Friends are crucial in recovery, but those who are still using may not be supportive of your sobriety. In these cases, it may be necessary to cut ties with them.
Maintaining platonicrelationships in recoverycan be difficult, especially if you have friends who still use. Sincerelapse preventionis crucial for people in therecovery process,it may be necessary to cut ties with friends who still use drugs or alcohol. After all,expertsreport that one of the best ways to stay committed to recovery is to avoid people, places and things surrounding former substance use.
Evaluating Old Friendships
Friends in recoveryshould be supportive of your abstinence from substance use, so it is important to evaluate old friendships to ensure that they will promote your long-term recovery. Friends who are still using drugs could have a negative impact on your recovery journey. If a former friend isn’t supportive of your sobriety, it is best to cut ties with them altogether. If friends who are using aresupportive of your recoveryand respect your boundaries, you may be able to keep them in your life with strong boundaries in place.
In some cases, there may be people in your life who are using that you are unable to avoid. In these cases, it is important to establishhealthy boundaries. Let these individuals know that you are living a sober lifestyle and will not discuss drug use or be around them when they are using or under the influence.
Making New Friends in Recovery
Friends who don’t use drugs or alcohol can provide essentialrecovery support,somaking new friends in recoverycan be beneficial. In fact,researchshows that women who socialize in drug-free ways are more likely to remain abstinent from drug use, and their overall functioning is improved. Anotherstudyfound that social support reduces the risk of relapse significantly.
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Sober individuals can be a positive source of social support, so it is helpful tomeet sober friends.You may connect with sober friends in support group meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. You can also develop sober friendships by attending community events, taking classes or going to a gym or fitness center toexercise. Finding people you share mutual interests with can help you to make friends in recovery.
If you or a loved one is living with an addiction, The Recovery Village has locations around the country and can provide services, such as aftercare, that help you to maintain your sobriety and connect with drug-free friends. Reach out toadmissionstoday to learn more.
