Support for Friends and Families
What can I do?
First, take care of yourself. The healthier you are, the more you can handle stress and support the people you love.
- Eat well, get enough sleep, and exercise daily. Doing these things will stabilize your energy levels and produce natural stress-relieving hormones.
- Limit or avoid alcohol and drugs. They don’t relieve stress and often add to it.
- Get time for yourself. Doing things like deep breathing, meditation and progressive muscle relaxation can reduce stress and give you the space you need to think clearly.
- Get the support you need. Remember, it’s not your fault and you’re not alone.
- Decide how much physical, emotional and financial support you can provide to your loved one, and tell them in clear terms what you are and are not willing to do or put up with. Learn how to
set healthy boundaries and practice doing it.
Talking to loved ones and friends
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has practical tips about
how to talk about substance abuse with a friend or loved one, and good resources on dependency and addiction.
If a family member or friend you know has been prescribed opioids, or if they have had a surgery, injury or chronic pain where pain medication may have been prescribed, ask if they’re using opioids and find out their plan for stopping use. Learn about different
treatment options and where to find help.
Learn about
addiction and the signs of addiction.
Familiarize yourself with the signs of over medication
- slurred speech;
- stumbling while walking;
- dizziness or confusion;
- excessive drowsiness or difficulty staying alert; and
- difficulty waking from sleep.
Know what an overdose looks like
- slow, shallow breathing;
- extreme sleepiness;
- inability to talk, or unconsciousness;
- blue or grayish skin color;
- dark lips and fingernail;
- snoring or gurgling sounds.
Know the signs and know what to do
Know how to
respond to an overdose and call for emergency medical attention if any of these signs appear:
- Failure to respond when spoken to;
- Failure to wake up when prompted;
- Slow or no breathing;
- Tiny pupils (the center part of the eye);
- Fingernails or lips are turning blue or purple;
Act fast to respond to an opioid overdose
- Opioid overdose is life-threatening and requires immediate emergency attention. Call 911 immediately.
- If the person has stopped breathing or if breathing is very weak, begin CPR (best performed by someone who has training).
- If the person has Narcan®, use it as directed.
If a close friend or family member is at risk of overdose
- Learn about naloxone, a drug that blocks or reverses the effects of heroin or opioid prescriptions.
- Make sure they know how to get tested for
serious infections that can result from injection drug use.
Talk to your children
Talk to your children about drugs, why people use them and why they are harmful. When discussing drug use with your kids, remember to:
- Employ age-appropriate advice and keep talking about it as kids get older.
- Focus on the facts, including how prescription medicines can be helpful to people if used appropriately.
- Set clear rules and expectations around drug use.
- Give kids an out – maybe a code word they can call or text if they’re in a situation they want to get out of quickly.
- Keep the door open whenever they want to talk.
- At the same time, do positive, healthy things with your kids.
Keep in the mind the importance of modeling and discussing ways of handling stress, crises, and the ups and downs of daily life without relying on alcohol or drugs.
Find support
Support groups for families and friends of people who are addicted:
In-person
Online