Getting treatment for a substance use disorder is a wonderful idea. After all, drug or alcohol use upends nearly every area of a person’s life. Going through treatment and launching your recovery journey allows you to reclaim your ability to build the life you would like to have.
Getting treatment for a substance use disorder is also a deeply personal and private decision. The fact that you are living in recovery is also a fact that you may or may not feel comfortable sharing with just anyone.
There are, however, some people who do need to know about your treatment and the recovery efforts that follow it. Let’s take a look at who should be on your “needs to know” list—and who you can leave off that list.
Let’s start with the most obvious folks who need to know: Your closest adult family members.
Keeping Family and Friends in the Loop
If you are married or in a longstanding relationship, you will, of course, want your partner to have a full understanding of what you will be doing to overcome a substance use disorder and move forward with your life. This is especially important if your partner is also a drug or alcohol user. Together, you will have to decide what treatment and recovery mean for your relationship.
Are there other adult family members who need to know? That depends on the nature of your relationships with those family members. Have your parents or siblings been a source of support and help when you have been struggling—not just with substances but other ways as well? Having a strong family support system can be a wonderful thing in recovery, so taking advantage of your positive relationships is a good idea.
What about your kids? Well, that likely depends on how old they are. There are resources available to help even young children understand what their parent might be going through, but it is up to you how specific you want to be. If your children are older—or even adults—honesty about your situation is probably the way to go.
When it comes to your extended family, you can pick and choose who—if anyone—needs to know your situation. Key to this, of course, is making sure that the family members who do know also know that they should not share any information with others without talking to you first.
All of the advice above applies to your friends, too. Your closest, most supportive friends probably should know your situation. Your extended network of friends and acquaintances might not.
Keeping Your Boss and HR in the Loop
In order to pursue treatment, you will likely need to take some time off from work. To do so, you will have to inform your boss—and your company’s human resources department—of your plans. Doing so ensures that you comply with company policies and that the company complies with the laws applicable to those struggling with a substance use disorder. Honesty on the front end might also make it easier to arrange accommodations once your recovery is underway. For example, you might need to request an adjusted work schedule in order to regularly attend 12-Step or other recovery program meetings. A boss who has been informed throughout the process is likely more inclined to help when they are able.
Do your coworkers need to know about your treatment and recovery? That might vary by circumstance. The individuals you work most closely with are likely aware to one degree or another that you have been struggling. Maybe they don’t know just how or why, but they are probably aware that something has been off. But it is up to you whether anyone at your job needs to have the details. Sharing can build trust and help repair relationships that might have frayed while you were using drugs or alcohol. On the other hand, you are entitled to your privacy.
Keeping a New Romantic Partner in the Loop
We have already considered who needs to know about your treatment and recovery when it comes to your friends and family. But what if you meet someone new and you think romance may be blooming?
In this situation, we believe that honesty is the best policy. We also think it is an excellent idea to pay careful attention to how the person reacts to the news—both at first and further down the line.
We are decidedly not saying that you must inform someone that you are in recovery on a first date. But you probably do not want to let a relationship become serious without broaching the topic of your recovery.
We Are Here to Help
Wooded Glen Recovery Center is consistently counted among the best substance use disorder treatment centers in the country. Located in Henryville, Indiana, Wooded Glen provides personalized, evidence-based treatment plans and ongoing resources and support through our aftercare programs. When you are ready to start living again, we can help you learn how.