How to Help Someone with Drugs and Alcohol Addiction

• Do you know someone who deals with drugs and alcohol addiction?
• How many times have they promised to stop drinking?
• It is hard for you to see your loved one relapse and struggle. How do you handle your complicated emotions?

The person you care for is hurting themselves and you feel helpless. Although you wish you could take the pain away from this person and stop them from going back to drugs or alcohol, it often isn’t that simple. Even when it feels like there is nothing you can do, know that the little steps you take in helping them matter. You may not be able to stop this person break their addiction, but you can try your best to: support them, display understanding, and assist them in any way you can.

Drugs and Alcohol Addiction: What Are These Addictions All About? 

The Mayo Clinic defines it as a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior; this disorder causes them to use drugs or alcohol recklessly. The substance abuse makes people to turn to alcohol and drugs in their day-to-day life. People can be addicted to taking different drugs like opioids or drinking alcohol – no matter what the addiction entails, it is a serious matter. When someone has an addiction, it can be challenging to get them to stop hurting themselves. Many people get consumed by the use of these substances and get addicted to how they feel while using them. According to the NIH, people usually decide to take drugs in the first place willingly, but after time progresses, they find it hard to stop. Their brains have adapted to the highs and rushes or each substance.

The NIH goes on to say that the “good feelings/highs” people experience while on drugs become overly desired in our brains. The more you use these substances, the more your brain adapts to needing more and more. For example, imagine you start doing a sport like track. It makes you feel exhilarated while you are running – this feeling becomes addictive. In order to have your rush from doing track continue, you keep chasing that feeling by increasing how much you run each day. Substance use disorder acts the same way; unfortunately, the substances used over and over again are not as healthy as exercise – they often times can result in life-threatening consequences.

How Do I Know My Loved One Is Suffering With Alcoholism or Substance Abuse?

Here are some ways you can tell if someone is dealing with drugs and alcohol addiction:

• Many times when you see the person they are drunk or high
• They talk about drinking multiple times throughout the week
• They can’t have fun without using substances
• Their work and personal life is being negatively affected by their drug or alcohol use
• Your loved one is participating in risky behavior and chasing thrills in life
• They are acting differently (i.e. more aggressive, confrontational, or irrational)
• When you bring up their drug or alcohol use, they get very defensive and upset

Why Is It Important to Support People with Drugs and Alcohol Addiction?

The NCDAS reports that there have been 700,000 deaths from substance abuse in the US since 2000. Substance use can lead to so many horrible events. Due to their addiction, many people begin to change in personality and essence. The person you once knew who was happy-go-lucky has changed to a withdrawn and suffering soul. Substance use often negatively affects a person’s life in many ways. People will see strains in their family, professional, and romantic lives. If someone’s thoughts are consumed by drugs and alcohol, it is hard to think of others and carry out their designated roles in life. For example, if you are dating someone with a drug addiction, this problem will probably infringe on your relationship. You love this person a lot, but you worry that they will ever receive help for their addiction.

You want desperately to support someone with drugs and alcohol addiction. It can be confusing when you are figuring out how to support someone with substance use issues. Although times are tough, remember that any effort you make towards helping them matters. Research shows that social support increasingly aids people in staying sober. This is why the main recovery people excel in is through groups like AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and NA (Narcotics Anonymous). These groups allow people to support one other and feel understood. 

How to Help Someone With an Addiction

Open Your Heart to People in Need

There are many reasons people turn to substance use. Genetic predisposition and family history affect people’s chance of being addicted, of course. Along with these genetic factors, there are usually other things happening inside of someone that make them want to turn to drugs or alcohol. Many times, people, especially teens, feel pressured to fit in and use substances to be like everyone else. If you worry about your teen and want them to open up to you more, read our article here for more information. 

Many people also turn to substances as an escape. There are many truths and experiences people are trying to escape from in their lives. This can include feelings of isolation, loneliness, or being lost. Without people around them helping them through tough times, drugs and alcohol call addicts’ names and comfort them. One way you can help not just addicts, but anyone in this world, is to open your heart to others. If you see someone you love or even just another classmate isolated and seemingly sad, check-in with them.

Studies show that social support for LGBTQ+ people is very important for their mental health and wellbeing. Without supportive spaces or people to turn to, suicidal rates increase for this population. Many LGBTQ+ people struggle with substance abuse issues, as well. According to the NIH, people who are LGBTQ+ have higher rates of substance abuse patterns. If your loved on is part of this community, make sure they know that you are always there for them!

Show Them How Much You Care

If you know someone who is choosing to get help for their addiction, try to support them by checking in and asking how they are. Let them know how much they mean to you and how proud you are of them for taking the steps to improve their lives. Ask them if there is anything they need and listen to them if they need to vent or cry.

Fighting drugs and alcohol addiction is hard; it comes with many obstacles. Many people will relapse numerous times on their journeys – each time, offer a warm embrace, a shoulder to cry on, and an ear to listen. Addiction can make someone feel very isolated or alone. Show your loved ones how surrounded by the support they are.

Educate Yourself and Advocate for People with Drugs and Alcohol Addiction

It can be hard to understand the actions of your loved one with substance abuse problems. Sometimes, they may act in ways that make you upset or confuse you. Try your best to educate yourself on what addiction does and how you can help your friend/family member. The more you educate yourself, the more you can help others learn. This will cause a ripple affect and cause more and more people to help people struggling with addiction. 

There is a lot of stigma in the world about people suffering from addiction. The NIH talks about this topic in their article found here. The article talks about how people with addiction are often treated like they have a “moral weakness and flawed character.” Their addiction is not looked at as a disease that deserves attention and help. This causes even more problems because medical treatment is often lacking for these populations and they are not given the support they desperately need. Help fight this stigma by educating others and speaking up for people with addiction! No one wants to be looked at as misunderstood or an outcast – this will only further isolate them.

Have Fun Doing Activities That Don’t Involve Alcohol or Drugs

Although it is fun to go out for the night and drink, it’d be nice to do activities that don’t involve alcohol/drugs with your recovering friend. Some fun suggestions would be:

• Go bowling
• Listen to music
• Watch a movie
• Go rollerskating
• Play board games
• Do something creative (i.e. paint, sketch, take photos)

Have Patience and Empathy

When someone is fighting addiction, every day can bring new challenges and obstacles. Relapse is very common for people to encounter on their journeys with sobriety. Try your best to have patience with these people when they go through rougher period in their lives. Having empathy allows you to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and imagine how they are feeling. This increases our compassion for others in many ways.

Know that many people can only receive help if they are ready for it. They need to make the conscious decision to better their lives for themselves and the people around them. Have patience with the process and know that you are doing everything you can to help! 

Take Care of Yourself

When someone you love has any type of addiction, it can put a lot of weight on your shoulders. Make sure you are taking care of yourself and valuing your own physical and mental health. Check in with your emotions and honor how you are feeling. Sometimes, being someone’s support system can be emotionally draining. Take care of yourself by:

• Taking time to meditate and relax
• Ensuring your own health
  • Get enough sleep
  • Eating nutritious food and working out
• Journaling about your emotions and keeping tabs on rough days
  • Ask yourself:
  • When did I start feeling this way?
  • Why do I feel this way?
  • What can I do to make myself feel better?

Assist Your Loved One in Finding Professional Help

You can assist your loved one with addiction by helping them look up/find AA or NA groups to join. These groups allow people to find others who understand them, want to recover, and stay motivated. You can also help your loved one find a therapist to talk to. Many times, people with addiction also have other mental illnesses going on in their bodies and minds. They can be struggling with addiction on top of feelings of, for example, depression. Mind Connections can help people deal with their co-existing conditions. We have therapists that are trained to provide support for anyone with depression, anxiety, trauma, and more.  Our therapists can help people find tools to cope with these problems, build self-esteem, overcome fits of anger, heal from the past, grow in the future, and live happier/healthier lives overall.

If you are someone who has a family member/loved one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, it can strain you mentally as well. You may spend a lot of time worrying about them and supporting them emotionally. If you need support for these times in your life, the therapists at Mind Connections would love to support you! You deserve to live a happier and healthier life overall.

Content Creator, Victoria Gallo; Reviewed by Dr. June Cao