For Allies & Families
Support from friends, family, and BU community members play a crucial role in students’ recovery. You can be there for a loved one by offering direct support or help create a more recovery-friendly BU community.
Take everyday actions to support people in recovery
Incorporating small actions into your everyday life can help destigmatize substance use disorder and normalize seeking help and recovery.
These actions can also help support people of all experiences and choices with substance use, including people who may choose sobriety for a number of different personal, religious, or cultural reasons.
- Use non-stigmatizing and medically accurate language when talking about recovery and substance use. Read about why “Words Matter” and what language can help challenge the stigma around substance use disorder and recovery.
- If someone decides not to drink or use drugs, support their decision. While some people may be comfortable answering questions about why they don’t drink/use, others are not. Make sure to listen without judgment when and if someone is ready to share.
- Plan social events and gatherings that don’t involve or revolve around substance use. You may not know someone’s personal relationship with substance use or the experiences of their close loved ones. Aim to create social spaces that are open and inviting to people of different substance use choices and experiences.
- Do not share your prescription drugs with others, and safely dispose of any unused or expired prescription medication at a drug take-back or pharmacy take-back kiosk near you.
Learn about substance use disorder & recovery
Learning some basic information about substance use disorder, addiction, and recovery can help prepare to better support a loved one and help build a recovery-friendly BU community.
- Start by reviewing a brief overview of information on addiction and recovery.
- Learn more about substance use disorder and how to support someone in recovery through Allies in Recovery. Allies in Recovery is an online learning platform for loved ones of someone who is struggling with substance use. This training includes information about substance use disorder, how to help, answers to common questions, self-care and treatment resources, and more. Allies in Recovery is free for Massachusetts residents.
- Learn the signs of alcohol and other substance misuse so you can identify if someone you know may be struggling with substance use.
- Know where to go for substance use and recovery resources at BU and in your local community. Learn more about recovery resources at BU and the The Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline.
- Attend a virtual Overdose Prevention Training for the BU Community to learn how to respond to an opioid overdose.
Seek support for yourself
It can be hard to watch a loved one struggle with substance use, especially because recovery is not always a straightforward or linear process. Supporting a loved one requires understanding, patience, and self-care. There are resources and communities of loved ones in similar situations available to help support you.
- Connect with a mental health provider at SHS to get support for yourself as a loved one. Learn more about how to schedule an appointment.
- Explore Allies in Recovery, an online learning platform for loved ones of someone who is struggling with substance use. This training includes information about self-care resources and a community of loved ones going through similar challenges. Allies in Recovery is free for Massachusetts residents.
- Find in-person and virtual peer-support meeting options for families and loved ones. In-person and online options include Al-Anon and Alateen (View the meetings directory) and SMART Recovery Family & Friends. (View the meetings directory.)