National Suicide Prevention:
 Dial 988  •  988lifeline.org

Couldn’t I just help my friend myself?

Addiction is a disease that generally requires professional treatment.  Even if the professional is able to temporarily suppress the symptoms of the disease, remaining well can be a monumental challenge.  The underlying causes and issues need to be addressed for long-term health and well-being.  The kind of help your friend/co-worker needs requires a great commitment, and crossing those boundaries could jeopardize your current relationship with your friend/co-worker.  The best help you can give would be to make the call, then be a strong support to your friend.