How You Can Help a Friend Who Is Detoxing

Addiction is an affliction that impacts millions of individuals and families alike each year around the globe. If you have a friend who has struggled with addiction and is currently in the process of undergoing various detox solutions, knowing how you can be there for them and how you can lend a helping hand can be a vital component of their recovery process. As a friend, taking the time to educate yourself about various detox solutions while paying attention to your loved one’s needs can go a long way in assisting them throughout the recovery process, regardless of the severity of their prior addiction.

Step Back and Assess the Situation

Anytime you have a friend who is struggling with addiction and in the process of detoxing, it is advisable to take a step back to assess the situation and various detox solutions that may be necessary at the time. If your friend has only struggled with a minor addiction, a local outpatient program or even group counseling sessions may be optimal for the outlet they need. However, if your friend has struggled with addiction for many years or has a predisposition to addiction due to family history and genetics, looking into a local alcohol treatment center may also be a more suitable option.

Compare Inpatient and Outpatient Detox Programs

Before you approach your loved one or friend about their detoxing journey, it’s important for you to become familiar with inpatient, outpatient, and in some cases, even IOP, or Intensive Outpatient Programs, depending on where you live and your friend’s needs at the time. Inpatient rehab programs and facilities typically require individuals to live within a clinic or location for anywhere between 30 days to more than 6 months, depending on the program they are interested in or require. Outpatient programs do not require individuals to relocate, but may require them to attend different meetings, groups, and doctor’s appointments as they are working through the detox process.

Benefits of a Rehab Program or Facility

Regardless of whether you determine an inpatient or outpatient program is ideal for your friend, both have plenty to offer in the way of benefits and advantages, even if your friend has struggled with addiction for many years. One of the biggest components of an inpatient rehab center or facility is that it will enforce a zero-tolerance policy, ensuring no smoking, drinking, or consumption of illegal or illicit substances of any kind 24/7. Most inpatient facilities are closely monitored with modernized security systems in place. Additionally, many different rehab programs and facilities today also offer patients access to a wide range of medical professionals and addiction specialists.

Even outpatient and IOP programs have their advantages, especially for individuals who are still holding down a job and maintaining a household while they are confronting their addictive tendencies. Outpatient programs, group therapy, and even individual counseling can provide a safe haven for those who are in need of camaraderie and support as they work through their addiction and the potential temptation of turning back to the use of drugs and alcohol at any time. Both inpatient and outpatient programs are useful for anyone who is attempting to get their life back on track while doing so in a safe, closed, and monitored environment.

Consider How You Will Approach Your Friend in Need

If you are researching detox solutions and learning more about drug consulting and management for those who are in need, it’s important for you to take a step back to consider how you will approach your friend who is obviously in need of help and support. From making doctor appointments to seeking out an appropriate counselor, keep in mind how your friend or loved one is most likely to react once you share your findings, observations, or actions with them. If you want to ensure you are on the same page as your friend, you may want to approach the situation as delicately and as kindly as possible, to minimize a defensive or angry reaction.

When spending time with your friend or loved one, gauge their emotional behavior and ability to control their emotions, especially when they are starting the detoxing process for the first time. Tend to other needs your friend may be missing out on to help regulate natural dopamine and serotonin in the body, which can help when broaching sensitive topics, such as addiction and detoxing. Keep your friend’s individual personality in mind whenever you are thinking of discussing their addictions with them in person, as this will allow you to navigate the conversation appropriately without causing them to lash out in anger or rage.

Compare the Difference Between In-Patient and Outpatient Programs

Anytime you are in the process of researching various detox solutions, comparing the difference between inpatient and outpatient programs can go a long way in finding the appropriate program for your friend or loved one. Whether you’re searching for a local rehabilitation center or if you’re interested in counseling for a friend who is focused on womens health with a women-only group, you have plenty of ways to go about learning more. Seeking local inpatient and outpatient programs near you for those who are currently detoxing can be done by checking with local resources at a city hall, depending on where you live, and by conducting a bit of your own research from home, online.

Inpatient Rehab Centers

Inpatient rehab centers or facilities typically require those who are in need of help to live on the property or within the premises throughout the course of the duration of any program they are enrolled in at the time. Inpatient rehab centers typically employ medical professionals, addiction counselors, and addiction experts to assist patients as they work through the recovery process, regardless of the severity of their addiction and the type of substance they have been using in the past. An inpatient or an IOP program is also ideal for those who may be using substances that have deadly consequences when quitting cold turkey, as it is best to do so in an environment that is monitored.

Outpatient Programs

Outpatient rehab programs are some of the most popular options for those who are currently working, running a household, caring for children, or simply tending to day-to-day life without the ability to check into a local rehab center or long-term facility. Outpatient programs may include meeting with doctors, attending group therapy, or even visiting a counselor over an extended period of time in a personal and intimate setting. Outpatient programs are ideal to help those who are interested in detoxing to stick with any goals and intentions they have in mind if they are not currently physically addicted to their drug or substance of choice.

Research Professional Rehabilitation Centers and Facilities Near You

If you are interested in detox solutions for your friend but are unsure of where to get started, you can begin researching professional rehabilitation centers and facilities near you right from the comfort of your very own home. Similarly, when you are researching international home movers or even a residential home cleaning service near you, it is also possible to gain valuable insight into the inner workings of various local rehab centers, facilities, and programs in your local area with a bit of searching.

Taking your time to research professional rehab centers, facilities, and programs near you online is a way to learn more about the location itself, program requirements, amenities, and services that may be suitable for your friend’s needs and personality, depending on the severity and extent of their addiction. When you are researching professional rehab centers near you online, spend time reviewing photos, videos, and even virtual walkthrough tours to find a location that is suitable for your friend or loved one. You can also take a bit of time to reference traditional user reviews and client or patient reviews to find a location that is also well-liked by those who have attended in the past.

Prepare Yourself for Potential Backlash

Unfortunately, assuming the role of a friend who will be helping someone who is going through detoxing can be challenging and emotionally taxing, especially if your friend is resistant to overcoming their addiction or has reservations about the process. Preparing yourself for potential backlash will help you maintain your own peace of mind, as you are likely to encounter some form of conflict with your friend along the way. Familiarizing yourself with expected responses and reactions can also help you to better prepare for how your friend responds to various detoxing suggestions.

Provide Your Friend With Support, Yet Distance (Embrace Patience)

Searching for dental cleaning services or professionals who provide facials and skincare is a bit different than looking for detox solutions that are ideal for your friend or loved one. While your immediate thought may be to provide them with overwhelming support and lists of resources, it’s important to take your time and respect your friend’s own privacy and personal space simultaneously. Embracing patience is essential when you want to ensure your friend is making the right decisions on their journey to a life free from drugs and alcohol.

Familiarize Yourself With Local Emergency Numbers

Anytime you are thinking of researching different detox solutions for a friend or loved one, it is highly advisable to take a bit of time to also familiarize yourself with local emergency numbers, or any numbers that may be relevant to your friend once they are enrolled in a program or detoxing facility. Local emergency numbers may include the traditional local fire department, police department, and hospitals nearest to you. Additionally, you may also want to find the phone numbers of your friend’s loved ones, including their spouse, grown children, or even their parents, depending on their age and relatives they are close to at the time.

Importance of Researching Phone Numbers Ahead of Time

Because addiction has the ability to wreak havoc on lives unexpectedly, it is important to take the time to find the numbers of your loved ones who are struggling with addiction. In the event of an emergency, you may need to know who to contact or get in touch with in order to make imperative medical decisions, depending on the circumstances of the situation at the time. Knowing how to contact the appropriate medical or police resources near you can also streamline the process of getting the help your friend requires in a timely manner.

Offer Resources When Your Friend is Ready

Similarly to researching various facial treatments and spas near you, it is also possible to find more information on relevant detox solutions from home with the use of online directories and resources, depending on where you live and the type of detoxing program or facility you are thinking of for your friend or loved one. Once you believe your friend is ready to hear more about detoxing options near them, you can then broach the subject in a kind and non-confrontational manner. If your friend is open to discussion, it will be much easier for you to move forward with the process of sharing and researching resources once they are ready.

Finding Rehabilitation Resources

Finding the most suitable detox program, counseling group, or therapist for your friend can be done with local listings and directories and by researching detoxing options near you online. Compare detox locations, rehab facilities, and outpatient programs online using official government websites or social media. Read reviews and testimonials about each location you’re interested in before presenting the facility or center to your friend.

Helping a friend who is currently in the process of detoxing is not always easy, but it can be done by learning more about different suitable detox solutions while paying attention to signs, signals, and requests your friend makes along the way. The more you know about different detox solutions that are available locally and at home, the easier it will be for you to assist your friend through the process of navigating their recovery journey, even if they are doing so for the very first time in their lives. Taking the time to assess the situation you are in and your friend’s specific needs can have a significant impact on the overall outcome of their attempt at remaining sober and free from drugs, alcohol, and any mind-altering substances.