One of the most frustrating and futile feelings in the world is watching someone you love suffer through drug and/or alcohol addiction.
Because of the nature of addiction, more often than not they will not even see that they have a problem.  Everyone else sees it, however. It used to be thought that only the drug addict could ask for help, but that theory is outdated. It is not uncommon at all for a loved one to be the first to call in to a drug rehab center and ask how to get help. The family and friends are just as affected by the drug as the abuser themselves are. Living with an addict isn’t easy. Calling them out isn’t easy either, but it is usually affective in getting them help.
Never lie or cover up for the addict. In fact, let them know that this is your intention. Let them know that you love them and you hate seeing what the drug is doing to them, but you are not going to lie or cover up for them anymore. Be true to your word. If they pass out from a drug-induced state on the front steps, leave them there. It is their addiction, not yours and you are not responsible for it. Remain as positive as possible, but be very clear about how they need to get help for their addiction. Do not allow their addiction to destroy you. This is a conscious choice that you make. Yes, it is difficult to watch a loved one go through addiction, but by separating yourself, you may just force them to see the light and get some help.
If you normally loan the addict money, stop. If worse comes to worse and they cannot get their drug and threaten suicide, call 911. That will put them right where they need to be. If possible, gather family and friends together to talk to the addict. You do not have to be tough and confrontational. Just tell them how you feel about their addiction. Despite what people may think, addicts do often seek help when there is intervention. Anyone with a loved one with an addiction can also call a rehab center and find out more about what can be done to help the addict. It may be awkward at first, but you have to distance yourself from them.
It is their addiction…
Author: National Addiction Resources
America's Best Treatment Directory
My son is a drug addict and has been in and out of rehab’s, he has lied -stoling from his family and friend’s , he has lost everything that he has had in his life, I’m his mother and I will alway’s be here for him, I can’t understand why he won’t try harder than what he has to get better, he has a little boy that he should be with, you would think that he would do it for him if not for himself, Is there something that I can do, I do give him money for food and cloth’s and I pay for his place where he stay’s, he has NO money,I need to help with these thing’s so he will survive.
I probably wouldn’t recommend that someone leave an addict passed out anywhere. Regardless of whether it has happened before, you think they are okay, or whether it isn’t your addiction, I would suggest calling 911. You will not only be assuring that they are okay, but if they wake up in a hospital bed, it may open their eyes. I agree that you have to be stern and sometimes harsh towards an addict…but leaving someone that has passed out on a porch or on the sidewalk due to drugs, regardless of the drug? I must say, that is a bit absurd and far from adequate advice to place in an article on how to help a drug addict.
my brother was a drugie but with tuff love from my my mom he got himself out of it and now he i living good life with nice stuff and cars..all he needed was a little motovation from family.and sef motovation
My 52 yr old brother is an alcoholic and drug addict. He is destroying my mother. My mother enables him but she is getting stonger. I called the police to assist yesterday, thought he OD’d. Ambulance came, of course he denied taking or doing anything. Could not function. Squad checked his sugar and it was down. Willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that maybe now he has sugar issues. Squad takes him to hospital after much debate. He didn’t want to go and they way I saw it he was going to the hospital or what ever it took to get him out of moms house. Mom picked up a blood stick with point off the floor that was left behind. She got stuck in the hand and it drew blood. My brother is Hep-C positive. Bastard. Now we have to worry my mom will contract Hep-C from my POS brother who is so selfish he puts us in these positions with his addiction. Goes to hospital. Test results, no sugar problem, under the influence of alcohol and drugs. I can’t even care anymore. I worry for my mom. She is 74 and my brother is slowly killing her. We/she has reached out to many for help for him. Doors slammed in our face. One place even said the government is requiring them to take women over men because the women need the help more. That is BS. We all pay taxes and some of these programs are funded by our taxes. If you are white and male you might as well forget it. The help is not there for you.
my grown son that is living with me is a herion addict. he is stealing fron me and his girlfriend. he will not leave my home. what should i do to get him out of my hone. my grandchildren are over and its a bad situation. ??????