Top 10 Things Families Can Do to Avoid Common Rehab Pitfalls

ALANON Plus –

Dec. 7, 2024 – A high percentage of treatment failures occur due to “user error.” In other words, the treatment team delivers the message, but the client—and often the family—doesn’t fully understand or follow the instructions. When a loved one enters rehab, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed, powerless, and fearful about whether the treatment will work. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Address Misconceptions Head-On

“I’m not as bad as everyone else here.”

The Educated Consumer Checklist identifies common gaps that lead to treatment pitfalls.

Statements like “I’m not as bad as everyone else here” or “I’ll quit the hard stuff but still smoke pot” reflect common misunderstandings about recovery.

Instead of trying to explain recovery concepts yourself, hold your loved one accountable for what they are learning in treatment. For example:

When they say: “Get me out of here. I’m not as bad as everybody else here.”

You say: “You need to be treated for your substance use disorder.”

Or, when they say: “I’ll quit the hard stuff, but I can still smoke pot.”

You say: “Please explain the risks of cross-addiction to me.”

This approach shifts the responsibility back to your loved one to reflect on the education they’re receiving in treatment. The only reason they would say things like this to you is if they think you don’t know it. That’s the gap!