• Don’t attempt to punish, threaten, bribe, or preach.
• Don’t try to be a martyr. Avoid emotional appeals that may only increase feelings of guilt and the compulsion to drink or use drugs.
• Don’t allow yourself to cover up or make excuses for the alcoholic or drug addict or shield them from the realistic consequences of their behavior.
• Don’t take over their responsibility, leaving them with no sense of importance or dignity.
• Don’t hide or dump bottles, throw out drugs, or shelter them from situations where alcohol is present.
• Don’t argue with the person when they are impaired or high.
• Don’t try to drink along with the problem drinker or take drugs with the drug abuser.
• Above all, don’t feel guilty or responsible for another’s behavior.

• Try to remain calm, unemotional, and factually honest about their behavior and its day–to–day consequences.
• Let the person with the problem know that you are reading and learning about alcohol and drug abuse, attending Al–Anon, Nar–Anon, Alateen, and other support groups.
• Discuss the situation with someone you trust, someone from the clergy, a social worker, a counselor, a friend, or some individual who has experienced alcohol or drug abuse personally or as a family member.
• Establish and maintain a healthy atmosphere in the home, and try to include the alcohol/drug abuser in the family life.
• Explain the nature of alcoholism and drug addiction as an illness to the children in the family.
• Encourage new interests and participate in leisure time activities that the person enjoys. Encourage them to see old friends.
• Refuse to ride with anyone who’s been drinking heavily or using drugs.

Stopping drug abuse is not an easy task, but there are always resources to help a drug addict that can make the journey easier for any individual who wishes to finally stop doing drugs.