Help Someone
Connect to support for yourself, a friend, or a loved one
You’re here because you care about a loved one and are worried about their use of alcohol or other drugs. You might also be feeling your own pain related to their substance use and wondering how to help or where to begin. VT Helplink is here to support you.
Substance use disorder, also known as addiction, is a complex and chronic disease that can affect anyone. Some people are ready for help and may have even tried treatment before. Others may not be there yet, and that’s okay. Recovery often takes time and may involve multiple attempts before someone finds what truly works for them. In the meantime, there are ways to keep your loved ones safer until they’re ready to start their recovery journey.
Wherever your loved one is on their journey, you can offer support and still take care of yourself in the process. Call a Helplink Specialist now at 802.565.LINK to learn more about your options, and how to take care of yourself, too. You can also use the online screener to find referrals to nearby treatment and support services quickly.
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How to offer support for loved ones
- Know that substance use disorder is a chronic disease, not a choice or character flaw. Like other long-term health conditions, it requires management, support, and new coping strategies. Don’t expect your loved one to stop using just because you want them to or without help.
- Start the conversation and offer your support. Pick a moment when your loved one is not under the influence, and speak from a place of compassion. Express your concerns and let them know you’re there to listen – not to judge – and that you care about their well-being. You can offer to help them explore options, whether that means seeking treatment, recovery support, or connecting with harm reduction services. If they’re not ready for a big step, focus on helping them stay safer in the meantime.
- Approach them with care and concern. It can be hard to talk openly about drug and alcohol use. Try to avoid lecturing, threatening, bribing, or guilting your loved one. Instead, share specific behaviors that concern you and explain why. Be ready for a range of reactions, including denial or anger, and let your loved one know you’re there when they’re ready.
- Stay hopeful. Recovery takes time and can look different for everyone. What matters most is knowing that people do recover – and that your support can play an important role. Stay involved after your loved one begins their recovery journey and recognize that setbacks can be part of the process.
- Take care of yourself, too. Supporting someone else is easier when you have support of your own. Call or text 802.565.LINK to talk with a Helplink Specialist who can connect you to supportive services, such as support groups, community coalitions, and advocacy spaces. You are not alone.
- Order free educational materials through VADIC. The Vermont Alcohol and Drug Information Clearinghouse (VADIC) offers brochures, posters, and other educational tools to help you support your community. You’ll find resources for parents focused on youth prevention, providers sharing information with clients, and community members starting conversations about substance use. Materials can be ordered and shipped directly to your home or program free of charge to promote prevention, treatment, and recovery across Vermont.