4 Ways You Can Help an Alcoholic or Drug Addict

Maintaining a friendship with someone who abuses drugs or alcohol can be extremely taxing. While you may want to help the person, he or she may not want your help because they may be in denial that they even have a problem to begin with. That being said, don’t get down on yourself; there are several ways that you can still help an alcoholic or drug addict get the help that they need.

5 Ways to Help an Alcoholic or Drug Addict

Have an Intervention- When most people think of drug or alcohol interventions, they get a negative picture in their heads of someone being ganged up on by family and friends. However, this is not the purpose nor does it have to be the intention of a drug intervention. If done with love and respect without confrontation and judgment it can prove to be a powerful and successful method for getting help for people who need it.
Talk To Them 1 on 1- If you’re not entirely comfortable with doing an intervention, sometimes it makes more sense to try to talk to the drug/alcohol addict on a personal level about their struggles. Sometimes people who are struggling are afraid or ashamed to ask for help. In these instances, it can therefore be a relief to some to have a close friend confront them in a non threatening way about what is going on so that the proper help can be sought out on their behalf.
Set Boundaries- Drug addiction and/or alcohol abuse doesn’t just affect the drug addict; it affects everyone around them. For this reason, you may have to be honest with your friend or family member who is abusing drugs/alcohol. Letting someone know that you don’t want to be around them when they are drunk or high is not a form of abandonment. Rather, it is a wake up call for most to let them know that their addiction is negatively impacting others. Remember that you cannot take care of someone else if you are allowing your own life to be consumed by something that is out of your control.
Be Selfish- If you have struggled with drug addiction issues in the past, and you are now dealing with someone else who is struggling with drug addiction issues, do yourself a favor and help yourself first. This is especially true if the other person’s behaviour is leading you to use again. Go to AA meetings or enroll yourself in a drug and alcohol rehab program. Remember that you are going to be of little help to others if you can’t first take care of your own needs.