Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFind Support for YourselfFind an Approach That WorksExpect DifficultiesEstablish TrustCommunicate EffectivelyIf You Participate In TreatmentWhat to Expect In TreatmentFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Find Support for Yourself

Find an Approach That Works

Expect Difficulties

Establish Trust

Communicate Effectively

If You Participate In Treatment

What to Expect In Treatment

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a friend or relative who is living withaddiction, you might be wondering how you can help. To be clear, it’s not always easy to make the decision to provide help with substance use or another type of addiction. However, your loved one will often have a greater chance of overcoming their challenges with your support.

This article discusses how to help an addict. It includes strategies you can use to help a friend or loved one who needs help managing their substance use. We also discuss support for families, so you know what to do for yourself while also providing help and support to your loved one.

DoFocus on building trustTell your loved one know how the addiction is affecting your life and your relationshipRespect their privacy while being supportiveDon’tThreaten or give ultimatumsCriticize, which can contribute to shameExpect immediate change

DoFocus on building trustTell your loved one know how the addiction is affecting your life and your relationshipRespect their privacy while being supportive

Focus on building trust

Tell your loved one know how the addiction is affecting your life and your relationship

Respect their privacy while being supportive

Don’tThreaten or give ultimatumsCriticize, which can contribute to shameExpect immediate change

Threaten or give ultimatums

Criticize, which can contribute to shame

Expect immediate change

Being in a relationship with a person who has a substance use disorder is often stressful. It’s important that you accept that what you are going through is difficult and seek support. There are many resources that exist for this purpose.

Consider joining asupport group, for instance, such asAl-Anonor Nar-Anon. Children and teens can get support from Alateen. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a variety of resources designed to provide insight and support for families of addicts.

It’s also essential to developstress management strategies. This is an important step in helping you help your loved one.These strategies will help you cope with the stressors you will likely encounter when helping a friend or family member seek and receive help with an addiction.

There are a number of different treatment options that can be effective, so it is important to consider the options. Think about which approach might be best suited to you and your loved one’s needs and goals.

Depending on the nature of the addiction, treatment might involvepsychotherapy, medication, support groups, or a combination of all of these. A few options include:

Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT)

CRAFT is an evidence-based method for helping families get help for loved ones. It has replaced traditionalinterventionsas the preferred method of helping people with addiction get the help they need, such as therapy.

Medication

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a number of medications that can be effective in the treatment of alcohol dependence and other substance use disorders. These include includingVivitrol (naltrexone), Campral (acamprosate), andSuboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone).

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Online Therapy

Inpatient Treatment or Rehabilitation

Inpatient treatment may provide the best results, especially when substance use is more severe or if the person has co-occurring disorders.Rehab programsusually last either 30, 60, or 90 days. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recommends that people spend a minimum of 90 days in treatment.

Support Groups

Twelve-step and peersupport groupscan also be helpful during the recovery process. These groups are aimed at promoting sobriety and may take a variety of approaches. Some promote total abstinence, while others focus on moderation. Many of these offer in-person meetings, but online support groups are also available.

Other important factors that can affect a person’s recovery include family involvement and other social supports.Family therapyis an important part of an effective addiction recovery plan.

RecapThere are a number of treatment options that can effectively treat addiction. Encourage your friend or loved one to talk to their doctor about using treatment programs, online therapy, or support groups as part of their recovery.

Recap

There are a number of treatment options that can effectively treat addiction. Encourage your friend or loved one to talk to their doctor about using treatment programs, online therapy, or support groups as part of their recovery.

How Effective Is Drug Treatment Addiction?

There are many reasons why it can be difficult to help someone you care about who has a substance use disorder. Your loved one:

There is no fast and easy way to help a person with an addiction.Overcoming addictionrequires a great deal of effort and support. If someone doesn’t want to change their behavior, trying to persuade them to get help is unlikely to work.

What you can do is take steps to help your loved one make changes in the long term. It’s also important that you get the support you need to cope, too.

If your loved one has already betrayed your trust, regaining and maintaining it can be tough. However,establishing trustis an important first step in helping someone with addiction think about change.

Avoid Trust-DestroyersNagging, criticizing, andlecturingYelling, name-calling, and exaggeratingEngaging in addictive behaviors yourself, even in moderation, which can be taken as hypocrisy

Avoid Trust-Destroyers

Nagging, criticizing, andlecturingYelling, name-calling, and exaggeratingEngaging in addictive behaviors yourself, even in moderation, which can be taken as hypocrisy

Trust is easily undermined, even when you are trying to help. There are a few things to keep in mind as you are thinking about talking to your loved one about their addiction.

The exception to allowing for consequences is if your loved one is doing something that could be harmful to themselves or others—for example, drinking and driving.

The Stages of Overcoming an Addiction

You might be more than ready to let your loved one know how you feel about the issues their addiction has caused and feel a strong urge to get them to change. Having an effective conversation involves learninghow to communicate with someone who has an addiction.

While it can be frustrating, remember that the decision to change is theirs.A person with an addiction is much more likely to be open to thinking about change if you communicate honestly, and without being threatening.

Communication techniques that can help get your conversation on the right foot include:

It’s also important to pay attention to yournon-verbal communication. If your body language or facial expressions are seen as negative, it may be more difficult for your loved one to view your concern as genuine or to accept your help.

If you want a person with a substance use disorder to change, you will probably have to change too. If you show you are willing to try, your loved one will be more likely to try as well.

If You Participate in Treatment

The process of treating addiction varies depending on the type of treatment that a person receives. If you are involved in your loved one’s treatment:

If your loved one chooses to pursue treatment on their own:

Press Play for Advice On Overcoming Addiction

What to Expect When a Loved One Receives Treatment

Once your loved one has decided to begin treatment, it can be helpful to know what to expect. The answer depends on a variety of factors including:

Long-term treatment and recovery will last for months or even years. Overall progress and setbacks during recovery can extend the duration of treatment.

During this time, there are things that you can do to offer support. Learning more about the treatment process and offering help with immediate needs—such as driving them to appointments or attending support group meetings with them—are all ways that you can support recovery.

A Word From Verywell

Having a friend or family member with an addiction can be difficult, but there are steps that you can take to support your loved one while caring for yourself. While you cannot force your loved one to change, encouraging them to get help and supporting them during treatment can help them succeed.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Yes. Many different agencies and organizations provide support for families—both virtually and in person. For example, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a variety of printable resources. It can also connect you with local treatment facilities. Nar-Anon, a 12-step program that offers a support group for families of people facing substance use, is another option.

In the end, if they refuse help, there’s not much you can do. That said, one way to help someone who refuses substance abuse help is to learn about their addiction, then try to find resources that might change their mind. Additionally, instead of confronting them, offer incentives to get them to speak to a doctor. Talking to a healthcare professional can sometimes convince them to seek addiction help more so than hearing this suggestion from a family member or friend.

13 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Treatment for alcohol problems: finding and getting help.

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