Families neglect or outright refuse to seek help for a loved one’s addiction for a number of reasons, but here a four of the most prominent:
Pride
Many parents of addicted children worry that their loved one’s struggles are an indictment of their parenting abilities. So, they try to hide or make excuses for the situation, or they might cast the child out and cut off communication.
Basically, these parents are too proud to admit defeat and send their child to rehab. Many fathers, in particular, have a hard time with this. So, they tend to try to take matters into their own hands, doing everything short of enlisting help from professionals.
But, if dads and moms would let down their guard and help their child get into treatment, then they would get to show their true mettle. As parents in supporting the child through every step of the recovery process.
Financial Concerns
Let’s face it: Rehab isn’t cheap. Neither are doctors’ visits or meetings with therapists. Many families write off getting treatment for a loved one because they think, “We could never afford that.”
While it’s true that many families may not be fully covered – or not covered at all – if they try to use their insurance plan to get a loved one into a rehab program, most treatment centers offer additional payment options. Financing options are available at many treatment centers, and some will even help you cover a portion of the costs via scholarship.
The point is, don’t give up hope if the costs of rehab sound too expensive. Think of all the money your loved one is wasting on drugs or alcohol in the meantime. Think about how his or her substance use has drained or will eventually drain your finances, too. The price of rehab likely pales in comparison to the costs of letting an addiction rage on uninhibited.
Underestimating the Situation
The average person doesn’t know all of the ins and outs of addiction. So, they truly may not know how to handle it when it happens within their family. They may write it off as “just a phase,” or they may think that setting certain rules and parameters with the loved one will bring the addiction to an end. In other situations, families may simply be in the dark about the extent of their loved one’s substance use.
It’s important to remember that addiction is the only deadly disease that many families think they can handle on their own without professional intervention. Even though they often truly can’t. Once someone is legitimately addicted, there’s almost nothing the family can do to stop the substance abuse for good. Unless they reach out for help from professionals.
Quiz: Is Your Son Addicted to Alcohol?
Codependency
We explained codependency just a moment ago, and it certainly applies here. Individuals who are codependent with an addict are comfortable with the status quo. They know they might not be in the healthiest of situations, but they see this as a better alternative than “losing” the loved one to rehab and an ensuing lifestyle change.
Thus, codependents are afraid of making such a big change in their lives. This keeps them from seeking help for the addiction. What persists is all of the drama, heartache and, possibly, abuse within the relationship.