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