Support, but don't cover problems created by substance abuse. The person struggling needs to deal with the consequences of their addiction. A person struggling with drug or alcohol abuse is likely to eventually seek help because of the constant motivation to do so. Part of practicing compassion for your loved one involves understanding that embarrassing your loved one can do more harm than good.
Instead, speak with positivity and encouragement, offering the idea of a successful long-term future recovery. Offer verbal and physical encouragement instead of lecturing or scolding. Emphasize that you care about the person and that you are concerned about their well-being. Give specific examples of your loved one's drug-related behavior that have caused you to worry, and be honest about your own feelings.
A useful way to begin to understand good habits and address them is to attend a family reunion to follow a 12-step program. Being able to understand what types of behaviors allow drug abuse is the first step in eliminating them from your lifestyle. Seek professional help on how to approach your loved one about their addiction so that they can receive treatment for it. Assistance in Recovery is a resource in our community that offers advocates who can help advise you on ways to do this that work.
They can also explain the variety of treatment options available to your loved one, many of which include the involvement of family and other people who support you. When a person with an addiction is unwilling to seek treatment, they will resort to whatever it takes to continue to feed their addiction.