6 Helpful Things You Can Say to a Friend or Family Member Who is an Addict

Discovering that someone close to you is an addict is a scary thing to face. But imagine how much scarier it is for the addict whose secret has been discovered. It’s easy to generate a negative response to hearing this news, but this may only lead to pushing your loved one or friend away. Instead, here are six helpful things that you can say to improve their steps to seeking help and recovering from their addiction.

“Everyone Needs Help”

Not everyone is capable of being 100% at every stage of their life every single day. Letting them know that they don’t have to endure this problem alone and that there are people who want to help them will help them to seek out the various methods of addiction recovery. Seeking the help of a professional may reveal the real reasons for a person’s addiction in the first place, such as a dual diagnosis treatment.

“You’re Not Alone”

Letting an addict know that they’re not alone in their problems lets them know that they have your support, no matter how difficult the struggle may be. They want to know that they can come to you with any problems without feeling judged. The statement is also true: as of 2010, at least 23.5 million Americans have some kind of problem with substance abuse.

“Addiction Treatment Works”

This steps around the problem of sugarcoating the solution. Although treatment works differently on a case-by-case basis, a 2018 study shows that the support of friends and family can greatly increase one’s chances of succeeding in recovery.

“It’s Not Your Fault”

Addiction is sometimes misconstrued as being an easy way out for some people so that they don’t have to deal with life in general, but more and more studies are proving that drug addiction is actually a disease. No one actually wants to become an addict; it’s the underlying problem that leads them to this choice. However, this doesn’t mean that the addict isn’t responsible for the steps they take towards recovery.

“I Love You”

Three words are sometimes all it takes to remind an addict that they are loved and that people care about their well-being. That confronting them with this problem is not an attack on them but a means to understand what is happening and what can be done to remedy the situation.

“Can I Help?”

Although an addict may not be willing to accept help, letting them know that you’re willing to offer whatever time you have and a listening ear can be all that they need. Offer to take care of their chores or a pet while they’re in recovery, or be willing to walk them to and from the recovery facility.

Keeping a stable connection with someone who is an addict can make all of the difference in the world. Shutting them off or turning them away only aggravates the problem and makes them more likely to seek out their vices rather than help. Exercise patience in these troubling times and be the stable rock that your friend or loved one needs you to be.