How to Help Someone Addicted to Pain Pills

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For friends and family with an addicted loved one, it’s natural to want to know how to help. Someone addicted to pain pills may not be able to stop using on their own, but they may also be resistant to the idea that they have a problem or that their use is something that needs to be stopped. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1,000 people are treated in emergency rooms every day for abusing pills. In 2014, more people died from drugs than from car accidents or gunshots. If someone you care about is abusing pills, it’s time to help them get sober by finding a rehabilitation program or addiction counseling.

How Do I Know if Someone Is Addicted to Pills?

If you find yourself wondering how to help someone addicted to pain pills, then you may already have an inkling that a problem exists. However, if you want to be sure of the fact before you bring it up, there are several ways to tell if someone is actually abusing pills.

  • Are they having sudden or unexplainable financial trouble? Pills, as with all drugs or alcohol, cost money. An addict may pour most of their money into obtaining more of the substance, leaving them unable to pay bills or contribute to the family as they once did.
  • Are they unusually tired? Are their pupils constricted? Is their speech slurred? Pain pills work as depressants, which slow breath and may inhibit normal speech or decision-making.
  • Are they having trouble meeting social or professional obligations? Whether this is because they are actively using pills or spending the time to find them, addicts may suddenly withdraw from their usual social circles and become unable to work as they once did.
  • Are there physical signs of use? Trash cans may be filled with empty pill bottles, and there may be different pill bottles prescribed by several different doctors.

How to Help Someone With Pain Pill Addiction

Once you’ve determined that someone does indeed suffer from an addiction to pills, you may be tempted to immediately march up to them and enroll them in the nearest rehabilitation center. However, such direct and forceful action can be detrimental and may cause the addict to resist treatment. If you’re serious about learning how to help someone with pain pill addiction, take the time to do some research about the nature of addiction. When you do bring up the topic, approach from a mindset of compassion and empathy.

  • Broaching the topic: Whenever you discuss someone’s drug use, begin from a place of concern, and reference facts. One example might be as follows: “I’ve noticed you’ve been taking a lot of pills lately, and you were vomiting for an hour last night. Have you thought about getting some help?”
  • If the addict asks for help: Encourage them to see a doctor or consult an addiction specialist. If they are worried or nervous, offer to go with them for support.
  • If the addict does not want help: It may be time to gather together with other loved ones and stage a formal intervention. Bear in mind that interventions should emphasize love and concern for the well-being of the addict and those in their care.

More Information on How to Help a Pill Addict

Friends and loved ones may sometimes be unable to provide the support or treatment that an addict needs to begin their recovery. In situations such as these, professional care might be the best option. At WhiteSands Treatment Center, our private facility offers free clinical assessments to help addicts find the best possible solution for their unique situation. As many addictions have a concurrent disorder, such as depression or PTSD, we specialize in dual-diagnosis programs and are proud to offer a variety of programs, ensuring that every patient can find something suitable.

If you’d like customized advice on how to help a pill addict or if you’d like more information about addiction, call our phone line, available 24/7. You can also fill out the form here and one of our trained addiction specialists will respond personally.