Most insurance plans will cover either all or a portion of the treatment.
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SUD treatment executive, national news contributor & keynote speaker.
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- Reintegrating Your Adult Child After Rehab: What Parents Need to Know
- Work With Their Program to Educate Yourself and Be Prepared
- Set Boundaries and Accountability
- Temper Accountability with Empathy
- Do What Makes Sense for Your Family
Reintegrating Your Adult Child After Rehab: What Parents Need to Know
Many parents have children who either carry their childhood substance use issues into adulthood or have started abusing alcohol or other drugs later on in their lives. Some of these adult children continue to live with their parents, either because they’re simply part of the growing trend of multi-generational households or because their substance use has created instability in their living situations and forced them to move back home.
Whatever the reason may be, parents of adult children returning from rehab have to be prepared when their son or daughter returns from treatment. If your child is planning to return home after their rehab program, here are some things to keep in mind as they reintegrate into your household.
Work With Their Program to Educate Yourself and Be Prepared
Without proper guidance and education on the actual medical and behavioral components of the disease of addiction, family relationships can quickly become more fragmented and damaged, potentially derailing recovery.
More and more treatment centers are recognizing that addiction is a disease that affects the entire family and offering family programs to help parents and siblings understand their struggles and how they can support them in their recovery. These programs are often called Family Week or Family Weekend and are open to whatever family members patients choose (usually two or three people at most). They offer education on withdrawal symptoms, behavioral indicators of relapse, conflict resolution tips, trauma associations, and other insights to give families a complete picture of the origins and triggers of their loved one’s substance use.
Even if your son or daughter’s treatment center doesn’t offer a family component, you can talk to their case manager, therapists, and discharge planner to discuss their needs after they leave their rehab program.
Set Boundaries and Accountability
As difficult as it may be to set conditions for your son or daughter to live with you, it helps to keep you and the other people in your home safe, and it helps them stay on track in their post-treatment recovery.
Some of the boundaries and specific progress requirements may include, but are not limited to:
- Continuing to go to therapy and meetings
- Getting and keeping a job or going to school
- Periodic drug screenings to ensure continued sobriety
- You can also make it clear to them that there will be consequences if they put you in danger, lie to you, steal from you, or try to manipulate you in any way.
Temper Accountability with Empathy
Even if you have to be firm, you can still be a loving, supportive, and positive force for good in your sober son or daughter’s life. The reality is that completing addiction treatment takes a remarkable amount of strength and should be celebrated. Let your adult child know you’re in their corner, refrain from judging their past choices, and let them know you’ll help them however you can. This level of support will help them feel like less of a burden and empower them to embrace recovery even during the more difficult times of the process.
Do What Makes Sense for Your Family
Everybody’s family dynamic is different, and some families are more fractured than others. If your son or daughter has compromised your trust by stealing money, you may not want to keep cash lying around (at least at first). If they have lied to you in the past, ask them follow-up questions to ensure they’re telling you the truth. There is no one-size-fits-all playbook for having an adult child return from rehab, but just remember to put your safety and peace of mind first while supporting your newly sober son or daughter however you can.
