When someone you love is struggling with substance use, you can end up holding everything together. You may feel worried, angry, tired, and alone, sometimes all in one day.
You do not need to wait for your loved one to get help before you do. Several free groups and programs exist for families, and one of them may fit you. Here is a short guide you can share.
Peer Support Groups for Families
Al-Anon Family Groups. Al-Anon is for relatives and friends of people with a drinking problem. Meetings are free, and you do not need an appointment or a referral. You can attend in person, online, by phone, or through the Al-Anon mobile app. It is a Twelve Step fellowship led by members, not by professionals, and it is not a replacement for treatment. Alateen serves teens ages 13 to 18. To find a meeting, visit al-anon.org or call 888.425.2666.
Nar-Anon Family Groups. Nar-Anon follows a similar Twelve Step approach for families and friends affected by someone else’s drug addiction. The only requirement is that a relative or friend has a problem with drugs or addiction. It has no dues or fees, and Narateen serves teens. Like Al-Anon, it is not professional treatment. Find a meeting at nar-anon.org.
SMART Recovery Family and Friends. SMART Recovery offers free support groups for family and friends of people with addictive behaviors, led by trained facilitators. The Family and Friends program draws on SMART Recovery tools, an approach called Community Reinforcement and Family Training, and the Invitation to Change approach. Members discuss practical ways to cope and to support a loved one. Meetings are online and in person, and no long term commitment is required.
Mental Health Support for Families
NAMI family programs. The National Alliance on Mental Illness focuses on mental health conditions, which often occur alongside substance use. These programs help most if your loved one also lives with a mental health condition.
NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, eight session educational program for family members, significant others, and friends. It is taught by trained family members and is a designated evidence based program. The NAMI Family Support Group is a free, confidential, peer led group for any adult with a loved one who has experienced mental health symptoms.
The NAMI Family Caregiver HelpLine offers free, confidential support from volunteers who have cared for someone with mental illness. It runs Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern, and it is not a crisis line.
In Wisconsin, NAMI Wisconsin’s Being Together page lists family support groups by area, including a virtual group from NAMI Southeast Wisconsin.
Professional Help for Families
Family therapy at WisHope Recovery. WisHope offers family therapy in Waukesha and Milwaukee. Sessions can include every family member or only the people able or willing to take part. The program works on communication, coping skills, and the roles and patterns that shape how a family handles substance use and mental health challenges.
You do not have to be the person seeking treatment to call. Family members, friends, and allies are welcome to reach out. If you are wondering how to start the conversation with your loved one, our post on how to convince someone to go to rehab can help.
Which One Fits?
When you are worried about someone’s drinking, start with Al-Anon or SMART Recovery Family and Friends. If the concern is drugs, try Nar-Anon or SMART Recovery. And If you need practical tools for communication, SMART Recovery Family and Friends may suit you. If a mental health condition is part of the picture, look at NAMI. And for a licensed therapist to guide the work, consider family therapy.
Groups differ from one meeting to the next. Try a few before you decide. Our Thoughtful Thursday post on what a support system should and should not do may also help you set realistic expectations.
If You Need Help Right Now
When someone is in immediate danger, call 911. If you or someone you love is thinking about suicide, call or text 988. For free, confidential treatment referrals and information for individuals and families, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 800.662.4357. It is open 24/7.
The Bottom Line
Your wellbeing counts. Getting support for yourself does not take anything away from your loved one. It often gives you steadier footing for the hard days.
If you want to talk through treatment options for someone you love, learn about our treatment programs or complete our online assessment form. Our admissions team can help you find the right fit.