One of the biggest questions that even experts don’t always know the answer to is whether someone with an addiction who does not want help can benefit from substance abuse treatment. There are studies and anecdotal evidence which show that there are benefits to this type of treatment even when the individual is resistant to receiving help. Other experts believe that the person has to recognize their problems and want to quit before treatment can be most effective. With the debate unsettled what can you do to help a loved one who struggles with addiction if they don’t want help? Should you just throw your hands up in defeat and hope and pray that your friend or family member sees the error of their ways before it is too late?
When addiction takes over the individual is not thinking rationally because they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In this state of mind resistance to substance abuse treatment is almost normal. At this stage an intervention could be helpful and encourage the loved one to enter treatment for their addiction. Once the user stops the drug or alcohol abuse it takes some time for these substances to leave the mind and body. Once this does happen the person with the addiction will start to think clearly again and treatment can begin in earnest. A detox period is usually very beneficial because it allows the substances to be eliminated from the body, and until this happens the judgment of the addict will be muddled and any treatment may not succeed.
