alcohol-drugs / family-support / addiction
Supporting family through drug or alcohol use
A first-step guide for families and friends affected by someone else's alcohol or drug use.
- alcohol-drugs
- family-support
- addiction
- national
- crisis-routing
- service-access
alcohol-drugs
Families often need support even when the person using alcohol or drugs is not ready to seek help. Family Drug Support can help families talk through safety, boundaries and practical next steps.
Safety and advice boundary
This is general navigation support only. It is not legal, financial, medical, eligibility, migration or crisis counselling advice. It cannot confirm your eligibility for any service. If someone is in immediate danger in Australia, call 000.
Plain-English answer
Families often need support even when the person using alcohol or drugs is not ready to seek help. Family Drug Support can help families talk through safety, boundaries and practical next steps.
Who this helps
Parents, partners, siblings, friends and carers who are worried about someone else's alcohol or drug use.
What to do next
- 1Call Family Drug Support on 1300 368 186 for family-focused support.
- 2Call 000 if there is overdose, violence, medical danger or immediate safety risk.
- 3Write down what you can safely control, what you cannot control, and what support you need for yourself.
Check before you act
Do not put yourself in danger to manage someone else's substance use. Safety comes before paperwork or persuasion.
Official sources
- Family Drug Support
24/7 national support line for families affected by alcohol or drug use.
- National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline
Australian Government contact for confidential alcohol and other drug support.
- Lifeline
24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention service.