Because opiate addiction is so all-encompassing, the relationships that stick through the ordeal tend to be enabling relationships, that is, friends and family members who either help us to continue addictive behavior or those people who we use with. This can be a problem when we try to quit using essentially on our own.

When you choose an outpatient recovery like a Suboxone detox or methadone maintenance, you are also choosing to maintain the external status quo. That is, you continue to live in the same place, go to the same job and see the same people as you did during your addiction. In some instances, this can be a good thing. In others, especially in our friendships, this can be an added stressor that makes recovery so difficult.

It’s hard enough to deal with drug cravings without people coming over to your house and offering you exactly what you’re trying to stay away from. Here is a three-step process that will help you handle it if your friends come over and don’t respect your wishes that they leave their drugs at home:

• Let everyone know that you’re trying to stay clean. Make it common knowledge. Most people will respect this and stay away until they’re doing better as well. But if they don’t….
• Be polite but firm and ask them to leave if they show up under the influence, try to use in front of you or offer you anything. Make it clear that you’re not being judgmental but that you need to steer clear of all drugs and alcohol for awhile. And if that doesn’t work….
• Don’t be afraid to be rude. They’re being disrespectful to you by using in front of you. This is a life or death journey you’re on and to so blatantly flaunt their drug use when you are in such a vulnerable situation and in your house is unacceptable. Tell them so and make them leave.

Other than that, the best you can do is avoid the spots where you know people will be using and prepare yourself with the knowledge that your life is going to change in more ways than one. Friendships are just one thing that will change as you start a life without drugs but it can be one of the most difficult. Make use of your support system and try to rekindle old friendships that you lost while you were using.

How do you handle it when you see people who are using when you’re trying to stay clean?

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"Friendships That Fail During Opiate Detox" posted in Outpatient Rehabilitation, opiate-detox.
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