ones and the relationships between them. Sadly, family and overdose risks have a link that may be unexpected and uncertain. These connections include:
- The “Justification” Problem – Many families look the other way when their loved one abuses drugs or pretend like they do not know there is a problem. This, in turn, may encourage the loved one to try out higher levels and overdose
- The “Protection” Issue – Often, families admit that a loved one has a problem. However, instead of getting them help, they decide to protect them. This often includes taking care of them and even buying them drugs, further increasing their risk of overdose
- The “Abandonment” Potential – When a family gives up on a loved one who is addicted, they are almost assuredly signing their death warrant. The drug abuser becomes even more alienated, isolated, and depressed, and is likely to turn to higher doses of drugs and alcohol to stay stable
- The “Emotional Agitation” Risk – Families who try to correct a loved one’s behavior in harsh or judgmental ways may find that they produce the opposite effect. This harsh behavior may cause an addicted person to turn to higher levels of substance use. This can cause an even more significant risk of overdose
All of these issues are common when assessing family and overdose risks in those who abuse substances.
Avoiding This Danger
Even worse, a person may increase their overdose risk if they do not work with their family through rehab. This is because getting help from rehab and involving family members in the rehab process is typically the best way to manage this danger. The potentially deadly consequences of an overdose mean that it is essential for you to do what you can to stop the issue of drug abuse and overdose. Often, it takes the help of a whole family who will:
- Work with a family therapist in rehab to understand these dangers
- Watch behaviors that may increase a person’s risk
- Support a loved one if they start to experience relapse
- Take them to a hospital the moment they experience an overdose
These steps help to provide you or your loved one with the best chance of avoiding overdoses. It also helps to stop a family from making the problem worse.
Ways We Can Help
As you can see, family and overdose risks must be assessed appropriately to manage a person’s addiction. Therefore, you should call 866.262.0531 to get in contact with us at Crestview Recovery today. We provide many different treatment options, such as extended care therapy, outpatient help, partial hospitalization, and trauma help. Please verify your insurance to get started with the options we offer such as dual-diagnosis and more.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
