6 Ways To Help Someone With Opioid Use Disorder

If you have a loved one with opioid use disorder (OUD), you’re probably eager to jump in and help them. OUD requires lifelong support, and most people with the condition have ups and downs. They may go through times of full recovery, punctuated by episodes of substance use.

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It’s important to remember that you can’t control every aspect of another person’s life. You can’t take away their temptations and hardships. You also can’t force them to never use again. But you can be a much-needed source of steady support. Here’s how to help in ways that benefit your loved one and are healthy for you.

1. Allow Them To Talk Openly

You may feel desperate for your loved one to check into a recovery program. But change needs to come from the person, and sometimes that takes time. You can help move them forward by asking open-ended questions to encourage sharing. Open-ended questions give the other person a chance to reflect and consider different reasons to make a change.

A question is considered open-ended if it doesn’t have a simple “yes” or “no” answer. Open-ended questions usually start with what, how, or why. You can also request the person to “Tell me more about…” or say, “I’d like to hear your thoughts on…”

Helpful topics to bring up include:

• Goals and hopes for the future
• Fears about continuing to use or seeking treatment
• Perceived pros and cons of their substance use
• Things they miss about how life used to be
• Past experiences and what they’d do differently next time

You don’t have to agree with everything they say. But holding back judgment and the urge to criticize or give advice helps build trust and keeps the door open for more discussion.

2. Reinforce Motivations to Change

You can demonstrate that you’re listening by reflecting back what’s said to you in your own words. For instance, you can say, “I hear that you’re nervous but still want to make a change.” By ending your statement with the person’s “change talk,” you’re emphasizing their drive to move in the right direction. This reinforces the positive messages that the person is already thinking and saying, potentially prompting them to take action. It is still important to acknowledge the person’s unpleasant feelings while you do this, so they feel seen and heard.

At the end of your conversation, you can repeat these points. Pull out the statements they made about positive change and highlight them. Summarize what they said about the positives of recovery to show that the idea came from them.

3. Encourage Ongoing Treatment

Treatment can significantly help people with OUDs. Depending on the person, treatment of OUD may include hospitalization, behavior therapy, support groups, and medication.

Opioid replacement therapy provides safer opioids, like methadone, under medical supervision. These opioids don’t cause a euphoric feeling, but they help reduce withdrawal symptoms and opioid cravings. About half of the people who receive opioid replacement therapy are successful at avoiding opioids outside of treatment.

Methadone is available in outpatient clinics throughout the U.S. It’s a long-term treatment that some people continue forever. Tapering off of methadone is possible, but requires the support and guidance of a healthcare provider.

Other medications, including buprenorphine and naltrexone, help treat OUD in different ways. But as with any type of treatment, it only works if used consistently.

Unfortunately, people with OUD don’t always take advantage of these useful tools. Different issues can get in the way of treatment. According to social media research, lack of insurance coverage is one of the biggest reported barriers to methadone treatment.

Other barriers may be logistical, like transportation to and from a facility. OUD is also heavily stigmatized. People with OUDs may feel self-conscious about going to a methadone clinic. They could be worried about what others will think if they find out they’re in treatment.

If your loved one isn’t consistent with treatment, ask them why. Learn what’s holding them back and do what you can to help, like offering a ride and researching cost support.

4. Practice Harm Reduction

You can’t fix OUD for someone else. But you can take measures to protect them against the more dangerous aspects of the disorder. You should become familiar with the signs of an overdose.

During an opioid overdose, breathing slows down and may even stop completely. This quickly causes brain damage and can lead to death. Other changes include:

• Bluish color on lips and fingernails
• Low blood pressure
• Pale, cold, and sweaty skin
• Slow heartbeat
• Tiny pupils (the size of a pinpoint)
• Unresponsive to touch or talking

Naloxone is a life-saving treatment that you can carry with you. It’s a medication given by injection or as a nasal spray that reverses the effects of an overdose. The laws in different states vary, but you can ask your local pharmacy how to get Naloxone. Keeping it on hand can make the difference between life and death in an emergency.

5. Support Relapse Prevention

People with OUD are at risk of relapsing for the rest of their lives. Fear of relapse can be a constant source of stress for their loved ones. Relapses can be unpredictable. But it’s essential to be aware of the common triggers.

For instance, anything that causes stress can raise the chances of relapse. For example, if the person loses their job or has relationship trouble, they may need more support. Physical pain can also motivate someone to return to opioid use. If your loved one has an injury or health problem that causes pain, they should be encouraged to seek treatment with physical therapy and other nonopioid treatment options. Trying to tough it out with no treatment may be setting them up for failure.

6. Protect Your Boundaries

When someone you care about struggles with substance use disorder, it can be hard to draw the line between supporting them and enabling them. Positive support encourages the person to take better care of themselves and make healthy choices. Enabling makes it easier for them to engage in destructive behaviors, including opioid use. It also delays the recovery process.

A boundary is a limit on what you will and won’t do for the person. Examples of healthy boundaries include:

• Denying them the right to participate in family activities when they’re using
• Offering rides to their doctor’s appointments or treatment facility only
• Refusing to cover their personal expenses, like rent or food

Your boundaries may change over time, and that’s OK. If you’re having trouble setting or communicating your boundaries, get help. A family therapist or a mental health professional can work with you on this necessary task.

If you’re in a situation where you feel the need to call the police, emergency services, or distance yourself from the person, you should do so. Your safety and well-being must be your top priority before you can help others.

Join the Conversation

On MyOpioidRecoveryTeam, people share their experiences with opioid use disorder, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

How have you helped a loved one with an opioid use disorder? Let others know in the comments below.