Family Support
Gladstones Clinic is dedicated to working with families struggling with addiction. We have policies, practices and a residential rehab programme in place that both encourages family involvement in their loved-one’s recovery, and also provides support and counselling to families who are struggling to cope themselves. We are always there to answer questions and give updates on progress too. Provided the patient agrees, the more a family wants to get involved in their loved-one’s recovery, the better for everyone.
It’s never easy to send a family member to rehab. Staging an intervention and asking a loved one to enter treatment means that the individual either is unaware of a substance abuse problem or aware but has so far declined or neglected to seek treatment. The experience is typically stressful and emotional, but without treatment, an addicted person is very unlikely to be able to quit using the substance or function normally in society. For those seeking help with getting a reluctant family member into rehab, we have a professional intervention team who can lead you through the entire process. Interventions for drugs or alcohol can be stressful or potentially volatile situations if not handled correctly. Our team are able to discreetly plan and coordinate the intervention based upon many years of experience in handling these situations calmly and sensitively.
The first step is spotting an addiction in the first place. Addiction is considered to be a mental illness, and it can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender, race, or financial situation.
Most people who become addicted to a substance will either be unaware or in denial of their problem. Addiction tends to happen gradually, starting with substance abuse, or in the case of legal prescription drugs, long-term use. Even those following dosage instructions perfectly can become addicted to habit forming medications, though it’s less likely. Regular substance use will often lead to a tolerance, meaning that more and more of the substance will need to be taken in order to get the same effect.
As time goes on, it becomes more and more likely that dependence will develop. For most drugs and for alcohol, addiction comes in both physical and psychological forms. Physical addiction involves the changes that take place in the user’s body and mind in order to accommodate the frequent presence of a foreign substance. This aspect of addiction results in withdrawal symptoms when the intake of the drugs is significantly reduced or stops altogether. These symptoms are generally very unpleasant – so much so that the prospect of withdrawal can deter someone from trying to get clean – and they can even be dangerous.
Psychological addiction is the emotional aspect of dependence. It involves psychological cravings and a general feeling that the drug is needed for the individual to get through the day. The lack or anticipated lack of access to the substance will cause emotional distress, such as anxiety and depression.
Any of these signs can point to a substance abuse problem, but they don’t necessarily mean an addiction has occurred. Deciding to intervene in a person’s drug or alcohol use can be something of a judgment call and may require a second opinion from other loved ones or health professionals.
Luckily, there is a common procedure for confronting an addicted loved one and getting that person into a rehabilitation center. Gladstones treatment centers will prepare for new arrivals in order to take them in as soon as they accept treatment. However, this means that anyone looking to send a reluctant family member to rehab will have to do some planning first.
Most experts agree than residential addiction treatment is the most effective. This involves staying in a specialized Gladstones facility for several weeks and participating in daily treatment programs, such as support group meetings and individual counseling.
Individuals in these programs are not allowed to leave until the treatment period is complete and not allowed any substances other than those prescribed by a doctor. This eliminates the problem of temptation and allows for around-the-clock care for withdrawal symptoms and any psychological issues that arise.
When planning an intervention for an addicted loved one, this is typically the type of program that should be selected. The intervention is an intense process in which addicted persons will often agree to accept treatment, but they can change their minds once the emotions of the intervention pass. The most effective method is to contact and make arrangements with Gladstones Clinic first so we are ready to take in the addicted person immediately after the intervention. This way, minds can’t be changed. Read more about Gladstones Interventions.
For parents seeking help with a teenager suffering from addiction, Gladstones has one of the only dedicated teen rehab departments in the UK. Your teenager will be treated by a team of clinical psychiatrists, psychologists and counsellors with specialties and qualifications in dealing specifically with teenage addiction.
Addiction is troubling in adults, but if your child is affected, it may cause extra anxiety and stress. It is important to remember that there are many options available for you or your loved one. A comprehensive approach to substance abuse is most effective at treating addiction at its core. Each teen drug abuser is unique in his or her recovery needs. Some may need extra therapy, while others may need medication. Throughout treatment, it is important that the patient is periodically assessed to ensure that the current treatment remains the best to assist his or her ongoing sobriety. It is important that a user stays in treatment for as long as necessary. Addiction cannot be cured overnight and requires a sufficiently lengthy treatment for best results. Read more about Gladstones unique Teen Rehab Programme.
