Helping out a Friend

When friends have a problem with alcohol (or other drugs) it affects you too. You want to do something to help your friends, but it can be hard to know where to start. Maybe there really isn't a problem? Maybe you shouldn't interfere?

Friends care about each other. If you are concerned and do nothing, you won't feel good about yourself or your friendship. Here are a few ideas to get you going:

• choose a time when your friend is sober, and you have some privacy to tell your friend that you are worried;
• describe to your friend the things that he or she does when drinking that worry you, and how it affects you;
• offer to go with your friend to talk to a counsellor or someone else who can help;
• be prepared for your friend to deny that there's a problem...leave an open offer to talk some more;
• talk to an adult you trust about your worries. You don't need to carry it all yourself.