Supporting someone with opioid addiction requires patience, understanding, and a compassionate approach. It’s important to educate yourself about opioid use disorder, its effects, and available treatment options. Addiction is a complex disease, not a moral failing, and recognizing this can help you approach your loved one with empathy rather than judgment.
How to Talk About Opioid Addiction?
When discussing their addiction, choose a private and calm setting. Express your concerns honestly, and avoid blaming or shaming them for being addicted. Encouraging open communication and offering emotional support can make a significant difference in their willingness to seek help. If you’re truly concerned about their safety, consider learning how to administer naloxone (a medication that reverses opioid overdoses) to put your mind at ease.
Helping someone recover from opioid addiction usually involves guiding them toward professional treatment. Detox and rehabilitation programs provide medical supervision and therapy to address the root causes of addiction. If your loved one is hesitant, gently introduce treatment options and reassure them that support is available. Recovery is a long-term process, and relapse can happen, so continued encouragement and involvement in their journey are crucial. At the same time, prioritize your own well-being by seeking support groups or counseling to navigate the emotional challenges of helping someone with addiction.
Signs of Opioid Addiction
Recognizing the signs of opioid addiction can be crucial in helping someone get the support they need. Physical symptoms are often among the first noticeable changes. These may include:
- Drowsiness
- Constricted pupils
- Depression
- Slowed breathing
- Mood swings
- Frequent flu-like symptoms
- Weight loss
- Anxiety
- Poor hygiene
- Irritability
- Visible track marks (if they are injecting)
- Tolerance, i.e. needing more of the drug to achieve the same effect
- Withdrawal, such as sweating, shaking, and nausea when not using
Behavioral changes are also common in someone struggling with opioid addiction. They may become withdrawn, avoid social situations, or lose interest in hobbies and responsibilities. Work or school performance often declines, and they may start neglecting important commitments. Financial problems, secretive behavior, and changes in friend groups are also red flags. Some may engage in illegal activities to obtain opioids, such as stealing or forging prescriptions.
A person addicted to opioids may seem disconnected or show a lack of motivation. Over time, opioid addiction can alter brain function, making it harder for the individual to stop without help. Recognizing these signs early can allow for timely intervention and increases the chances of successful recovery.
How to Support Someone with Opioid Addiction?
Supporting someone with opioid addiction requires compassion, patience, and understanding. Begin by educating yourself about opioid use disorder so you can better understand what your loved one is experiencing.
Approach them without judgment, using open and honest communication. Express your concerns with empathy and avoid blaming language, as shame can push them further away. Let them know you’re there to support them and that they are not alone in their struggle.
Encourage professional help, such as medication-assisted treatment, counseling, or support groups. Offer to assist with finding resources or attending appointments if they’re open to it. Set healthy boundaries to protect your well-being, and remember that recovery is a long-term process that involves setbacks. A temporary relapse is not a failure, but rather a sign that the recovery plan is incomplete and needs to be reassessed.
Celebrate small victories and remain supportive, even during relapses. Consider joining a support group for families of people with addiction. It may provide valuable tools and emotional support as you navigate this challenging journey.
Get Educated About Addiction
Learning about how addiction works is a vital first step in helping someone struggling with substance use. Understanding the science behind addiction (such as how it affects the brain, behavior, and decision-making) can reduce stigma and promote empathy. Learn about the signs, symptoms, treatment options, and recovery process to better support your loved one. Education empowers you to advocate for recovery and helps create a more compassionate and informed approach to addiction.
Learn How to Not Enable Addiction
Learning how to not enable a person’s addiction is crucial to supporting recovery. Enabling includes behaviors that protect a person from the consequences of their substance use, such as giving money, making excuses, or covering up their actions. While often done out of love, enabling can unintentionally prolong addiction by removing accountability. Instead, set healthy boundaries and encourage responsibility. Support your loved one emotionally without rescuing them from the results of their behavior. This shift can be difficult but is essential for promoting lasting change.
Practice Self-Care
Practicing self-care is essential when supporting someone with an addiction. Caring for a loved one struggling with substance use can be emotionally and physically draining, making it vital to prioritize your own well-being. Make time for activities that recharge you, such as exercise, hobbies, or spending time with supportive friends and family. Don’t hesitate to seek professional help or join support groups for guidance and emotional support. Maintaining your mental and physical health allows you to provide more effective and sustainable support. Remember, taking care of yourself is not selfish — it’s a necessary part of helping someone else heal.
Help Them Pursue Recovery Resources
Helping someone pursue recovery resources is a meaningful way to support their journey toward healing. Offer to assist with scheduling appointments, attending consultations, or providing transportation to support meetings. Encourage them to explore options like medication-assisted treatment, individual therapy, or 12-step programs.
Remember That They Have to Choose Recovery
Be patient and supportive, understanding that seeking help can be overwhelming. Celebrate small steps forward, and avoid pressuring them into choices. They need to feel ownership over their recovery. By actively helping an addicted person access resources, you’re showing that they don’t have to face the path to recovery alone.
Treatment Program Options for Opioid Addiction
There are several effective treatment program options for opioid addiction, each tailored to meet individual needs and recovery goals.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combines FDA-approved medications like methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone with counseling and behavioral therapies. These medications can help reduce cravings, ease withdrawal symptoms, and support long-term sobriety without producing a high (when used as directed).
Residential Treatment
Inpatient or residential treatment programs offer a structured, immersive environment where individuals can focus entirely on their recovery. These programs typically include medically-assisted detoxification, individual and group therapy, life skills training, and relapse prevention planning. Residential care is especially beneficial for those with severe addiction, co-occurring mental health disorders, or an unstable home environment. The length of stay can vary from 30 days to several months, depending on the individual’s needs.
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient programs provide flexibility for individuals who need treatment but also must manage work, school, or family responsibilities. Options include intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) and partial hospitalization programs (PHPs), which offer a high level of care without requiring an overnight stay. These programs often involve regular therapy sessions, support groups, and case management. Regardless of the approach, ongoing support and aftercare are essential for sustained recovery.
Online Treatment
For some people, in-person addiction treatment isn’t an option. They may live far away from a facility, not have access to consistent transportation, have mobility issues, or suffer from social anxiety. For people that are highly motivated to enter recovery and don’t have a severe addiction an online treatment program may be the perfect solution.
Get Support for Addiction at First Steps Recovery
First Steps Recovery in Clovis, Fresno County, is a comprehensive addiction treatment center dedicated to helping individuals overcome substance abuse and reclaim their lives. Our facility offers a full continuum of care, including medical detox, residential rehab, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), and intensive outpatient programs (IOP). With a commitment to safety, comfort, and long-term success, First Steps Recovery provides evidence-based and holistic treatment options tailored to each individual’s needs.
Recovery at First Steps is not just about overcoming addiction—it’s about rediscovering joy and purpose in life. The serene surroundings of Clovis provide a peaceful backdrop for healing, while the dedicated staff ensures that each client receives personalized care and encouragement throughout their journey.
Whether through inpatient treatment or flexible outpatient programs, First Steps Recovery empowers individuals to take control of their lives and embrace a future free from addiction. If you or a loved one is struggling, contact us to learn how we can help.
Dr. Curl is the Medical Director and primary on-site provider for First Steps Recovery. He is a Board Certified Internist and Addiction Medicine Specialist having attended the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and completing his residency at Mount Auburn Hospital with Harvard Medical School. Following several years work as an internist and physiatrist (physical medicine and rehabilitation). Dr. Curl completed the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Howard University in Washington DC and participated as a RAM Scholar (Research in Addiction Medicine). While part of the fellowship, Dr. Curl pursued research investigating the barriers to expanding and improving medication for opioid use disorder. Following his fellowship, Dr. Curl spearheaded the Opiate Use Disorder outpatient clinic and worked in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences within the Howard University Hospital. In 2023, Dr. Curl completed his Board Certification in Addiction Medicine.
