Family and friends can play a crucial role in supporting someone with substance use disorder by:
Educating themselves: Understanding substance use disorder to provide informed and empathetic support
Encouraging treatment: Supporting the individual in seeking and adhering to treatment plans
Being patient and understanding: Recognizing the challenges of recovery and offering non-judgmental support
Avoiding enabling behavior: Encouraging healthy behaviors and setting boundaries to avoid enabling substance use
Providing emotional support: Offering a listening ear, encouragement, and understanding
Participating in support groups: Joining support groups for families of individuals with substance use disorder to share experiences and gain insights