DO'S

Educate Yourself

Take the time to learn about addiction through research and reading. Becoming more educated on the topic of addiction will allow you to better understand what your loved one is feeling – and what he or she has gone through in active addiction – and what to expect in early recovery.

Communicate

Honesty is crucial – even if it’s difficult or negative. Opening up the conversation is better than saying nothing at all.

Connect

Find a local support group for families, friends or spouses of addiction where you’re able to open up about what you’re feeling and thinking when your loved one comes home from rehab.

Watching someone you care about spiral deeper into addiction is gut-wrenching. You want to help. You’ve probably already tried. But when they shut the door on treatment, it can feel like you’re out of options.
Sometimes it’s someone who’s never taken the first step; still convinced they can handle it on their own.
Other times, it’s a relapse. Round two (or three) of a battle they thought they’d already won. If you’re in this second group, we’ve written a full guide on what to do when someone you love relapses.