Talking to Friends and Family About Treatment
It is not easy to talk with a friend or loved one about his addiction and the need for treatment. Denial is a powerful force, certainly for the addict and often for family members and friends. The thought of facing denial may be enough to tempt one to leave the addict alone.
However, remember that denial is only the outer shell of addictions. Beyond denial is an important, significant person who desperately needs help. Keep the end goal in mind as you approach this situation.
In some instances, the direct confrontational intervention approach may be helpful. However, in recent years, this has been modified and many now prefer a motivational approach to talking with a person regarding his addictions. One such approach is called CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training).
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Addictive disorders are chronic and potentially fatal. They can ruin a person's health, social relationships, and future potential if untreated. This must be kept in mind when talking to someone submerged in addictions. Although it is the addict's responsibility to follow through with treatment and recovery, that initial confrontation may provide the necessary impetus to get her moving forward.
The basic goal of CRAFT is to encourage loved ones to enter addiction treatment through non-confrontational methods. It promotes the use of healthy rewards to produce positive behaviors. CRAFT is directed toward both the addict and family members or loved ones. The strategies are not only designed to move the addict toward treatment, but also to enhance the quality of life for those close to the addict.
Thus far, research is supporting the effectiveness of CRAFT and claims that individuals using the CRAFT method of encouraging treatment see fewer relapses than when using more direct confrontational methods. CRAFT strategies are easy to learn as well as effective.
