How can I help friend with a cocaine addiction?

Dear Reader,

Far from being useless, it sounds like you're a valuable friend. Drug abuse can strain relationships, sometimes to the breaking point, so you deserve a big pat on the back for toughing it out with your friend. Even though you're uncertain about what to do next, your friend has shown that she trusts you. Although your friend has disclosed her use to you, it isn't clear whether she's indicated that she wants to stop. By learning more about the effects of drug abuse, offering encouragement, and gathering support from friends, family, and health professionals, you can help your friend get back on track.

In addition to the support you're already giving, here are few suggestions for ways to help your friend:

• Do your homework. As you mentioned, it can be difficult to hold out a helping hand if you don't know much about your friend's problem. Cocaine, also known as coke or blow, is a stimulant that can induce a euphoric high, but also causes serious health problems and is powerfully addictive. You may also want to read through the related Q&As for more information about ways to support friends and family with substance abuse issues and treatment options including rehab. Hearing from folks in similar situations may deepen your understanding of the challenges that users and their loved ones face. Also, your friend may be more likely to heed your advice if she gets the sense that you have taken time to learn about what she's going through.
• Just be there. As you may have sensed, one of the simplest and yet most powerful ways to support your friend is to be there when she needs you. "Being there" may take on several forms — telling her she can count on you, waiting until she's ready to discuss her drug use, or waking up in the middle of the night if she needs to talk. Sometimes it may be difficult to strike a balance between being supportive and enabling your friend's drug use. For your peace of mind and her safety, you may want to set some ground rules. For example, is coke completely off-limits at your place? Do you want to hang out with her if she's high? How long is she welcome to stay with you? If you decide to put some limits on your generosity, it's helpful to stick to your guns. It's a wise idea to be honest with your friend about your needs, and then be ready to hold up your end of the bargain if she slips up.
• Help her steer clear of temptation. Of course, it's really up to your friend to decide if and when she wants to stop or cut back on her blow habit. However, if she makes a choice to stop using, you can help her stay clean by offering encouragement and a drug-free friendship. If she decides to stop using, she may find it helpful to have a network of sober people she can spend time with socially. This may be a helpful support system as she makes these changes. Additionally, spending time away from people who continue to use (such as her boyfriend) may make it easier for her to maintain these habits.  
• Gather support. Your friend is lucky to have an ally who's so supportive, but you don't have to go it alone. In addition to your one-on-one support, a large support network including friends, family members, teachers, or coaches may help your friend tackle her cocaine abuse. Before recruiting other folks, you may want to ask your friend for permission. If she says no but you're worried about her safety, it may be worth it to ask others for help. Also consider that most people who struggle with drug abuse need the support of rehab or a formal drug treatment program. While supporting your friend, it could be beneficial to spend some time taking care of yourself, too.

If you or your friend want to talk with someone, either of you can talk with a health care provider about your concerns or for a referral to a mental health professional or drug treatment program.

Confronting drug abuse is no easy task, but your friend already has a strong ally in you. By gathering support for both of you, you can help your friend make informed decisions about her use moving forward and if she chooses, kiss her blow habit goodbye.