Loving someone in addiction is exhausting. Here's what actually helps.

You don’t have to choose between giving up and burning out. Real treatment exists, it works, and there’s something you can do today — even if they’re not ready.

48 hours

95% of members start care within 2 days of signing up.

54%

still in treatment at 6 months
(vs. 22% national average)

$25–$35

typical monthly out-of-pocket cost with insurance

~1 min

median care team response time

Before any of the practical stuff

What you might be feeling

Everything on this list is normal. None of it makes you a bad partner, parent, sibling, or friend. You can hold all of these at once.

Exhausted

You've been managing this longer than anyone realizes. The weight of it is real.

Scared

Especially if they're using opioids. That fear is rational — and there's something you can do about it.

Guilty

You've probably wondered if you missed something or made it worse. You didn't cause this.

Angry

Loving someone who keeps choosing the substance is enraging. That feeling doesn't make you a bad person.

Hopeful

People recover. The science of recovery is better than it's ever been. Hope is allowed to live next to fear.

The practical core

What actually helps — and what the research says doesn't

A lot of what people are taught about helping someone with addiction is folk wisdom, not evidence. Here’s the difference.

What helps

Meet them where they are.
Most people don’t decide to get help during a confrontation. They decide quietly, after someone they trust planted the idea without forcing it.

Talk about medication, not rehab.
Inpatient is one path. Medication-assisted treatment at home is the evidence-based first line for opioid and alcohol use disorder.

Make starting easy.
The single biggest predictor of someone seeking treatment is how easy it is to start. A text with a link is a lower bar than “I’ll drive you to detox.”

Stay connected.
Connection is one of the strongest predictors of recovery. Withdrawal of love rarely produces sobriety; it usually produces hiding.

Take care of yourself.
Your nervous system is also on the line. Sleep, therapy, Al-Anon, SMART Family — pick something. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Learn the science.
Family members who understand how MAT works advocate harder for it — and their loved ones are more likely to try it.

What doesn't

Ultimatums on their own.
“If you don’t quit I’ll leave” rarely works as a single intervention. It often pushes the person deeper into use and into hiding.

Waiting for rock bottom.
“Rock bottom” is a 12-step concept, not a clinical one. People can — and routinely do — start treatment while still actively using.

Hiding their substance.
Pouring out alcohol or flushing pills increases conflict and rarely changes use. It also damages trust at the moment you most need it.

Tough love alone.
Confrontation without connection has poor outcomes. CRAFT-based approaches (positive communication, reinforcement) outperform the TV-style intervention.

Doing it alone.
Caregiver burnout is real and common. Trying to be their therapist, sponsor, pharmacist, and partner all at once is unsustainable.

Making it about you.
“After everything I’ve done for you” rarely lands. Specific, recent, “I” language is more effective than the inventory of grievances.

SCRIPTS

How to talk to them about it

You don’t need the perfect words. You need words you’ll actually say — calmly, without ambushing, and without the loaded family scripts. A few starting points:

“You need to get help.”

“I love you and I’ve been scared for you. Would you be open to looking at something with me?”

“You promised you’d stop.”

“I know you’ve been trying. The fact that this is hard isn’t a character flaw. There’s medication that can take the edge off cravings — that’s what most people are missing.”

“I can’t watch you do this anymore.”

“I’m not going anywhere. And I also can’t keep [pretending it’s fine / lending money / handling things for you] — it’s hurting both of us.”

“You need to go to rehab.”

“Most people don’t go to rehab anymore. There’s a thing called Suboxone you can do from home. The first appointment is within a couple days. I’ll sit with you while you sign up if you want.”

“Why can’t you just stop?”

“I don’t think this is about willpower. I’ve been reading about how this actually works in the brain. Can I share what I found?”

A few notes on timing

Have the conversation when they're sober and the room is calm. Not during a crisis.
Crisis is for connection, not pitches. "I'm here. I love you." Save the link for tomorrow.
Pick one thing to say. Not five. Not the inventory.
Use "I" statements, not "you" statements. "I'm scared" lands; "you're scaring me" usually doesn't.
If you cry, that's fine. If they cry, that's fine. If neither happens, the conversation can still work.

Supporting Loved Ones in Addiction Webinar

If you love someone who’s struggling with addiction, this one-hour panel offers guidance on treatment options, healthy boundaries, and what actually helps.

So you know what you're recommending

What treatment with Workit actually looks like

Most people picture rehab when they hear “addiction treatment.” That’s not what this is. Here’s what your loved one would actually be signing up for.

For opioids

Suboxone (buprenorphine) is the first-line evidence-based medication. It cuts cravings and withdrawal, and dramatically reduces overdose risk — including from fentanyl.

For alcohol

Naltrexone, Vivitrol, Acamprosate, or Antabuse depending on goals. People can drink less or stop entirely — both are valid paths. No 12-step requirement.

For kratom & 7-OH

Typically Suboxone, since kratom and 7-OH act on opioid receptors. Treatment looks similar to opioid use disorder care.

Quick facts to know before you share

Everything happens through an app — telehealth video visits, no clinic visits required
$25 to $35/month with most insurance; affordable self-pay also available
No 12-step or abstinence requirement to qualify for care
Use "I" statements, not "you" statements. "I'm scared" lands; "you're scaring me" usually doesn't.

HIPAA-protected — their records aren't shared with employers, family, or insurance without consent
Medication can be prescribed within days of signup
No detox or rehab required to start treatment
85% of clinicians have personal experience with addiction or recovery
Coverage in select states; they can confirm at signup

Refer a friend

Share Workit with someone you care about

When you refer someone to us, we’ll send them a single message with information about Workit Health. We won’t tell them who referred them, so your part is anonymous. We won’t continue to follow up with them unless they request more information.

Healthcare or insurance provider? Make a provider referral here.

What happens when you make a referral

1. You fill out the form

Share their contact info so we can send a single message.

2. We send one message

The message comes from Workit Health and says it was prompted by "someone who cares about you."

3. We only follow up if they ask

If they don't respond to our message or request more info, that's the end. No spam, no pressure.

To: [Your loved one]
From: Workit Health
Subject: Shared with you — no action required

Hi there, someone who cares about you thought you might want to know about Workit Health.

We offer 100% online care for people looking for support around alcohol or opioid use.

If you’d like more information, you can request it here:
www.workithealth.com/request-more-info/

We won’t follow up unless you fill out the form asking us to do so.

~ Workit Health

If they're not ready yet

What to do when the answer is "not now"

Most people aren’t ready the first time someone offers help. That’s not a failure — it’s just where the conversation often starts. A few things that make the difference between “not now” and “never”:

Don’t push
A single conversation can plant a seed that takes weeks or months to root. Repeated pressure usually backfires.

Stay connected
Recovery happens in relationships, not in spite of them. Don’t disappear because they said no this time.

Keep the door open
“I’m here whenever you want to talk about it” is more powerful than it feels — especially said calmly, more than once.

Notice readiness signals
Mentions of being tired of it, asking what worked for someone else, googling treatment, or a recent scary moment are all openings.

Take care of yourself
Their readiness is on their timeline. Yours is on yours. You don’t have to wait to start your own healing.

If they're using opioids: get Narcan today

Naloxone (brand name Narcan) reverses opioid overdose. It’s available without a prescription at most pharmacies and many state programs distribute it for free. Carry it. Tell them you have it.

This is the single most concrete thing you can do today, especially with fentanyl in nearly all opioid supplies. It buys time for treatment to be possible.

Find naloxone near you →

For you

You're allowed to need help too

You’re not their therapist, their case manager, their pharmacy, or their social worker. Loving someone in addiction is sustained, demanding work — and there’s a body of support built specifically for the people doing it.

Al-Anon Family Groups

Free, peer-led, in-person and virtual meetings worldwide. The longest-running and most widely available family support program. al-anon.org

SMART Recovery Family & Friends

Research-based, secular alternative to Al-Anon. Built around CRAFT principles and behavioral science. smartrecovery.org

Therapy with an addiction-trained clinician

Especially helpful if you've been in this for a long time, are managing a household around someone's use, or are noticing your own anxiety, depression, or sleep disruption.

Nar-Anon

Specifically for friends and family of people affected by drug use, separate from Al-Anon. nar-anon.org

Signs you might be burning out

Sleep is disrupted by intrusive thoughts about them
You're irritable in places that have nothing to do with them
You've stopped doing things you used to enjoy
Your body has new pain, tension, or somatic symptoms
You feel emotionally numb or dissociated
You can't remember the last time someone asked how you are
You're starting to use substances differently yourself

Workit Health doesn’t currently provide treatment for family members directly. But you deserve real support — please use the resources at left, and consider reaching out to a mental health professional if you’re noticing several of the signs above.

FREE PDF

A conversation can change a life

How substance use affects the brain.
What people expect from a loved one's recovery vs. what (often) actually happens.
Ways you can support your loved one when they're in active addiction and in recovery.
How medication-assisted treatment functions as part of a recovery plan.
Information about the most common medications prescribed for alcohol and opioid use disorders.

Questions family members ask us

FAQ

If you’ve been searching for hours and not getting straight answers, this is for you

They don't think they have a problem. What do I do?

Most people don’t ask for help the first time someone offers. Plant the seed without pushing. A single conversation about treatment can take weeks or months to root. Stay connected, keep the door open, and bring it up again calmly when there’s an opening. Don’t try to convince them they have a problem in one sitting. Tell them what you’ve noticed, name how it’s affecting you, and let them know there’s a path that doesn’t require rehab.

You don’t have to identify as an “alcoholic” to have AUD or to benefit from treatment.

It’s not a moral failure or willpower problem. OUD is a chronic medical condition that responds well to evidence-based treatment, especially medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with Suboxone.

Can I sign my loved one up for Workit?

Treatment is something they have to start themselves — they sign the consent forms, talk to the clinician, and get prescribed medication. But you can absolutely send them the link, walk them through what to expect, and sit with them while they sign up. Many of our members started treatment because someone they trusted handed them their phone with the app open.

Should I do an intervention?

Traditional confrontational interventions (the TV version) aren’t consistently supported by research. Approaches like CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training), which focuses on positive communication, reinforcement, and self-care for the family member, show meaningfully better outcomes. If you’re considering an intervention, work with a clinician trained in CRAFT or a similar evidence-based approach, not the version popularized on television.

They've tried treatment before and it didn't work. What's different now?

Relapse is part of recovery for most people, not a sign that treatment failed. The most common reason previous treatment didn’t stick is that it didn’t include medication. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) cuts the risk of relapse and overdose roughly in half. If they were in abstinence-only programs before — even good ones — MAT-based care is a meaningfully different option, not a repeat of what already didn’t work.

They're using fentanyl and I'm scared they'll die. What do I do right now?

Three concrete things, today. First, get naloxone (Narcan). It’s available without a prescription at most pharmacies and reverses opioid overdose. Carry it. Second, tell them you have it — most people who overdose are alone, and someone knowing where their narcan is can save a life. Third, send them the Workit link. Suboxone (buprenorphine) blocks fentanyl from binding to opioid receptors and dramatically reduces overdose risk. Treatment can start within days.

What's the difference between Suboxone and rehab?

Rehab usually means inpatient or residential treatment for 30, 60, or 90 days, away from home, often abstinence-based. Suboxone (buprenorphine) is a daily medication taken at home. With Workit, treatment happens via app — your loved one sees a clinician via video, gets a prescription sent to their pharmacy, and continues their normal life. For most people with opioid use disorder, medication-assisted treatment is the first-line evidence-based option. Rehab can help in some situations but isn’t required to start.

How much does Workit cost and will I have to pay for it?

$25 to $35 per month with most insurance plans. Self-pay is also affordable. Cost is rarely the barrier people expect — but if it is, your loved one can confirm coverage in about a minute when they sign up. They handle payment themselves through the app, so you don’t have to navigate billing on their behalf.

They live in a different state. Can they still use Workit?

Workit is licensed in select states. Your loved one can check coverage by entering their state when they download the app. If we’re not in their state yet, they can sign up to be notified when we are. In the meantime, SAMHSA’s national helpline (1-800-662-4357) can help locate local providers.

What if they relapse during treatment?

Relapse doesn’t mean treatment failed — it means treatment is doing its job by catching the person and adjusting the plan. Workit’s clinical model treats return to use as clinical information, not a moral failing. The medication keeps working, the team uses what happened to refine the approach, and your loved one isn’t kicked out for using. Continuity of care through relapse is one of the strongest predictors of long-term recovery.

How do I know if it's a real problem or just heavy use?

Some signals: they’ve tried to cut back and couldn’t; they’re hiding it; it’s affecting work, money, or relationships; they’re using to manage withdrawal between uses; you’re constantly worrying. You don’t have to make a clinical diagnosis. If you’re worried enough to be reading this page, the conversation is worth having. The conversation doesn’t commit anyone to a label.

Should I tell other family members what's going on?

That’s a personal call, but a few principles help. Tell at least one trusted person so you’re not carrying this alone. Respect your loved one’s privacy where you can. Avoid creating a family dynamic where everyone is monitoring them — secrecy isolates you, but broadcasting can shame them. The middle is usually right: one or two people who can hold it with you, on agreed terms.

Where can I get support for myself?

Al-Anon and SMART Recovery Family & Friends both offer free peer support groups, in person and online. Nar-Anon is specifically for families affected by drug use. A therapist with experience treating families affected by addiction can be transformative. Workit doesn’t currently provide treatment for family members directly — but caring for someone with a substance use disorder is real, sustained work, and you deserve real support too.

2026 April Help Someone