Friends and family resources

Referral

If your loved one is ready to make a change in their lives, make a referral to let us know. A Workit care navigator will follow up by reaching out directly to your loved one with the contact information you provide.

Learn about addiction

Workit Health has created a guide to addiction and treatment for the loved ones of those struggling with substance use disorder. It’s normal to have questions and fears, but you’re not alone in this. We have answers!

Understanding addiction

It can be baffling to watch a loved one struggle with substance use. “Why don’t they just stop?” you ask. But for people with substance use disorder, it’s not that easy.

Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by the following features:

Compulsive substance use that is difficult to control despite harmful consequences
Changes within a person’s brain, overriding their self-control, judgment, decision-making, and ability to resist urges to drink or use drugs
Growing tolerance for the substance, meaning someone may have to take more than they previously did to achieve the same effect
Progressive—it will get worse if left untreated
High incidence of relapse (returning to use) after quitting

Substance use disorder can be frightening, but it is a treatable condition. It is a myth that someone needs to reach rock bottom to obtain help; they can get help at any time they are ready for it.