If you have a loved one who is addicted to opiates, such as certain prescription pain medications or even heroin, you might be at a loss of what you should do. Knowing that a loved one is abusing drugs can make you feel as if you are completely powerless about the situation and as if there is nothing that you can do to help. It isn't just about what you should do when a loved one has an addiction. You also have to know about a few certain things that you shouldn't do.

1. Don't Ignore the Problem

It can be easy to want to ignore the fact that your loved one is using drugs. You might just want to pretend that everything is just fine, even when you know that this is not the case. However, this isn't helpful for anyone. It is important to face the fact that there is a problem and start looking for viable solutions.

2. Don't Enable Your Loved One

Many people find themselves enabling their loved ones without even meaning to. For example, if you give your addicted loved one money, you should know that you are indirectly helping him or her buy drugs. If you allow your loved one to use drugs in your home or to live in your home for free after spending all of his or her money on drugs, this is also a form of enabling. Even though it might seem like you are helping, this is actually harmful for both you and your loved one.

3. Don't Encourage Your Loved One to Get Clean Alone

It might be your primary goal to help encourage your loved one to get clean. This is certainly a good goal to have, but you definitely should not go about it the wrong way. For example, encouraging your loved one to quit "cold turkey" and to just immediately stop using opiates is not a good idea. This can actually be incredibly dangerous, since those who are addicted to opiates can often suffer from severe physical withdrawals if they stop using the drugs right away. Instead, you should encourage your loved one to seek help from a team of professionals, like those at Bridgeway Recovery Services Inc. Then, he or she can focus on getting clean with the help of experienced and trained professionals who will know what to watch out for and do.