There is no universal answer.

1. The first thing to know is that there will be no peace in your life.

If the contact is very close (you are married to them, they are your children or parents, your brothers and sisters), your psyche will be worn down. The further away you are, the better.

2. You can offer certain kinds of help.

For example: find information about the illness and its treatment, tell them about it and show it to them. Arrange things with a rehabilitation centre, go together to an appointment with an addiction specialist (who is also a psychiatrist), talk with them about methods of treatment. A depressive disorder may be hidden beneath the addiction.

If you wish, you can help pay for rehabilitation at a private centre.

Support the wish to recover.

3. With the debts of a person with an addiction you need to be careful.

It is better not to settle them. But sometimes help in repaying debts can work. And if you do decide to help, then only under certain conditions.

At that point your help must end.

4. People with an addiction are skilful manipulators.

Manipulation is usually built on guilt and pity. It may seem to you that you are the one to blame for their using. Or you may feel sorry for them when they tell you that the world is unfair, that they are tired, and so on. You will want to rescue them and give them money, or forgive them one more time.

You must not give money. You must not forgive. You must not support the addiction. If there is danger to life or health, call 102 or 103.

5. What should you do?

Take care of yourself. Remember your passions, interests, hobbies. Or find new ones. Meet your friends. Go to the cinema or the theatre. Sport. The swimming pool. Spend money on yourself. Spend your resource on yourself too. Be selfish. You must come first for yourself.

And go to psychotherapy. Guilt and fear can follow you for a very long time.