If Someone Close...

has a problem with alcohol or other drugs

(from The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information)

What Not To Do

• Don't attempt to punish, threaten, bribe, or preach.
• Don't try to be a martyr. Avoid emotional appeals that may only increase feelings of guilt and the compulsion to drink or use other drugs.
• Don't allow yourself to cover up or make excuses for the alcoholic or drug addict or shield them from the realistic consequences of their behavior.
• Don't take over their responsibilities, leaving them with no sense of importance or dignity.
• Don't hide or dump bottles, throw out drugs, or shelter them from situations where alcohol is present.
• Don't argue with the person when they are impaired or high.
• Don't try to drink along with the problem drinker or take drugs with the drug abuser.
• Above all, don't feel guilty or responsible for another's behavior.

What To Do

• Try to remain calm, unemotional, and factually honest in speaking about their behavior and its day-to-day consequences.
• Let the person with the problem know that you are reading and learning about alcohol and other drug abuse, attending Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, Alateen, and other support groups.
• Discuss the situation with someone you trust -- someone from the clergy, a social worker, a counselor, a friend, or some individual who has experienced alcohol or other drug abuse personally or as a family member.
• Establish and maintain a healthy atmosphere in the home, and try to include the alcohol/drug abuser in family life.
• Explain the nature of alcoholism and other drug addiction as an illness to the children in the family.
• Encourage new interests and participate in leisure time activities that the person enjoys.
• Encourage them to see oldfriends.
• Be patient and live one day at a time. Alcoholism and other drug addiction generally takes a long time to develop, and recovery does not occur overnight. Try to accept setbacks and relapses with calmness and understanding.
• Refuse to ride with anyone who's been drinking heavily or using other drugs.

Information and referral to community services can be obtained from such national organizations as:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
475 Riverside Dr.
New York, NY 10115
212-870-3400

Cocaine Anonymous (CA)
3740 Overland Avenue
Suite C
Los Angeles, CA 90034
310-559-5833

AL-non/Alateen Family Groups
P.O. Box 862
Midtown Station
New York, NY 10018-0862
800-344-2666 (U.S.)
800-443-4525

800-Cocaine
Information, referrals

800-ALCOHOL
Information, referrals

Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
P.O. Box 9999
Van Nuys, CA 91409
818-780-3951

Boys Town National Hotline
800-448-3000
Information, referrals

Nar-Anon Family Groups
P.O. Box 2562
Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274
213-547-5800

Local Alcoholics Anonymous Chapters and Al-Anon Family Groups are listed in most telephone
directories.

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD)
12 West 21st, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10017
800-NCA-CALL
800-622-2255

The NCADD offers a list or organizations in more than 100 cities that will refer clients to physicians, and public and private agencies providing treatment for alcoholism and other drug dependence. Some of these local NCADD organizations also offer counseling and treatment services.

 

Other Organizations:

National Association for Native American
Children of Alcoholics
611 12th Avenue S, Suite 200
Seattle, WA 98144
800-322-5601

National Association for Children of Alcoholics
11426 Rockville Pike, Suite 100
Rockville, MD 20852
301-468-0985

National Black Alcoholism and Addictions
Council
1629 K Street NW, Suite 802
Washington, DC 20006
202-296-2696

Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco
c/o Center for Science in the Public Interest
1875 Connecticut Avenue NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20009
202-332-9110