Denver's women-only program for mental health, trauma and substance use.Call Admissions 833.754.0554
Women’s Recovery Call Admissions
Call 833.754.0554Verify Insurance

How to deal with a drug addict daughter

Concern can begin a caring conversation, not a confrontation.

If this is close to what you’ve been living with, start with one conversation. You don’t have to be in crisis, and you don’t have to know what to call it. That’s our job.

Created by Tim Francis, SUD and Mental Health Content Specialist

Updated

Call Admissions · 833.754.0554 Verify Insurance

You do not need every answer today. A calm conversation with Women’s Recovery at 833.754.0554 can help you consider a practical next step.

Dark sofa with patterned pillows and a glass table
Mother talking with her teenage child attempting to figure out how to deal with a drug addict daughter

Original article

Learning about family trauma and ways of supporting a daughter may help you approach her with care while respecting her independence.

Women have specific needs when it comes to substance use disorders. Young women, even more so. Knowing this topic if she is battling a substance use disorder can be difficult. Having the guidance of professionals with experience dealing with addicted women can help you better help your daughter. Family therapy programs work to involve families in the treatment and recovery process.

A women’s treatment program in Colorado can provide you with the tools you need to get your daughter the help she needs. Call on Women’s Recovery today at 833.754.0554.

Plum armchairs beside a window table

This topic

There are many ways you can support your daughter if they are battling a substance use disorder. Your role as a parent is to help them, no matter the circumstances, even if it seems like they do not want your help. It may not be easy to get your daughter to the point of getting treatment. Addiction takes over a person’s life, and they do not think rationally. They may think they can manage it on their own when, in reality, they cannot.

Here are some of the best ways you can support your daughter as they battle a drug addiction:

Lounge with purple chairs, cream sofa and table

Find Them Help

Probably the most crucial first step is to figure out how, where, and when you can get them the addiction treatment they require. It may be tough to get them to agree with it, but parents have to do hard things and make hard choices for their children.

Be Positive

No matter how negative your daughter may be and how much she may push back about getting treatment, you will need to continue to talk up the short and long-term benefits.

Lounge with purple chairs and dried flowers

Do Not Enable Them

As a parent, you would do anything for your child, but that does not include acquiescing and allowing them to go back down a dangerous path of substance use. They need to know that their actions have consequences.

Be Part of the Process

If family therapy is part of the treatment program, be involved. It is essential that your daughter has a support system that is well-rounded with peers, professionals, and family.

Help Them With the Details

Even adults need help, especially when dealing with addiction. Offer to help your daughter with details that may seem overwhelming to them, like paperwork, dealing with insurance, and more.

Plum chairs, table and flower painting

My Daughter Is an Addict – A Women’s treatment Program in Colorado Can Help

Once you are aware that your daughter has a problem, approaching them about it is the next step. But this can be hard. Getting them into a treatment program will be the best thing you can do for them. A women’s treatment program is even more beneficial because it focuses on the unique needs of women.

Depending on the severity of her addiction, your daughter may need a detox program before she begins any outpatient programming. After an intake evaluation, a treatment professional can advise what is right for your daughter. As a parent, it can be easy to blame yourself for your daughter’s addiction, but your energy should be focused on her getting better and not dwelling on the past.

Seating area with a sofa, round table, plants and artwork at Women’s Recovery

Contact Women’s Recovery Today

To find out what the best treatment options are for your daughter, it’s best to consult a therapeutic team at an accredited treatment center like Women’s Recovery. They will not only help you with how to approach your daughter about her addiction but also how you can be involved in the treatment and recovery process. Outpatient therapy allows for the flexibility of receiving treatment while still living independently and being able to work or go to school.

Women’s Recovery treats many substance use disorders, including:

Call Women’s Recovery at 833.754.0554 or reach out online to learn how to deal with a drug-addicted daughter.

Common questions

Explore articles on mental health and substance use and recovery resources for women for related guidance. Call admissions when you want to discuss your own situation.

Call Admissions
01 What should I say if my daughter denies that anything is wrong?

Avoid debating whether she has a disorder. Describe the changes you have personally noticed, explain why they concern you and make room to understand how she sees the situation. You can acknowledge her answer even when you disagree. Let her know you are available to talk again or help her explore care if she chooses.

02 Should the whole family speak with her together?

A group conversation may feel pressuring, especially if relatives arrive with accusations or demands. Consider who has a trusting relationship with her and can speak calmly. One respectful conversation may create more room for honesty. Other family members can agree privately on consistent boundaries and avoid sending conflicting messages.

03 Can treatment help if substance use has affected work or family life?

Treatment can help a person stop or reduce drug use, address related harm and regain functioning at work, at home and in the community. The appropriate approach depends on individual needs. Options may include outpatient counseling, office or telehealth visits, group sessions, medication support or a combination of care.

04 How can I help without taking over her recovery?

Let her share what kind of support she wants before acting. You might listen, help organize concerns or join her while she makes a call. Respect a no, and avoid managing appointments or decisions unless she requests that help. You can care deeply while recognizing that her choices and recovery remain her own.

05 How can I contact us?

Call Women’s Recovery at 833.754.0554 for a conversation about your concerns and possible next steps. Women’s Recovery is located at 3801 E Florida Ave, Ste 650, Denver, CO 80210. You may call for yourself or while supporting an adult daughter who wants to participate in the conversation.

Evidence behind this page

Supporting health information

Read how we select health information sources and apply the Women’s Recovery editorial policy. These references provide general education and context; they do not establish an individual diagnosis, service, or treatment recommendation.

01 Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol: How to Ask For Help? | SAMHSA samhsa.gov View source 02 Treatment | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) nida.nih.gov View source 03 Recovery and Support | SAMHSA samhsa.gov View source
If you can't believe that yet, borrow my hope. Just long enough to find your own.

Women’s Recovery graduate

Start with one conversation. Tell us what you're carrying. We'll walk you through the next step and verify your benefits.

Call Admissions · 833.754.0554 Verify Insurance