Help Someone - Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances

You might care about someone struggling with substance use. You might be worried and feeling your own pain related to their substance use. The Helpline is here to help you and your loved one.

Substance use disorder is a complicated disease. Some people with substance use disorder want help, and they might have tried treatment before. Other times, people are not ready to seek help – even when you see how much substance use is hurting them.

Call the Helpline at 833-234-6343 to get information and referrals tailored to you and your loved one. Helpline specialists are available 24 hours a day, and calls are free and confidential.

Whether or not someone is ready to seek treatment, there are ways you can be supportive.

Steps you can take

Understand that substance use disorder is a chronic disease that requires treatment, support, and new coping skills.
Speak up and offer support. Talk to the person about your concerns, and offer help and encouragement, including joining them when they seek help.
Show love and concern. Be ready for excuses, denial, or anger. Be prepared to share specific examples of behavior that worries you and why.
Maintain hope – recovery is possible and many people are in long-term recovery.
Support recovery as an ongoing process. Stay involved once your loved one has started their recovery process, and know that relapse can be a part of that process.
Find your own support network. Family and friends need encouragement and support, too.

Actions to avoid

Don’t expect your loved one to stop using when you want them to or without help.
Don’t lecture, or make threats or bribes. This can cause a bigger divide between you and your loved one.
Don’t appeal to their emotions to try to make them stop. This might cause extreme guilt or regret, and can increase the urge to drink or use other drugs.
Don’t cover up, lie, or make excuses for your loved one and their behavior.
Don’t assume their responsibilities. Taking over their responsibilities protects them from the consequences of their behavior.
Don’t argue while someone is under the influence.

If your loved one is ready to get help, have them call 833-234-6343 to talk with a trained Helpline Specialist who will guide them.

Take care of yourself

If you care for someone with substance use disorder, it’s also important to seek support for yourself. Support groups, community coalitions, and advocacy groups help many people feel that they are not alone and they aren’t responsible for someone’s drinking or other drug use. You can also call the Helpline at 833-234-6343 to learn about your options for support.

Take steps to prevent overdose

If the person you care about is using heroin or prescription opioids (like oxycodone or Vicodin®), you can learn how to manage overdose. You can also stop an overdose with naloxone (Narcan®).