It is often very difficult to deal with a drug addict. People who are in the grip of drug addiction are seldom rational and can be very hard to talk to. Drug addicts are often very dishonest and manipulative people. It is difficult to decide how to proceed in a friendship or relationship with somebody who is addicted to drugs. Often a friendship or relationship will spiral in a cycle of abusive and destructive behaviour until eventually you cannot tolerate the behaviour any longer and have to disengage. How can you save your relationship with the addict and help him/her to find treatment in a drug rehab center? There are support groups that will help you to deal with the addict, and there are lots of addiction treatment facilities to help the addict.

Addicts are notoriously unpredictable and this impacts on everybody around them. Everything hinges on their addiction and whether they are craving or not. This leads to instability in relationships that is difficult to deal with. Addicts lie in order to cover up their drug use and as a means to obtain ways to score drugs. They might even steal from you in order to fund their addiction. There seems to be no end to the chaos that is caused by the compulsion to seek and use drugs. Many addicts have the best intentions to quit drugs but find that they are unable to. They promise to never use again but break this promise as soon as the craving starts. A detoxification (detox) center will provide temporary respite as this will help the addict to overcome withdrawal symptoms. Addiction treatment in an addiction rehabilitation center (drug rehab) is neccessary to completely interrupt the cycle of destruction.

A codependent relationship is one which enables the person to use drugs. If you find yourself covering up for the addict by making excuses or lying for them then you may be enabling his/her addiction to flourish. An addict needs to take responsibility for his/her actions. A codependent person will help the addict to avoid this responsibility and do things addicts should do for themselves. This makes it easier for the addict to continue using drugs and takes a heavy toll on the codependent who is left running around trying to fix the messes that the addict creates.

Every relationship should involve a little bit of give and take. A one-sided relationship where one person takes nearly all of the time (while giving nothing in return) is likely to end up harming the giving person. Taking care of yourself means that there should be some limit as to how much you are prepared to give of yourself. If you spend all of your energy and time taking care of the addict then there will be nothing left to take care of yourself. Deciding to put the addict in the care of professionals in a drug rehab center in South Africa will give you breathing space to regather your strength and help the addict to break the cycle of addiction.

Professionals in drug rehab facilities in South Africa are able to help the alcohol or drug addict find recovery. Most drug treatment centres offer a family program designed to help the people affected by the addicts using. They will support you through working through the devastating effect the addiction has had on you. They will also teach you about the nature of addiction and how you effectively and appropriately deal with your loved one.

After the addict has completed detoxification (detox) you may be invited to attend family therapy sessions at the drug rehabilitation centre in Cape Town where you will sit with your loved one and a counselor. This will give you an opportunity to express your hurt, anger, frustration, embarrasment, and work towards establishing rules for your relationship that will protect both members.