The Importance of Not Enabling Loved Ones

It’s natural for parents, siblings, and spouses to want to help their loved ones. After all, we value family because of the support and compassion they provide in challenging times. However, trying to help a loved one with a substance use disorder can cause more harm than good.

Friends and family may think they are helping when in reality, they’re enabling the substance abuse. Enabling someone with substance use disorder means behaving in ways that delay a person from feeling the effects of their addiction. As a result, the substance user feels like there is nothing wrong with their behaviors, which delays seeking treatment. 

Are You Enabling Your Loved One?

If you wonder if you are enabling your loved one’s addiction, then ask yourself the following questions.

• Do you give them money?
• Do you provide a roof over their head?
• Do you continually downplay the severity of the problem?
• Do you provide them with emotional support?
• Do you lie for them to protect them from the consequences of addiction?
• Do you make excuses for their behaviors while they are under the influence?

Furthermore, perhaps the worst type of enabling is doing nothing at all. When families ignore the problem or pretend it doesn’t exist, it also sends a message that their behaviors are OK.

Why Do Parents Enable Their Children?

Often, parents rely on their children to bring a sense of meaning and purpose to their lives. Once parents accept their child needs more help than they can provide, parents may feel like they failed at their most important job. As a result, some parents keep enabling instead of seeking intervention help. These behaviors unfortunately only lead to more severe problems and even death. 

Why Accreditations Are Important in Choosing a Treatment Center

With so many addiction treatment centers out there, how do you ensure your loved one receives the best care? You might also be wondering which treatment programs really work? One way to ensure your loved one receives individualized, effective treatment is by choosing an accredited facility. 

An accredited addiction treatment program means the facility has gone through multiple evaluations to reach excellent patient care standards. For example, programs and therapy practices are compared with the CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation) or Joint Commission standards. 

When addiction treatment centers receive accreditations, it shows their dedication and commitment to continually improving care delivery to patients. 

What Can Accredited Treatment Programs Ensure?

• A person-centered approach to care
• Safe rehabilitation practices
• Adheres to Policy and Procedure Standards
• Cultural Competence with Special Populations
• Integrated services and coordinated plan of care
• Protective environment for patients to heal
• Medical stabilization, psychiatric treatment, and support
• Research-based intervention
• Staff meets all standards to deliver addiction and mental health disorder treatment
• Center’s Emergency Plan meets Health and Safety Standards
• Critical Incident Reports, documentation, and emergency drills
• Focus on quality improvement activities

What is CARF?

Founded in 1996, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation (CARF) is an independent nonprofit organization that focuses on advancing the quality of service at treatment centers. CARF provides worldwide accreditation services at the request of providers. CARF also provides a list of accredited treatment centers to those seeking addiction treatment. 

What is The Joint Commission?

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 1951. It works to continually improve the safety and quality of care to the public. Furthermore, they accredit over 21,000 healthcare organizations in the United States.

Does Accreditation Mean a Greater Chance at Recovery?

Your loved one’s success in drug and alcohol treatment depends on many variables such as addiction history, co-occurring mental health disorders, chronic health conditions, and trauma. While attending an accredited facility doesn’t guarantee lasting recovery (that’s up to the individual), it does ensure your loved one receives the highest standard of care. 

Medical Disclaimer

This content is not meant to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always ask your physician or other qualified health providers any questions you may have regarding any medical condition, including substance use disorder and other mental health disorders.