There are also outpatient programs offered within community agencies, such as your community mental-health agency. Depending on alcohol or drugs to cope won't help. Use of alcohol or drugs may also interfere with your cancer treatment. The most difficult part about having a problem with drugs or alcohol is admitting that you have one. Once you have done that, help is there for you.
People often feel guilty or ashamed about being addicted, but addiction is an illness, as cancer is.
Just as we hope you won't deny yourself lifesaving treatment for your cancer, we hope you won't deny yourself the same for a drug or alcohol problem. If you are a family member of a person with addiction problems, consider getting help for yourself. Even if the patient is reluctant to admit the problem or to seek help, families still have to deal with the effects of alcohol or drug dependency, plus the stress of a cancer diagnosis. Talk to your social worker or nurse about services available within the hospital or in the community. Even if you've already tried before to give up your addiction and it hasn't worked, please try again.