Should My Family Be Involved in the Methadone Treatment Process?

Addiction, in any form, has a ripple effect in a person’s life, hurting not only the addict, but also those closest to him or her. Opiate addiction’s effects are no different.

Since methadone treatment only becomes necessary in cases of severe opiate addiction, the impact on self and family can be considerable. For these reasons, family involvement in the methadone treatment process can only but benefit your recovery efforts and also address your family’s recovery needs.

Fortunately, most methadone treatment programs encourage family participation and offer family-based supports as part of the overall treatment process.

Methadone Treatment Objectives

Familial support can keep you motivated through treatment.

According to the National Institute of Justice, methadone treatment combines medication therapy (methadone) with behavioral treatment interventions to help you overcome the physical and psychological effects of addiction in your daily life. While the medication aspect of methadone treatment centers around you, the behavioral treatment component affects your family in a big way.

Behavioral treatment interventions, such as group therapy, support group work and one-on-one psychotherapy each address different ways addiction changes a person’s thinking, behaviors and interactions with others. During the course of treatment, these interventions help you develop the habits and coping skills needed to build a drug-free life.

Involving your family in methadone treatment helps to keep everyone on the same page in terms of how addiction works and how to best support your recovery process.

If you’re considering treatment and you’re not sure if your insurance will cover your treatment costs, call our helpline at 800-678-5931(Paid Advertiser) for more information.

How Addiction Affects the Family

Addiction naturally breeds dysfunction within the life of the addict as well as within the family unit, according to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. As the addict’s priorities, behaviors and communication patterns change, the family dynamic changes accordingly.

Symptoms of family dysfunction typically take the form of:

Abusive behaviors
Violence, hostility
Individual members withdrawing from family interactions
Ongoing relationship conflict

In effect, the family and its individual members need to recover from the effects of addiction or else you, yourself will have an even harder time developing the skills needed to maintain abstinence from drugs.

How Do I Explain Methadone Maintenance to My Family?

Because there is a good deal of controversy surrounding methadone maintenance even now and especially in the public eye, it can be difficult to tell your loved ones that you have decided to attend treatment at a methadone clinic. However, there are several ways in which you can help them understand this treatment and to ….

Family-Based Supports in Methadone Treatment

Helping the family establish healthy relationships and maintain clear communications amongst its members reinforces the therapeutic benefits of methadone treatment and greatly enhances your recovery efforts. In this respect, methadone treatment programs provide a range of family-based interventions, some of which include:

Family therapy
Support group meetings (Al-Anon, Alateen and Adult Children of Alcoholics groups)
Drug education training
Psychotherapy for family members when needed

Considerations

Family support can have a significant impact on your recovery success as a whole. By involving your family in the methadone treatment process, both you and the family can take steps towards healing old wounds and building a healthy, happy household.

If you or someone you know are considering methadone treatment or have more questions about family-based treatment options, please don’t hesitate to call our toll-free helpline at 800-678-5931(Paid Advertiser) to speak with one of our addiction specialists.