Peer meetings act as support groups for families of people with opioid use disorder. Friends and relatives share coping strategies and experiences. If your loved one uses opioids, consider Nar-Anon and SMART Recovery Family & Friends. Both focus on drug addiction. Al-Anon addresses the effects of another person's drinking. Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) aids adults from dysfunctional homes. These groups support you. They do not replace treatment for the person with opioid use disorder.
We are a treatment directory, not a provider. Our guide on helping a loved one lists more ways to help. This guide offers information only.
The Role of Family Support Groups
Opioid use affects families, and support can reduce feelings of isolation. It also provides useful advice. You meet people who understand the strain of loving someone with opioid use disorder. They provide emotional backing and shared stories. Yet, they cannot guarantee changes in your loved one’s actions.
Relatives’ groups are not clinical treatment for the person with opioid use disorder. Peer support complements professional care but does not take its place. Effective options for opioid use disorder include evidence-based medications.[1] Three drugs are FDA-approved for this condition: naltrexone, buprenorphine, and methadone.[2]
The crisis's size shows why resources for loved ones of those with opioid use disorder matter.More than 81,000 opioid-involved overdose deaths occurred in the United States in 2023.[1] These figures provide context for the urgency of finding help. These figures do not measure how well family groups work.
81,083
opioid-involved overdose deaths in the US in 2023[1]
3
FDA-approved medications for treating OUD[2]
If your family needs structured clinical support alongside peer groups, explore family therapy options.
Names of Groups for Family Members
Several options exist if you need help as a family member of someone with opioid use disorder. The groups below focus on different areas. Trying more than one can show you which is most helpful.
| Group | Who it serves | Approach | Considerations for opioid use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nar-Anon | Family and friends of a person with a substance use disorder | Support led by peers, focused on addiction[3] | Directly addresses families affected by drug use, including opioids[3] |
| Al-Anon | Relatives and others affected by someone’s drinking | Peer-led mutual aid focused on alcohol[4] | May help with general family stress, but it is not specific to opioids[4] |
| Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families (ACA) | Adults who had family dysfunction or parental substance use as children | Peer-run mutual aid aimed at personal healing and family-of-origin issues | Not opioid-specific; relevant if your family history drives your search |
| SMART Recovery Family & Friends | Friends and relatives looking for hands-on ways to help a loved one in recovery | Research-based program building skills to support recovery[4] | Builds skills that apply to many substances, including opioids[4] |
These options are not interchangeable. If you ask, is Al-Anon for families of people with addiction, it specifically supports those affected by another person’s drinking.[4] Nar-Anon speaks more directly to opioid use disorder.[3] Learn more in our guide to Al-Anon for family members.
Selecting the Best Support Group
Decide if you want peer ties, coping tools, or help for one substance.[5] SMART Recovery lists both online and in-person meetings.[3] Al-Anon has a search for local and online groups.[6] Nar-Anon offers a locator for friends and relatives dealing with narcotics addiction.
Steps to Locate a Current In-Person or Virtual Meeting
Locating a nearby family support meeting requires a few careful steps. Old web listings and copied schedules often show meetings that have moved or ended. Check the organization's official website first to find the most current details.
- Pick one or two group types to explore. Choose a style that works for you, such as a 12-step group, a science-based program, or another type. Trying more than one is fine.
- Use the official meeting finder. Nar-Anon has a “Find a Meeting” tool on its website to help people locate its groups.[7] Al-Anon gives official tools, like the Al-Anon Meeting Search, to find local and electronic meetings.[6] SMART Recovery maintains an official meeting directory that lists online meeting options.[3]
- Look up the location or online format, time zone, joining steps, newcomer policy, and accessibility details.Confirm the details before you go. Reach out to the meeting organizer or group to confirm the time and access steps are accurate. Wait for the organization to confirm before assuming a listing is up to date.
- Attend and see how it feels. Allow yourself to leave if the group is not a good fit. A different group may feel more welcoming next week.
Online support groups for families affected by addiction can be easier to fit into a busy schedule. While searching online, find meetings that clearly explain how to join and who runs them. Ask questions first if you feel unsure about attending.
Finding a support group for a loved one's addiction is one step toward steadier ground for you. Remember that our directory helps you compare treatment programs for your loved one, not peer-support meeting schedules. For meeting times and locations, always go back to the group's own website or contact them directly.
Guidance for Families Dealing With Drug Issues
Connection matters more than control when you wonder how to help a family member with a substance use disorder. Pick a time when you are both calm. Make sure you are not stressed or in a hurry. Ask your loved one what kind of help they want right now. Listen fully before offering any ideas.
Make specific offers rather than vague ones. You might say, "I can look up treatment options with you." Or ask, "Would you like me to call your doctor to set up an appointment?" If they invite you, offer to go along to the visit. Small, concrete steps feel less overwhelming than grand plans.
Choose respectful, person-first words. Use phrases like “a person with a substance use disorder” instead of shaming labels. Do not use blame, threats, or ultimatums. Do not promise that joining a support group will change your loved one’s behavior. Support groups help you cope and learn. They do not force recovery on someone else.
One approach called Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) has been studied as a way for concerned family members to encourage treatment engagement.[8] CRAFT teaches skills like reinforcing positive choices and responding differently to harmful ones, rather than confronting the person directly.
You can set healthy boundaries while still offering care. Boundaries are not punishments. They guard your well-being as you continue to love someone through their struggles. Read our guide on setting healthy boundaries for scripts and practical examples.
Your job is to offer choices, share information, and stay present. Your loved one and their care team make the final treatment decisions. You can walk with them without taking on the burden of their recovery.
Assistance for Partners, Parents, and Relatives
The load on each family member is different. Parents may look for peer connection, practical guidance, or help responding to a young person's substance use. Partners and other relatives often face their own mix of worries, grief and daily strain. No single kind of support is right for everyone.
Start by naming what you need most right now. Do you want to talk with people who understand? Do you need clear steps for a certain situation? Or do you need guidance on which treatment suits your loved one? Resources have different goals, so using more than one is fine.
Please also read our guide on caregiver burnout and self-care if you provide round-the-clock care. Being exhausted can make clear thinking or asking for help harder. Tending to your own health is part of helping your family.
Help for Parents of Kids With Opioid Use Disorder
Parents often seek three things: connecting with peers, clear next steps, and help placing their child in care. Isolation can be eased by a family peer group. You can explore options live with a parent-focused helpline. A professional evaluation can point toward treatment or family therapy that fits your child's age and needs.
Since not all resources target substance use, knowing what each one does is helpful. Partnership to End Addiction assists families and caregivers in finding teen treatment options and provides CRAFT resources.[9] CRAFT aims to change family reactions to make it more likely the person with a substance use disorder seeks help.
Programs like NAMI Family-to-Family support families facing mental-health issues in general, not just opioid use disorder. They can still help you learn communication skills and find community. But they are not replacements for substance-use treatment or specific family counseling when those are needed.
Picking the Right Support Group for You
Trying more than one group is fine. You are the best judge of whether a group's approach and format feel supportive to you. Remember that a support group is not a clinical assessment. Meeting formats and privacy rules differ by location. Pick a family support group where you feel respected and heard.
Before You Try a Meeting
Your ticks are saved on this device only.
Use this short self-check to think about what support may help you most now. It does not assess your loved one's condition or give a diagnosis.
What Kind of Support Would Help Me Most?
This self-check is for information only and isn't a diagnosis. It does not assess your loved one.
When Groups Aren't Enough: Getting Treatment
Support groups help you learn and cope. It does not replace treatment for your loved one. Peer support is not a clinical service. It cannot check or treat opioid use disorder.
Start with a professional checkup for your loved one. A licensed clinician can look at their needs. Then, they can suggest next steps. You can call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential treatment referrals and information.[9]
Another path is family therapy. A licensed therapist can work with you and your family. They help improve communication and set healthy boundaries.
If You Suspect an Overdose
If there is no response, give another dose as directed.Call 911 right away if you think someone is overdosing.[10] If naloxone is available, give it immediately while waiting for help. Remain by their side until emergency responders get there. Never wait to see if symptoms get better by themselves.
What to Do in an Emotional Crisis
If your loved one has thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. These services are open 24 hours a day, every day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a support group for families of people with opioid use disorder?
Is Al-Anon for families of people with opioid addiction?
Al-Anon states that family members and others touched by someone’s drinking may join.[4] Since it focuses on alcohol, it is not the best match for opioids. Read Al-Anon’s description to see if it works for you if alcohol is also in your family situation.
Where can I find a local or online family meeting?
Use the official meeting finder for any group you want to try. Then, check details with the group directly. SAMHSA’s National Helpline gives free, confidential, 24-hour info and referrals for substance-use concerns.[9] It also helps those seeking help for others. This helpline is not a meeting schedule.
What resources are available for parents of someone with opioid use disorder?
Parents can explore peer meetings, guides for parents, and professional help. Partnership to End Addiction assists parents and caregivers via its helpline, offering phone and text support.[11] Reach out to them for guidance and resource help.
What are the 12 steps for adult children of dysfunctional families, and is ACA relevant?
Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families (ACA) uses a 12-step model for adults raised in homes with alcohol or dysfunction. The steps aim at personal recovery, like admitting powerlessness, seeking a higher power, making amends, and applying principles daily. See ACA’s official website for the full list. This may help with your family history. ACA focuses on members' recovery from family dysfunction, not treating a loved one’s opioid use disorder.
Is the "two sins" phrase official AA teaching?
No. Official AA literature and teachings do not include the phrase 'two sins'. AA’s core concepts are found in the Big Book and the Twelve Steps. If you see this term, it likely comes from outside sources or unofficial views. Check official AA publications for accurate info on AA's principles.
Is the "3-3-3 rule" established guidance for addiction?
No. The 3-3-3 rule is not a standard treatment protocol or clinical guideline for addiction. Some online sources may call it a coping strategy, often citing grounding techniques like naming three things you see, hear, and move. However, it is not a substitute for professional care. If you or a loved one struggle with substance use, consult a healthcare provider or find evidence-based treatments.
