How do I know if it is it OK to talk to other people about my loved one’s substance use?

While it’s not advisable to publicly broadcast your loved one’s alcohol or drug problems, it’s also important to remember that you need and deserve support.

Of course, you should share your experience with your loved one’s drug and alcohol use with trusted support people, but you should do so with the understanding that they will keep that confidential.

On the flip side, it’s also important to realize that it is NOT your responsibility to keep your loved one’s drug and alcohol use a secret.

Many people probably already know, and if that’s the case, it is generally not helpful for you to try to hide and cover up for your loved one. Often this only results in denying your loved one the consequences that could compel them to get help.

Again, I realize that sometimes those consequences may also implicate you to a serious degree.

There is no right answer in these cases, but wherever possible, speaking with a trusted support person, and a professional if necessary, and even taking the time to meditate, will help you decide what to do.

That said, covering up your loved one’s actions to protect yourself is almost never an effective strategy in the long term.

If you find yourself covering up your loved one’s behavior to protect yourself, that’s a very good sign that you should seek professional advice about more effectively protecting yourself in the long term without having to continually cover things up.

These are excruciating decisions, I know. So, again, please make sure you are seeking support from trusted people and from professionals where necessary.