Addiction and Your Sister

"I knew my sister had been acting strangely, but I had no idea what she was up to. I never really thought of her as being someone who would use substances of any kind. That was why I was surprised when I went to her house and found what I found on her coffee table. There were beer bottles everywhere, and I found empty prescription pill bottles too. It was probably the scariest moment of my life.

I couldn't keep silent about it. I had to say something to her. I asked her why, and all she could say to me was that she didn't know. She said she just wanted to feel better. I knew that wasn't the way to do it, but I didn't know any more than that. I need to know how I can help her. She's a grown woman, so she's able to make her own decisions. But, there should be some kind of way for me to help her, right?"

Does My Sister Have an Actual Addiction? How Can I Tell?

It's devastating when you find out that someone you love has an addiction. When it's your sister, it can be even worse. Your sister may have once been your best friend. You two shared everything when you were growing up. Now you only want to be able to help her.

Have you noticed any of these? If you have, then your sister is probably addicted. Maybe you've noticed many of these signs of addiction, but you're still not sure. Taking a family member addiction quiz can help you even further.

My Adult Sister Claims to be Abusing Drugs or Alcohol, but it's an Addiction

Perhaps your sister is adamant that she is not addicted. She may be abusing drugs or alcohol, but it's not an addiction. This is something that is known as denial. It often presents itself in different forms. Your sister might say something like:

• I'm only doing this so that I can get through this bad situation.
• I plan on stopping at the first of the year.
• I can quit using drugs or alcohol any time I feel like it.
• Alcohol or drugs don't control my life.
• I don't use as much or as often as you think I do.

These are classic statements from an addict. Your sister does have an addiction. Being convinced that she doesn't won't change that fact. It's not easy to talk with someone who is convinced that they don't have a problem. You have to be prepared with the facts.

Ways to Talk with Your Sister About Alcoholism or Drug Addiction

You love your sister, and you'd do anything for her. You know you want to talk with her about her addiction, but you're not sure what to say. This is hard if she's convinced that she doesn't have an addiction, but it is possible.

The first step you should take is to prepare yourself. You need to have the right information to present to her. If she's in denial, you'll want to show her how she can know if she has an addiction or not. You may even ask her to take an addiction quiz. This quiz may help to open her eyes.

You'll also want to pick a good time to talk to her when she's not drunk or high. Maybe plan to surprise her with breakfast one morning so that you can talk early in the day. You have a much better chance of her listening to you if she's sober.

When you talk with her, be honest about how you feel. Bring up specific examples of how you've noticed the changes in her. Don't be afraid to let your words sting a little if they need to. Perhaps she's lost custody of her kids, or maybe she's gotten a bad health report. Let her know that you're aware of these things.

Most of all, let her know that you won't be enabling her addiction. If you have been enabling it, that has to stop. Set some boundaries in place and stick to them.

Is Your Sister Resisting Addiction Recovery? Schedule an Intervention

After you talk with your sister, it's very possible that she will continue to resist treatment. It's so hard to make that change in your life when you're an addict. It's much easier for her to continue to use. If that's the situation you find yourself facing, you'll want to consider an intervention.

An intervention is a meeting between you, other friends and family, your sister and an interventionist. The interventionist will be in charge, and will ensure that the meeting stays on track. He or she will help you to know what to say when you talk with your sister during the meeting. The interventionist may advise you to use some tough love, so be prepared for that.

Your sister will come to the meeting unaware of what's happening. She may be surprised to see so many loved ones gathered in the same place.

She may also be angry once she finds out why. Still, most people listen to what everyone has to say during the meeting. Interventions can become quite emotional.

At the end, your sister will be given the opportunity to accept treatment. Most people accept that opportunity. Hopefully, your sister will too.