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Talk to your loved ones about your addiction.
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You’ve taken the first step to recovery. It’s never too late to ask for help. Everyone needs support in their recovery.
Talk to your loved ones about their addiction.
If you suspect someone you love has a problem:
- Choose the right time to talk. Be sure they are sober or have not been using.
- Voice your concern. Begin by expressing your concerns without making accusations (e.g., “Susan, can I ask you about your drug or alcohol use? I am concerned about you. Is there something going on we need to talk about?”).
- Be specific. Explain what you observed that concerns you. For example, you found missing pills or an empty pill bottle, you’ve noticed a change in appearance that may indicate a problem, or their school or work performance has declined.
- Be prepared for strong reactions. They may accuse you of snooping or say you’re crazy. Stay calm.
- Reinforce what you think about drug use and its dangers. Tell them how much you care for them.
- Get help from the experts. If you want to talk to someone about how to get treatment for their addiction, we can help.
Talk with your kids about the dangers of prescription opioids.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), young adults, ages 18 to 25, are the biggest abusers of prescription opioid pain relievers and other prescription drugs. Most kids get opioids from a friend or a parent’s medicine cabinet. In addition to talking with your kids about these drugs, you should always dispose of unused opioid medications to keep your family safe.
Tips on talking with your childabout prescription opioid use:
- Reinforce that opioids can cause an overdose with just one use.
- Stick to the facts — threats and scare tactics aren’t effective.
- Have regular, nonjudgmental conversations with your child or teen.
- Use positive reinforcement to boost your child’s self-confidence.
- Talk with your child when he or she can pay attention — not while being distracted (i.e., watching TV, playing video games, or texting friends).
- Know the kids your children hang out with and talk about their friends. Keep the conversation open about how they’re spending their free time.
- Make sure your child knows there are consequences.
- Talk with your child about saying no.
Resources
10 Things Parents Can Do to Keep Kids Safe from Addiction
A detailed guide that includes specific actionable steps to take to help your kids avoid the dangers of alcohol addiction and drug abuse.
Teen Drug Use Prevention Toolkit
Materials, information, and guides to help you:
- Talk to your teen about drugs.
- Know the kinds of drugs your teen may be exposed to.
- Spot the signs of drug use and know how to respond.