Need to speak to someone RIGHT NOW?
Call or text 988.
If you’re in emotional distress or a crisis, reach a real person now.
Immediate danger or suspected overdose? Call 911.
When someone
you love struggles.
Their drinking or addiction may be the reason you arrived here. Your own need for support matters, too.
A practical guide from Deepen Your Sobriety · Published September 9, 2026
AI-assisted, source-checked information—not a fictional story or clinical advice.
You can ask a different question
It may feel natural to begin with, “How can I get them to change?” There is also room to ask, “Who can help me with what I’m carrying?” You do not have to produce a complete explanation of your relationship before exploring support.
Al-Anon describes itself as mutual support for people affected by another person’s drinking. That includes spouses, partners, parents, children, siblings, and friends. The shared connection is the effect on your life, rather than having exactly the same family situation as someone else. Al-Anon’s introduction for newcomers.
Someone else’s recovery and your own well-being are not competing projects. You can explore support for yourself whether or not that person is ready to make a change.
Three places to begin
Al-Anon: when someone’s drinking affects you
Al-Anon’s focus is the family member or friend. Its FAQ explains that there is no attendance appointment, no required fee, and no obligation to speak. It welcomes people of any faith or none. Read the newcomer FAQ.
Find family-support directoriesNar-Anon: when someone’s addiction affects you
Nar-Anon offers a Twelve Step fellowship for family and friends affected by another person’s addiction. Its newcomer information describes meetings focused on members’ own recovery, with the option to listen. Read Nar-Anon’s introduction.
SMART Family & Friends: practical coping and communication
SMART Family & Friends offers free facilitated support meetings and resources for coping and communication. Its meeting finder uses a “Family & Friends” program filter to distinguish these meetings from those for people addressing their own behavior. Explore SMART Family & Friends.
You can use these descriptions to choose one option to investigate. They do not promise a particular outcome or replace individualized professional care.
Bring questions, not a case to prove
Before contacting a group or professional, you might write down what you want help understanding. For example:
- “I’m not sure whether this meeting is for someone in my situation.”
- “How can I find support for myself without sharing someone else’s private details?”
- “Who can help me think through boundaries and choices in my relationship?”
- “What should I know before my first visit?”
These are conversation starters, not instructions about what decision to make. No story on this site can decide whether you should stay, leave, forgive, reconcile, or trust someone. Your circumstances deserve more care than a slogan.
Faith may be part of your support. It does not require you to ignore harm or abandon boundaries. If there is immediate danger, call 911. For emotional crisis support in the U.S., call or text 988; the links are at the top of this page.
Choose something that belongs to you
A useful next step does not have to depend on another person agreeing with it. It might be reading a newcomer FAQ, contacting a group, or asking a healthcare professional about support for your own well-being.
Pick one support option above and save its contact or meeting page. Write down the question you most want answered.
Find support for family & friendsNearby? Explore Jacksonville and Beaches starting points. For an original fictional reflection about reliability and boundaries, read The towels on the table.
Organization information checked September 9, 2026 using the linked primary sources. This guide has not received clinical review. Our editorial approach.