Living with Someone Who Has a Drinking or Drug Problem

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HealthWiki > Where Women Have No Doctor > Chapter 28: Alcohol and Other Drugs > Living with Someone Who Has a Drinking or Drug Problem

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In this chapter:

 

In this chapter:

Someone in your family or household may have a problem with alcohol or drugs. Living with this can be very difficult for you, especially if the person does not want to change. You can help yourself and your family by:

• not blaming yourself. It is not always possible to help other people control their drug or alcohol use.
• focusing on the things you are doing well and acknowledging your efforts.
• finding a support group for you and your family. This is one of the best ways to help all of you cope with the problem.

I found out I was a people gatherer...What got me to move forward was other people around me. I did not think of myself as a leader, but there I was, getting people together to talk about this.

Women whose partners use injection drugs are at risk for getting HIV and hepatitis.

How to help someone with a drinking or drug problem:

• Talk to them about stopping when they are not drunk or on drugs.
• Help them admit they have a problem. This is the first step someone needs to take to use less or stop completely.
• Try not to blame them.
• Help them avoid situations where they may feel pressured to drink or take drugs. This means not spending time with people who have a drinking or drug problem, even if they are friends.
• Help them find other ways to cope with life’s problems and to support their mental health.
• Help them make a plan for stopping and follow that plan.

More Information

helping relationships

This page was updated:13 Nov 2023