EP 42: How to Support an Addict Without Hating Their Behavior: Tools for Families Facing Substance Abuse Disorder

NEW Announcement: Australian Family Support Listeners Get 30% off every one-to-one support session with Paul King & Wendy Brewer. Finally get the care & help you need to navigate a loved one's addiction. familyhopesupport.com (Australia Only)

How do you support a loved one struggling with addiction—without losing your compassion or your mind?

If your child or family member's substance use has left you hurt, confused, or emotionally drained, this episode offers a lifeline. Learn how recognizing destructive behaviors as symptoms of a chronic illness—not personal betrayals—can shift your perspective and bring healing.

• Discover how to separate the person you love from their addiction without minimizing the pain they've caused.
• Learn to set healthy, loving boundaries using I statements that express compassion while protecting your well-being.
• Gain insight into how even young children are taught to understand addiction's impact—so you too can foster empathy without enabling harmful behavior.

Listen now to gain tools and emotional clarity that can help you support your loved one while staying grounded and hopeful in your own recovery journey.

🌱 Family Hope Support — Special Offer for Podcast Listeners (Australia Only)

Loving someone with a drug or alcohol problem can feel exhausting — the worry, the guilt, the fear, the sleepless nights. It wears you down.

At Family Hope Support, Wendy Brewer and Paul King offer combined one-to-one support sessions grounded in counselling insight and lived experience. Finally get the care & help you need to navigate a loved one's addiction. 🎉: Family Support Listeners Get 30% off every one-to-one support session — use code FAMILYHOPE at checkout.

👉 Claim your discount at familyhopesupport.com and start feeling less alone. You don’t have to do this by yourself

💛 Support the Podcast (Worldwide)

If our podcast has helped you feel a little less alone, you can now support our work through Ko-fi. Your contribution helps us keep creating this show and reach more families who need hope and guidance.

👉 https://ko-fi.com/familyhopesupport

This podcast provides practical guidance and support for families navigating the challenges of substance abuse disorder, offering insights from addiction recovery experts, family therapy, and support groups like Al-Anon and Family Drug Support, with a focus on understanding how to help and support loved ones dealing with addiction, including heroin addiction, through counselling and treatment options.

DISCLAIMER

Every family is different — if you’re supporting someone through addiction, please make decisions that are right for you, ideally in consultation with qualified professionals and appropriate support networks.