It’s an unfortunate circumstance that your immediate or extended family, someone is a substance abuser. Maybe it’s alcoholism, maybe it’s heroin, maybe it’s prescription pills, maybe it’s marijuana, maybe it’s cocaine, maybe it just began last week, but there are no maybes about this person having a problem. It’s not just affecting this person anymore. It’s affecting the family. It’s affecting you.
There is no textbook on this per se, but there are levels of substance abuse, if you will. It’s sort of a ‘you-know-how-bad-it-is-when-you-see-it’ type of situation. This is true with all substances, too. Not all problematic drinkers are on the same level of abuse, and neither are all heroin users. Of course, any and all abuse of substances is dangerous and potentially fatal, so don’t get us wrong. We’re confident, though, you know what we mean.
The reason we bring this up? This article is not about how to intervene. This article is not about how to step in and get an addicted family member help. If you have an addicted family member and you feel as though he or she is in danger and/or out of control and needs immediate help, you get that person immediate help. So, before we give you our five ways to cope with having a substance-abusing family member, read the following if this person is addicted and not just abusing.

How to Step In when Necessary
Step one is to find an intervention specialist by searching online and/or by using the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline or calling Arrow Passage Recovery at 844-347-0543. Step two is to form the intervention group. You’re going to want a handful of people who all care deeply about the addicted person but also want very badly for that person to get help. Step three (or the only step if you prefer to not intervene but rather seek advice/help in a less confrontational fashion) is to reach out to a substance abuse treatment center, or to several, and speak with professionals. The overwhelming majority of people employed with treatment centers will be more than happy to spend some time answering any questions you have. If in a rare instance you call and find the center unwilling to converse, try a different one.Prelude to the Five Ways
Okay so here we are. You have a family member who is either abusing drugs for sure, or is under high suspect for doing so. It’s not out of control, but it’s a problem and you need to learn how to deal with it. Here’s how. These five bits of advice are in no order whatsoever. They are all equally important in both dealing with the situation in a healthy way and maintaining your own sanity during these times. Again, if this family member is spiraling out of control, stop reading this and seek professional help. Please do not use this list as a way to turn a blind eye to something you know is a problem, and even could be the eventual downfall of a human being. Exercise our advice with caution. Five Ways to Cope with a Drug-Using Family Member1. EDUCATE YOURSELF.
Making any kind of claim without knowing anything is making an assumption, and we all know how the old saying goes. So educate yourself on drug abuse and addiction. You need to be aware of the signs and hints that someone is abusing drugs. Each substance of abuse has its own set of signs, and to get in-depth on each substance would be an entire other article. For example, signs of alcohol abuse (slurred speech, alcohol odor, excessive cologne/gum) are far different that the signs of heroin abuse (nodding in and out, delayed reaction, marks on arms). There are, however, several universal signs of substance abuse that we would like to share with you. Some of these signs may be more prominent than others, depending on which substance is being abused. Regardless, if your family member is exhibiting some of these signs, you can consider yourself one step closer to confirmation of substance abuse. Some universal signs of substance abuse include:- Loss of control – The person is unable to moderate his or her alcohol/drug use.
- Excessive absence – The person is not present where normally present, or excuses self often.
- Risk-taking – The person is engaging in unusually risky or excessive behavior(s).
- Shift in persona – The person’s character and/or physical appearance begins to change.
- Lack of hygiene – The person’s level of self-care drops significantly.
- Withdrawal symptoms – The person is excessively tired, edgy or depressed, or is nauseous/vomiting/exhibiting other signs of drug/alcohol withdrawal.