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Supporting Someone You Love

Your support matters—connection saves lives. Learn how to effectively help someone you care about on their recovery journey.

Your Support Matters—Connection Saves Lives

Recovery is rarely achieved in isolation. Your love, patience, and practical support can be the difference between someone finding help and continuing to struggle alone.

1
Encourage Recovery—Help Them Connect

Gently encourage your loved one to attend a support group meeting or connect with someone already in recovery. Don't force it, but make the option available and accessible. Sometimes just knowing someone cares enough to research options can be the motivation they need.

Ways to Encourage:

• Research meetings together and offer to help find the right fit
• Share stories of others who have found recovery
• Connect them with someone you know in recovery (with permission)
• Avoid ultimatums—focus on love and availability
• Respect their readiness while keeping the door open

2
Offer Practical Support—Show Up With Them

Remove barriers to recovery by offering practical help. Sometimes the difference between someone getting help and staying stuck is something as simple as transportation or moral support for that first scary step.

Practical Ways to Help:

• Offer rides to meetings, treatment appointments, or therapy
• Cover the cost of their first coffee or meeting literature
• Attend open meetings with them for moral support
• Help with childcare so they can attend meetings
• Assist with scheduling or insurance matters
• Be available for phone calls during difficult moments

Remember: You're supporting their recovery, not managing it. Offer help without taking over their responsibility for their own healing.

3
Stay Hopeful—Change Takes Time

Recovery is rarely a straight line. There may be setbacks, relapses, and moments of doubt. Your consistent hope and belief in their ability to change can be a powerful force, even when they don't believe in themselves.

Maintaining Hope:

• Celebrate small wins and progress, not just milestones
• Learn about addiction as a disease, not a moral failing
• Set healthy boundaries while maintaining love
• Take care of your own mental health and seek support
• Remember that recovery is possible at any stage
• Focus on their efforts, not just outcomes

Support for Supporters

Supporting someone in recovery can be emotionally challenging. You need support too.

Al-Anon: Support groups for families and friends of people with alcohol problems

Nar-Anon: Support groups for families and friends affected by someone's drug use

SMART Recovery Family & Friends: Tools and support for loved ones

Crisis Support

If your loved one is in immediate danger or you need urgent support:

Emergency Services: Call 911

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988

SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741