Call 911 for an overdose, immediate danger, violent threat, unconsciousness, severe confusion, seizures, trouble breathing, or inability to stay awake.
- In acute psychiatric/medical emergency, call 911 or dial/text 988
Family members have options for their own support, for helping a loved one access care, and for improving safety and communication—without taking responsibility for the person’s recovery. Below are resources and support for family members of those with a substance use disorder:
| Option | Best Fit | What It Provides |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Anon / Alateen | When someone's drinking is affecting the family; Alateen is for teens | Free peer support from others affected by another person's alcohol use. Meetings are available locally and online, whether or not the loved one wants treatment. |
| SMART Recovery Family & Friends | If you prefer a secular, practical, skills-based approach; applicable to alcohol, drugs, gambling, and other addictive behaviors | Facilitated online and in-person mutual-support meetings, coping and communication tools, and free Family & Friends worksheets. The program draws on CRAFT approaches. |
| Family Therapy or Individual Counseling | When there is conflict, trauma, stress, co-occurring mental-health needs, or a need for tailored guidance | A licensed therapist can help the family set boundaries, communicate more safely, manage stress, and decide how to participate in treatment. SAMHSA specifically identifies family therapy and support groups as useful supports for families. |
| SAMHSA Referral Support | When you need help finding treatment, local groups, or community services | The free, confidential 24/7 National Helpline serves both individuals and family members; it connects callers to treatment facilities, support groups, and local organizations. |
A constructive family role is usually to be supportive, clear, and boundaries rather than trying to control the person’s use.
Speak when the person is sober and the situation is calm. Use concrete observations: “I’m worried because you missed work twice after drinking,” rather than labels or accusations.
Offer specific, manageable help: sitting with them while they call a provider, driving them to an assessment, helping compare programs, or attending a family session if invited.
Set a boundary you can actually keep: for example, “I won’t give cash when you have been using, but I can pay directly for a ride to treatment or help you find a safe place tonight.”
Avoid covering up consequences, making threats you will not follow through on, arguing when they are intoxicated, or trying to physically force treatment except in a true emergency.
Make sure family members—especially children and teens—have support separate from the loved one’s treatment. A person’s substance use is not their fault, and they should not be placed in a caretaker role.
Family members can call SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357), available 24/7 in English and Spanish. You can also text your ZIP code to 435748 (HELP4U) or use FindTreatment.gov to locate treatment and support services. The helpline can provide information even if your loved one is not ready to call themselves.
If the person is already in care, ask them to sign a release allowing providers to discuss treatment with you. Without one, clinicians may be limited in what they can share because of privacy rules—but you can still give the care team information about safety concerns, observed substance use, medications, or changes in behavior.
Call 911 for an overdose, immediate danger, violent threat, unconsciousness, severe confusion, seizures, trouble breathing, or inability to stay awake.
If opioids may be involved, keep naloxone available and learn how to use it; call 911 after giving it because its effects can wear off.
For a mental-health or suicide crisis in the U.S., call or text 988.
If domestic violence, threats, or coercion are part of the situation, prioritize a separate, confidential safety plan rather than confronting the person alone.
For many families, a good first sequence is: attend one Al‑Anon or SMART Family & Friends meeting, call SAMHSA for local treatment and counseling referrals, and write down two or three boundaries that protect safety, money, housing, and children. That creates support for the family regardless of whether the loved one chooses recovery immediately.
Licensed by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS License #300707AP).
In an acute medical or psychiatric emergency, call 911 or dial/text 988.