How to Help a Latter-Day Saint into Rehab
Being a Mormon part of Latter-Day Saints church and having an addiction is scary. Those who are church members and suffer from a substance use disorder know this to be true. Although they may be devoted members, the pressures of life affect everyone.
As many members know, the Word of Wisdom, or the LDS Churches doctrine regarding health, prohibits alcohol and non-prescription drug use. As a result, many Latter-Day Saint communities do a great job of preventing drug and alcohol addiction with this sober Mormon lifestyle. This is due to the strong emphasis on family values and the community support surrounding the church. However, this does not mean there are no alcoholics and addicts in the LDS Church.
Do you know someone suffering from addiction? Are you personally suffering from addiction? Please call (385) 327-7418. Talk to a professional today about what the next steps you need to take are. Let’s get your new life started.
Content
- The Numbers Don’t Lie
- LDS Addiction Signs
- You Are Not Alone
- Is the Addiction My Fault?
- Am I Self-Medicating?
- Asking for Help
- How to Help Someone Experiencing Addiction
- Be Positive!
- Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Love When it Comes to Addiction?
- Getting Addiction Help for a Latter Day Saint
The Numbers Don’t Lie.
In 2018, there were 437 opioid overdose deaths in Utah. Even though this number seems small, the number of opioid prescriptions written per year for every 100 people is over 57%. In other words, 57 out of 100 people would have a prescription for opioids in Utah. This is in contrast to the statewide average being 51%.
It is no secret that drug-seeking behaviors happen everywhere. Utah’s rate of overdose deaths has been in the top 10 of all states for the past decade. As alarming as this is, there is hope for anyone to be free from addiction.
Of course, many of those suffering from addiction avoid treatment at all costs. Most of the time, it is a loving father, mother, or sibling who convinces a drug or alcohol user to go to rehab.
If you are LDS, live in Utah, and need a loved one to enter a Mormon drug and alcohol rehab, here are a few things you need to understand. In this guide, we seek to provide insight and help.
Latter-Day Saint Addiction Signs
The first thing you will need to learn about is the signs of addiction. Although they may be general, they are fairly reliable identifiers of a person struggling with addiction.
This article on the LDS Church Website explains these possible red flags:
- Obsessiveness: They become less interested in healthy activities.
- Increased craving: They progressively want more.
- Secrecy: They are increasingly reluctant to allow others to know of their decisions and behaviors.
- Denial: They lie to themselves about their growing dependency and believe their own lies.
- Withdrawal: When they are denied access to the harmful substance or behavior, their sense of well-being fades.
- Reverting: Although they are aware of the negative impact on their life, they return to the substance or behavior.
With this in mind, you may have a hunch that someone in your life is suffering from an addiction. If you truly believe this, please be tactful.
There are a lot of emotions that come with substance use disorder. Being inadvertently insensitive can make the situation worse. If you need help figuring out how to talk to someone, call us.
We will help you figure out the best situation to better the lives of you and your loved ones. Let us help you, and we can work together and get your loved ones the help they deserve.
You Are Not Alone
One of the most important things to remember is that you are not alone. Every family deals with some affliction. In some cases, that can be a disease.
In this case, that disease is a substance disorder. Statistics from the Salt Lake City metropolitan area show that 76,000 persons aged 12 or older were classified as having a substance use disorder in the past year. This statistic indicates that many LDS and Utah families deal with addiction in their own homes.
Don’t hesitate to call if you’re experiencing addiction and need help. It’s confidential and free of judgment! Call (385) 327-7418
This is in sharp contrast to what the church’s culture would suggest. Due to the pure image surrounding the Latter Day Saint community, many think the families are picture-perfect.
However, although they may be loving and healthy, they are not immune to addiction. Statistics from the state government show:
From 2000 to 2015, Utah has experienced nearly a 400% increase in deaths from prescription drug misuse and abuse.
The Utah Department of Health was awarded state funding to address the epidemic in response to this. Since then, Utah has seen a significant decrease in prescription opioid deaths.
However, this coincided with a substantial increase in heroin-related deaths.
Interestingly, these recent statistics show the steep increase in the misuse of drugs in Utah over the past 15 years. This rise was enough for the Department of Health to acquire extra funds to help those in need.
With a state that has a 60% Latter-Day Saint population, there is no question that LDS communities are also being affected. Although many people may remain silent on the issue of addiction, some people are suffering. How do you seek help with addiction as a Mormon?
The Need to Feel Loved
Typically, those who have an addiction feel shame, guilt, and frustration. This is especially true in the LDS community. Because of the members’ desire to follow their beliefs.
Along these lines, reminding your loved ones that they are not alone is vital. When it comes to addiction, maintaining loving relationships is key to recovery. Even though keeping a relationship with someone who pushes you away is hard, you must realize it is not your fault.
Having empathy is extremely helpful in these situations. When you are gentle and loving with someone suffering from addiction, they will come to you for help.
Unfortunately, this may mean they need to hit rock bottom first. You may feel helpless, but it is merely the process of addiction. Call us for additional help, and we can walk you through the process of helping a loved one.
Is the Addiction My Fault?
Typically, those who have an addiction feel shame, guilt, and frustration. This is especially true in the LDS community because of their desire to follow their beliefs. Along these lines, reminding your loved one that they are not alone is vital. When it comes to addiction, maintaining loving relationships is key to recovery. Even though keeping a relationship with someone who pushes you away is hard, you must realize it is not your fault.
Having empathy is extremely helpful in these situations. When you are gentle and loving with someone suffering from addiction, they will come to you for help. Unfortunately, this may mean they need to hit rock bottom first. This may make you feel helpless, but it is simply the process of addiction. If you need assistance with dealing with addiction – do not hesitate. Call us now. We are happy to take your call and help you in every way possible. Let’s work together and start a happy and healthy life today.
Am I Self Medicating?
Another essential thing to remember when trying to help a loved one is that self-medication is real. Commonly, the definition of self-medication is that an individual uses harmful, possibly addictive substances to treat physical pain or mental stress.
Self-medicating is one of the gateways to addiction. Many mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, can lead to self-medicating behavior. This behavior can happen anywhere and in any culture. Specifically, Utah’s statistics show:
Among adults aged 18 or older in the Salt Lake City MSA, 8.2 percent (62,000 adults) experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, which was higher than the national rate.
On the other hand, when dealing with a family member or friend who has an addiction, you must understand why they have this addiction.
They might have a mental illness, for example, major depression. This depression may cause them to seek out addictive substances. They do not seek these substances because they lack morality but need relief. The LDS Services article titled The Plague of Addiction states:
Addiction should not be viewed only as a moral weakness but as a multifaceted challenge that virtually anyone could face.
This quote accurately summarizes what your loved one wants you to know. The addict did not actively choose to develop an addiction. They are no less moral for having one.
Those in the LDS church often question their ethical standing and righteousness when overwhelmed by a substance use disorder—leading to problems dealing with addiction as a Mormon.
Asking for Help
Are you struggling with addiction? Our team of experts can help! Call us today at (385) 327-7418, and we can discuss treatment options.
We will work together and figure out the best and most effective treatment option for you and your needs. Do not hesitate. Call today.
How to Help Someone Experiencing Addiction
Ultimately, irrationality can separate this person from you and their other loved ones. This is when it is important to listen, reminding them of who they are and how much you care for them.
Compassion, understanding, and active listening will go a long way. Eventually, there will be a time to encourage them to attend rehab.
However, correctly loving them is a prerequisite to talking with them about receiving treatment. Keep in mind; it is possible to love the sinner and hate the sin.
By separating the addiction from the actual individual, it is more likely that they will listen to you when they hit rock bottom.
Showing this love in advance is the key to a successful intervention when the time is right. Patience with the individual, as well as the situation, is a must.
Be Positive!
Part of loving another person and sustaining a relationship means being excited about their accomplishments. The same is true for relationships with those with a substance use disorder. Normally, this positivity comes after someone is in recovery. Nonetheless, applying it all the time can help. The Plague of Addiction article states:
Be a good cheerleader. Cheerleaders do not take a win or a loss personally. They understand that their role is to cheer, to encourage, and to be positive. While they do have an emotional investment in the competition, wanting their participant to win, they don’t take offense when things aren’t going well.
But is positivity ineffective after a certain point? Does love have a limit where it becomes accepting the addiction? Call us today if you need help staying positive while talking to your loved ones. Our experts will provide you with tips.
Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Love When it Comes to Addiction?
There is no instance where love can’t help. However, it is important to recognize the difference between being supportive and enabling. The article touches on this, saying:
A good family member or friend encourages and helps those they love to make good choices. They also discourage and do not enable bad choices.
Support differs from enabling in a few different ways. Consider this:
One aspect of support is paying attention. Looking for the signs, offering help, and complimenting their successes is supportive. Paying attention is also unlikely to cause harm.
However, enabling is actively helping to shield drug users from the consequences of their actions. This includes letting them indulge in addictive behaviors, such as using the house, buying the substance for them, or trying to protect them from legal repercussions.
To put it simply, acknowledging the good things they do will always help. But reinforcing their addictive habits financially, legally, or emotionally will not help. Call us today if you need assistance talking to your loved ones about addiction. We have professionals that are ready to help you better your life today. Call now, and we can start carving your pathway to a better life.
Getting Addiction Help for a Latter Day Saint
Addiction is an awful disease. Additionally, when you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In the past, church members were seemingly well-protected from the threat of drug addiction, but things changed.
Now, there are many Utah residents and Latter-Day Saint members who suffer from addiction. Although this may seem bad, simple things can prevent you from losing a loved one to a substance use disorder.
By showing love, reminding them they are not alone, and paying attention, you can help someone you love find a rehab program. Remember, there is no discrimination against anyone.
Suppose you are a part of the church, homeless, or just looking for more information. Our team of experts is standing by and ready to help you today. There is no need for them to live with the pain anymore. When you call today, you will talk to one of our addiction specialists.
Together, you and our specialist will go over treatments that can help. Call us today. We will work together and get you on the right road to recovery. Start your sober, happier, and healthier life today.
