01/01/2026
I find it really hard to understand the impact hard drugs have not just on the person using them, but on everyone around them. This isn’t said with disrespect or judgement toward anyone struggling with addiction. It comes from the pain of witnessing what it does to families, friends, and loved ones.
Drug use doesn’t just affect behaviour; it can slowly change a person’s personality, priorities, and emotional availability. People you once knew as kind, present, and reliable can become distant, unpredictable, or emotionally shut down. Trust begins to erode. Conversations feel different. The connection you once had feels strained or lost altogether.
For families and friends, it creates a constant state of worry and heartbreak. There’s fear — fear of overdoses, accidents, health deterioration, or legal trouble. There’s anxiety from not knowing which version of the person you’ll encounter, or whether they’re telling the truth. Many loved ones live in a state of emotional alertness, always waiting for the next crisis.
It can also bring deep sadness and grief — often described as “ambiguous loss.” The person is still alive, yet they don’t feel like the same person anymore. Families mourn who their loved one used to be while still hoping they’ll return to themselves. That emotional limbo is exhausting and painful.
Addiction often forces loved ones into difficult roles: becoming carers, fixers, protectors, or even enablers — not out of weakness, but out of love and desperation. Boundaries blur. Guilt sets in. People ask themselves endlessly, What did I do wrong? Could I have helped more? Should I walk away to protect myself?
And that’s one of the hardest parts — knowing what to do. You can’t control or cure someone else’s addiction. You can love them, support them, and encourage help, but ultimately the choice to change has to come from them. That leaves families and friends feeling powerless, torn between compassion and self-preservation.
Addiction doesn’t just harm the individual; it ripples outward, affecting mental health, relationships, stability, and trust. It can leave lasting scars on those who care deeply, even long after the situation has ended  not my words but I do feel this