When Someone You Love Is Struggling With Addiction
\nFor families considering opioid treatment: a loved one does not need to complete an opioid-free period before beginning treatment at DeBinge. The medical team can manage the transition from opioid dependence toward long-acting naltrexone under clinical supervision.
Helping a family member with addiction can leave you unsure what to say, when to intervene and which treatment options to trust. You can speak with DeBinge before the person you care about makes any commitment to treatment, so you can better understand the process and decide what conversation may be appropriate next.
DeBinge provides treatment in Sandyport, Nassau, The Bahamas. The programme can include medical assessment, preparation, long-acting naltrexone for clinically suitable patients, counselling and continuing recovery support. Treatment is not imposed on an unwilling adult, and suitability must be determined through appropriate clinical assessment.
We do not operate a treatment facility in the United States. This page is designed to help U.S. families understand how they can discuss treatment with someone they care about and how treatment in Nassau may be accessed if the patient chooses to proceed.
You Can Contact DeBinge Before Your Family Member Is Ready to Commit
Families often contact treatment providers before the person using alcohol or drugs is ready to make a decision. That conversation can still be useful.
You can explain what you have been observing, ask how the programme works and learn what information would be needed if your family member later agrees to speak with the clinical team.
A family conversation is not the same as a medical assessment of the patient. DeBinge cannot determine that a particular treatment is appropriate for an adult who has not been clinically assessed. However, an initial discussion can help you understand realistic next steps and avoid making decisions based only on fear or urgency.
Learn how treatment works
Ask about assessment, treatment preparation, naltrexone, counselling, travel to Nassau and follow-up after treatment.
Know what information is useful
A clearer picture of substance use, previous treatment and current risks can make the first clinical conversation more productive.
Plan the next conversation calmly
The aim is usually to help the person consider treatment, not to force an argument or make promises about a result no provider can guarantee.
What Information Is Helpful When You Speak With the Team?
You do not need to know everything. Even partial information can help the team understand the situation and explain what would need to be assessed directly with the patient.
Useful information may include
- The main substance or substances being used.
- How frequently the person appears to be using.
- Any known prescribed medications.
- Previous detox, rehabilitation or medication-based treatment.
- Previous overdose or serious withdrawal history, if known.
- Relevant medical or mental-health concerns.
- Whether the person currently wants help.
- What has made previous attempts at recovery difficult.
It is acceptable not to have every answer
Family members often know only part of what is happening. Substance use may be hidden, minimized or difficult to quantify. You should not guess or present uncertain information as fact.
Explain what you know, what you suspect and what you do not know. The patient will still need an appropriate clinical assessment before treatment decisions are made.
It is about explaining what you are seeing, understanding available options and identifying a reasonable next step.
How to Discuss Addiction Treatment Without Turning It Into a Confrontation
There is no perfect script, but the way treatment is introduced can affect whether the conversation stays open or becomes defensive.
Choose the timing carefully
When possible, have the conversation when the person is able to participate meaningfully rather than in the middle of an argument, intoxication or another highly emotional moment.
Describe what you have observed
Focus on concrete changes, risks and consequences you have noticed rather than attacking the person’s character or trying to win a debate about whether they are “an addict.”
Offer a manageable first step
A free consultation can be presented as a conversation to understand options. It does not require the person to agree immediately to travel or treatment.
If You Suspect an Overdose or Medical Emergency, Do Not Wait for a Consultation
A DeBinge consultation is not an emergency service. If someone is unconscious, difficult to wake, having trouble breathing, experiencing seizures, severe confusion, suspected overdose, severe withdrawal or another immediate medical emergency, contact emergency services immediately.
In the United States, call 911. If opioid overdose is suspected and naloxone is available, follow the product instructions while emergency help is being requested. For an immediate mental-health or suicide crisis in the United States, call or text 988.
What Happens if Your Family Member Agrees to Explore Treatment?
Initial conversation
The patient can speak with the team and explain their substance use, previous treatment and goals.
Clinical assessment
Medical history, current medications and treatment suitability need to be considered individually.
Preparation and travel planning
If treatment in Nassau is appropriate, required preparation and travel timing are discussed before the journey is finalized.
Recovery beyond Nassau
Counselling, behaviour change and appropriate support continue after the clinical treatment stage.
Why Clinical Assessment Matters Before Naltrexone Treatment
Families may hear about naltrexone and immediately want to know whether it can solve the problem. The more useful question is whether naltrexone forms an appropriate part of this particular person’s treatment plan.
Opioid use disorder
Naltrexone is an opioid receptor antagonist used as one treatment option for opioid use disorder. A person who is physically dependent on opioids requires appropriate preparation before receiving naltrexone because starting it too early can precipitate significant withdrawal.
Read about opioid treatmentAlcohol use disorder
Naltrexone may help some people with alcohol use disorder by reducing aspects of alcohol reward and supporting reduced drinking or abstinence as part of a wider plan. It does not itself treat acute alcohol withdrawal.
Read about alcohol treatmentNot appropriate for everybody
Medical history, current substances, medications, physical dependence and other clinical factors matter. Alternatives may include buprenorphine, methadone, extended-release injectable naltrexone, residential rehabilitation, outpatient care and other evidence-based approaches.
Medication Is Not the Entire Recovery Process
Families sometimes hope that one medication or procedure will remove every problem associated with addiction. Addiction recovery is usually more complex.
For suitable patients, naltrexone may support recovery by changing the pharmacological response to alcohol or opioids and may help reduce some drivers of continued use. But medication does not automatically rebuild relationships, change routines, resolve trauma, create new coping strategies or establish a stable daily life.
This is why counselling and behavioural work remain important. The treatment period can create an opportunity to focus on the psychological, social and practical parts of recovery as well as the medical component.
Recovery work may include
- Recognizing personal triggers.
- Developing alternative coping strategies.
- Changing routines associated with substance use.
- Improving communication and relationships.
- Addressing work, financial or lifestyle instability.
- Building healthier daily structure.
- Continuing counselling after returning home.
Speak With Our Team About Someone You Love
If you are a parent, spouse, partner or close family member, you can explain what is happening and ask practical questions before the patient makes a treatment decision. The conversation can help you understand what would need to happen next if they are willing to consider treatment.
Boundaries, Support and Avoiding Enabling Behavior
Supporting someone does not require removing every consequence of their substance use. In some families, attempts to help can gradually become patterns that make continued substance use easier to sustain.
Boundaries should be realistic, clearly communicated and focused on what you will or will not do. They should not be used as threats you have no intention of keeping.
Family counselling or professional support can be useful when relationships have become dominated by repeated crises, arguments, financial rescue or fear.
Support treatment, not substance use
Helping someone attend appointments, understand options or access appropriate care is different from repeatedly providing money or resources that may support continued use.
Do not become the treatment team
Families can support recovery, but medical decisions, withdrawal management and medication choices should remain with appropriately qualified clinicians.
Protect your own stability
Family members may also need support, rest and boundaries of their own. Living in constant crisis can affect judgement, health and relationships.
How Families Can Support Recovery After the Patient Returns Home
Returning home matters because the patient is returning to ordinary life: work, relationships, stress, routines and sometimes the same environments associated with previous substance use.
Support the recovery plan
Encourage attendance at counselling, medical follow-up and other agreed recovery activities without taking complete responsibility for them.
Expect adjustment
Recovery does not mean every relationship problem disappears immediately. Trust, routines and family roles may need time to change.
Watch for meaningful changes
If you notice concerning changes in behaviour, substance use, mood or safety, encourage appropriate clinical support rather than waiting for a crisis to become severe.
Research and Clinical Information for Families
Family members should be able to review information about the proposed treatment rather than relying only on promises or marketing claims.
Dr Fergus Law
Review DeBinge’s clinical profile page for Dr Fergus Law and information relating to his work in addiction psychiatry and substance misuse.
View Dr Fergus Law’s clinical profileNaltrexone research
Explore research and educational material relating to naltrexone, sustained-release formulations, opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder.
Visit the Naltrexone Implant Knowledge LibraryHelping a Family Member With Addiction: FAQs
Can I contact DeBinge if my family member has not agreed to treatment?
Can DeBinge tell me whether the naltrexone implant will work for my family member?
What if my family member has already been through rehab several times?
Should I threaten or give an ultimatum to make someone accept treatment?
Can I travel to Nassau with my family member?
What can I do after my family member returns home from Nassau?
What should I do if I think my family member is overdosing?
Talk With DeBinge About the Situation Before Making a Treatment Decision
Tell us what you know, what you are worried about and what has already been tried. We can explain how the programme works, what would require clinical assessment and what the next step could look like if your family member is willing to explore treatment in Nassau.
Medical information: This page provides general educational information for families and does not replace individualized medical assessment, diagnosis or treatment. Treatment suitability depends on the patient’s individual clinical circumstances. DeBinge treatment takes place in Nassau, The Bahamas.
Emergency information: Suspected overdose, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, seizures, severe withdrawal, severe confusion or another immediate medical emergency requires emergency assistance rather than waiting for a treatment consultation. In the United States call 911. For an immediate suicide or mental-health crisis in the United States, call or text 988.