Mark Houston Recovery

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Many people all over the world have a substance abuse problem with drugs or alcohol. Often, these people don't seek support at all, unless someone close to them like a family member or good friend sits them down and confronts them about their problem. Having this kind of supportive intervention is greatly helpful in getting people to recognize their problem with addiction and seek help. A survey from the Hazelden Foundation showed that 69% of people in recovery said they got help because a friend or relative was honest with them about their addiction. Another 41% said they would've sought help sooner if family or friends had spoken up. Here at the Mark Houston Recovery Center, we understand that the first step toward recovery is admitting that you have a problem. With the help of caring family and friends, more people are able to confront the problems within themselves and become determined to achieve sobriety.

Help With a Supportive Intervention

The method in which people go about confronting alcohol or drug addicts is very important. There is a big difference between a harsh confrontation and a supportive intervention. First of all, those doing the confronting must do it when the addict is sober. Even though there might be a great temptation to berate the person the next time they come home drunk, this won't be productive because the person will simply ignore the criticism while under the influence, may forget it in the morning, or even become violent. Instead, you should find a time when the person is sober and when it seems like they might be more open to having a discussion. When having the talk with them, family members and friends should not attack or yell. Instead, simply lay out the facts, ideally by using examples of the addict's behavior. Listing dates, frequency of bad behavior, amounts of alcohol consumed or sums of money spent on drugs will be useful data to support your claims. If the person begins to argue with you, remain calm and do not argue back. And above all, let the person know that you care about them and that's why you're having this talk with them. Many times, when confronted, people become very defensive and may not be willing to hear what you have to say. If you preface the talk by letting them know you are speaking with them out of love, the person will probably be much more receptive to hearing your thoughts.

Support is Important Throughout Recovery

Having the support of a loving family member or friend is an important part of the emotional support and accountability that will be required throughout the entire recovery process. People who have the support network of family and friends do much better than those who try to do it alone. By confronting the addict about concerns with their behavior, people demonstrate how much they care and want to support the person throughout recovery. If you or a loved one has problems with alcohol or drug addiction, contact the Mark Houston Recovery Center today and let us help you.