Helping vs. Enabling

There is a lot to be said for people that are trying to help drug addicts. It is commendable in one sense because a lot of family members or friends do not want to get involved in trying to help these addicts. A lot of people worry about crossing the line. They don’t want to cross the lines where helping turns to enable. There are differences in these things, and the people are willing to help the drug addicts need to be aware of the difference.

Knowing The Difference

The line between helping and enabling is often thin. It is not always so easy to realize if the actions that are being taken are helping or enabling. This is why it is a good idea to look at the concept from a biblical perspective.

The Bible often states that the man that does not work does not eat. There are a lot of different things from Proverbs that shows how important it is for individuals to work. In Hebrews, it also talks about the importance of discipline and how it is painful during the process.

A lot of people believe that intervention with the family is going to be enough to stop a drug addict. Putting a person in the mist their family may guilt-trip a drug addict into stopping for that day, but there is an excellent chance that the drug addict is going to turn the tables on older family members. The drug addict may plead for sympathy and even deny the fact that they are doing drugs. People that want to help drug addicts will confront them. They are going to look at real rehab solutions that can help these drug addicts get clean.

Conversations are not going to be enough to stop addicts because they have an addiction. They are not logical. A discussion about the need to stop is not going to be enough. Anyone that believes that they can help a drug addict with mere family condemnation is fooling themselves. This may not even work for a day. If a person is trying to teach the drug addict how to take care of themselves, information about getting treatment in a drug rehab center is going to be the applicable route. If there is any intervention, it needs to be a conversation that serves as a reinforcement for the drug addict to look at rehab options.

Enabling 101

When it comes to enabling by helping, there are a lot of lines that are crossed. A lot of people have good intentions in the beginning, but these people can find themselves in an enabling state if they are not careful. One of the most significant parts of enabling someone is ignoring that they have a problem.

It is impossible to continue giving people money, and living life like the problem does not exist when it is evident that these people are you using the money for drugs. This is when helping vs. enabling lines to get crossed. All of those people that want to help may find themselves unsure of how they can help, so they make the problem go away by giving these drug addicts money. It becomes one of those out-of-sight, out-of-mind concepts until the drug addict reappears with a need for money again.

Straddling the Fence

Another aspect of the enabling process comes when the person that is utilizing drugs is confronted, and the person that is facing them takes their side. The drug addict may say that what they are doing is not harming anyone. They may even say that they are going to quit utilizing the drugs that they have become so dependent on. People that sympathize with these drug addicts and get on their side are ignoring the problem. They are failing to see how they are contributing to the issues that are present. People that are looking for ways to help drug addicts are going to have to be stern when it comes to the people that they’re dealing with. Drug addicts are conniving. No one should ever sugarcoat anything, and they should never straddle the fence. When they start doing these things, it becomes harder to convince the drug addict that they are on the wrong path.

Recreational Drug Use

Some recreational drug users would even partake in activities with drug addicts. This is also something that plays a part in enabling those that have these drug problems. People that are addicted need to move away from drugs altogether. There is no gray area that allows them to indulge with the people that are accusing them of being addicted. For addicts, there are no social or recreational engagements that will make the drug use justifiable. If they have an addiction, they should not be in a place where they are enabled by people that will take them to get drugs and even do the drugs with them.

Helping 101

People that want to stay clear of the helping vs. enabling debate will look for the things that can help them stay the course when it comes to helping friends or family members with their addiction. It starts with being upfront with a person that is utilizing the drugs by recommending the solution.

Course Of Action

People that sincerely want to help drug addicts are going to help them by leading them towards a course of action. In most cases, this is going to be rehab. Anyone that is affected by drug use is going to need a surefire method that helps the addict kick the addiction. Drug addicts are not going to be fans of those family members and friends that are continually pushing the drug rehab agenda. It does not matter, though. People that are sincerely looking for a way to help their family members are going to be adamant about a solution to the problem.

Resisting The Urge To Give Money

In the beginning, drug addiction may not be evident. It is easy for a person to unwittingly become the enabler of someone that they do not know is battling drug addiction. Once it is discovered, however, no more money should be given. There may even be a legitimate need for money, but it is never wise to trust a drug addict. There is always a possibility that they will neglect the things they need to buy to utilize the money for drugs. People that provide money for drug addicts are enabling them to continue this lifestyle.

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