Before You Send Your Addicted Loved One To Treatment, READ THIS!
People frequently discuss the low success rate of addiction treatment centers, which is generally below 20%. This seems insufficient, especially considering the high cost of these centers. However, the issue is not that their programs are ineffective or provide poor guidance.
Addiction treatment centers may have the necessary counselors and resources, but their success rates in achieving long-term recovery are low. This is because they often neglect the most crucial factor for long-term recovery.
That factor is motivation.
Addiction treatment centers can improve their ability to address an individual's motivation to recover by avoiding the assumption that every patient is inherently motivated to be there. Additionally, staff should not accept that they cannot assist someone until they are completely committed to recovery.
If someone is not benefiting from addiction treatment, it may be because they are not fully committed to sobriety. However, there is a specific rationale behind this belief among addiction treatment professionals, which we will discuss shortly. Before we do that, let's delve further into this missing element.
Simply educating individuals that they have a disease is insufficient to ensure long-term addiction recovery. It's crucial to advise them on maintaining sobriety and motivate them to make necessary changes. However, this can be a challenging task as addiction affects the motivation center of the brain.
So you're trying to motivate someone whose literal motivation center isn't working properly. And that's why so many people give up. That's also why you often hear from family members, treatment centers, counselors, and people in recovery; they always say, "You can only do something once you want it."
People often think that way because it's what they've learned from their experiences: they believe I'm attempting to direct the other person's actions, provide assistance, and grant them access to resources, but I'm struggling to make it work. As a result, they may assume that the other person needs to be more interested in receiving assistance.
I agree partially with that statement. However, it does not necessarily imply that there are no solutions. Is motivating individuals not a crucial aspect of the treatment process? When people are enrolled in a rehab facility, regardless of the program, such as the 12-step program, they are taught the necessary steps to achieve sobriety. However, little time is spent on understanding the individual, their motivations, what drives them, and what's holding them back, and there's not a lot of time helping the family member understand what's going on. This is vital in helping someone recover long-term because the family can greatly influence helping someone get and stay motivated. So, by not accessing that family resource, you are missing a foundational piece for helping people get and stay sober.
Many people desire to jump straight to the improvement stage and avoid this complex and time-consuming process. However, investing time and energy in this motivational piece can yield significant results.
It is important to understand someone's motivation for change and what change they want to make. Wanting to become sober is a good start, but it's crucial to make sure they are motivated to take the necessary steps to achieve their goal.
If we address all the small details, our plan may stay intact, leaving us feeling discouraged and disillusioned with the entire process. This can be particularly frustrating if we have invested significant time and money into treatment programs and centers.
Families, please take note and heed my advice:
If you want to help your loved one struggling with addiction, it's important to make sure they recognize the need for change. Before introducing the idea of treatment, it's crucial to lay the groundwork and provide the necessary resources to increase the chances of success. Think of it like planting a seed - by creating an ideal environment; the seed will thrive. However, throwing the seed onto the dirt and expecting it to grow into a recovery wonderland won't work. Getting the foundation right is essential, and taking the time to figure things out is worth it. It's almost like preparing for treatment in advance.
If you have a loved one and want to determine if they are prepared for change and what inspires them, there is a procedure and method to follow. I have included a link in the description below if you want to learn more about this process. Meanwhile, as a family member, there are numerous things you can do to assist in this process.
Amber Hollingsworth
Next, you can watch this video telling you what to listen for when someone is ready to make a change!
If you're interested in my assistance in assessing your loved one's readiness for change, motivation, strengths, needs, and roadblocks, click HERE.
