Just as addiction affects every part of your life, recovery needs to address all of these aspects. The people in your social circles have a significant impact on your opioid use and recovery. When your friends and family support you on the path to a drug-free life, you’ll know who to count on when recovery gets difficult. On the other hand, people who enable unhealthy behaviors can set your recovery back. By building a support system, you can improve your chance of success after opioid addiction.
The Importance of Supportive Family and Sober Friends for Recovery
Surrounding yourself with supportive people during recovery provides many advantages, including:
- Accountability: When you have people supporting you in your recovery, you have more accountability for healthy behaviors. People who live opioid-free lives can provide you with positive examples of healthy habits and routines you can adopt.
- Support when you need it: Friends and family who encourage your recovery can give you the help you need when recovery becomes difficult. They can talk with you about your obstacles or provide a healthy distraction from your symptoms or relapse triggers.
- Help with building a new life after addiction: A new drug-free lifestyle involves changes in your goals, values and activities. Your support system can help you find new ways to live your life that don’t involve opioids.
Finding Friends to Help With Opioid Recovery
If you need to build a new social circle after opioid addiction, you have plenty of options. Consider these ways to find people who encourage healthy habits:
- Peer support groups: You can find support groups for people in recovery across the United States. Check with your nearest treatment center to see if they recommend any groups in your area.
- Online: The internet offers numerous opportunities to meet people who have the same values as you. In addition to online groups for people in recovery, you can look for online communities related to your interests.
- Local activities and organizations: Go out into your community and form bonds with others. You can volunteer, join a fitness class or find another activity in your neighborhood.
What to Do When Someone Doesn’t Support Your Recovery
Some people may have the opposite effect on your recovery. They may enable unhealthy behaviors or create triggers that encourage opioid misuse. In this scenario, you may need to change your social circle and end certain relationships. These difficult relationships can involve:
- Friends: In some situations, you may have an easier time limiting friendships than other types of relationships. Consider each friend’s importance to your life and how you can reduce their influence on your addiction.
- Family: Sometimes, a family member can enable drug use through direct encouragement or triggers like abusive behavior. An outside professional such as a family counselor can help you find a solution.
- Professional peers: When a coworker or fellow student makes your symptoms worse, you may need to find ways to work around the situation. If you don’t feel comfortable addressing the issue with your employer or teacher, a counselor can help you build coping skills.
Learn More About Opioid Addiction and Recovery
For more information about opioid addiction recovery and treatment, contact BAART Programs online or call 844-341-4040.
