Try your hardest not to be moralistic or punitive in dealing with an addict. Instead of making threats or getting angry, express your concern. My patients are full of guilt, shame and resentment about their alcoholism or addiction. These are all stigma-related and they interfere with the ability to recover. But we're dealing with a medical problem that's like other chronic diseases.
Addicts are people, too, with a right to get well.
They need the opportunity to redeem themselves. If you shut them out of your life, they don't have that opportunity. Q Many alcoholics and other drug addicts in recovery relapse more than once. A Every case is different. Some people don't have the necessary support systems or they're facing another major crisis in their lives.