Ways to support family members and friends battling addiction this holiday season

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – With the holidays in full swing, it’s important to check in on your loved ones, especially if they’ve been battling addiction.

“I think for people who’ve been battling addiction issues… oftentimes, there’s an estrangement from family during that time, because you get absorbed in your addiction. So there’s estrangement, there’s hurt feelings because your family obviously is concerned about you, but they don’t necessarily always know how to help you,” Kristy Fuller, a counselor at Fuller Life Counseling, says.

There are plenty of resources available for those struggling with their addiction during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.

“Bowling Green is very blessed to have a huge recovery community. For Thanksgiving, the 13th Street Clubhouse is going to be offering a lunch with a meeting immediately following that. Also at Christmas, they offer meetings 24 hours a day,” Brad Sowell, CEO of Victory Lane Sober Living, says.

There’s a few ways you can help your friends and family that are going through this tough phase of their life.

“I think the number one thing is to just ask the questions of the person that you’re concerned about… What would help you to feel more comfortable? What do you need from me right now?,” Fuller says.

“Support somebody, especially if they’re in early recovery. One of the biggest things you can do is not drink or use drugs around that person. The other thing is to not treat them differently, ok… these people are all making strides in their lives. They’re trying to be better so that they can do better. They don’t want to be treated as an outcast,” Sowell says.

“Be there for your friends… it doesn’t have to be a family member. Ask them how they’re doing, check in on them because this season can be hard for anyone. It doesn’t just have to be someone who is in recovery. So check in on them… let them know you’re thinking of them. Those are things that can really be helpful and supportive to anybody that’s in recovery,” Brad’s wife Billie Jean, who also works with him at Victory Lane, says.