How can I help my boyfriend kick his cocaine habit?

When someone has a substance use disorder, the choice to stop must be made by them. If your boyfriend is ready to seek treatment for his cocaine addiction, or even just admit he has a problem,there are tonnes of things you can do to support him. We’ll talk you through just a few of the options.

You could start out by talking to him about whether or not he wants to cut down or stop using cocaine. Finding out more about cocaine users and the nature of addiction and dependency is a good first step. Then, plan what you want to say to your boyfriend. Giving him information about the effects on his health and staying safe could help make up his mind. Maybe you could write down a few things you want to say and how it will sound to him. Approaching the situation from a logical perspective (with facts etc.) is probably the best way to go about it. If you come at him with emotion, it might make him panic and stop actively listening to you. Remember, it’s his choice; you can’t make it for him.

There’ll also be services for young people, such as support groups, with concerns about drug and alcohol use in your area. For example, you could use the Amy Winehouse Foundation, whose employees and volunteers are made up of over 90% of people with similar struggles. They can truly understand his situation and even provide you with support. With any of these services, your boyfriend will be able to get free and confidential support from professionals. What’s more, they won’t judge him or make him do anything he doesn’t want to do. 

You might want to do some research on long-term treatment for cocaine addiction before talking to your boyfriend. It’s good to know what’s available in his area and what support they can provide. If he doesn’t think he’s ready to talk to someone face to face, that’s okay. Either of you can get support from them over the phone until he’s ready to make the next move.