If You Have Someone You Know Needs Support — We Are Here to Help

If you're reading this because you're worried about a partner, child, parent, sibling, or friend's drinking or drug use, you're not alone — many of the calls and messages we receive are from family members, not the person who needs treatment. This page is for you.

You Don't Need Their Permission to Reach Out

You can call or message us for yourself, even if your loved one isn't ready to. We can answer your questions, help you understand what a level of care like IOP actually involves, and think through what to say and when — without your loved one needing to be part of that first conversation.

Starting the Conversation

• Pick a calm moment, not during or right after an argument or a crisis.
• Lead with specific things you've noticed, not labels or accusations — "I've noticed you've seemed exhausted and stressed lately" lands differently than "you have a problem."
• Expect defensiveness or denial as a common first reaction — it doesn't mean the conversation failed.
• You don't have to resolve everything in one conversation. Planting the idea that help exists is often enough for a first try.

What Family Involvement in IOP Looks Like

Life Healing Center's program is built on the Matrix Model, which specifically includes family and social support education as part of treatment — recovery is treated as something that involves the people around a client, not just the client alone. Depending on what's clinically appropriate, that can include family education sessions and coordinated communication with your consent.

Emergency vs. Non-Emergency

If your loved one is in immediate danger — a medical emergency, an overdose, or a risk of self-harm — that's not what this page or a phone call to our office is for. Call 911, or see our full Crisis Resources page for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the New Mexico Crisis & Access Line, and other immediate options, any time of day.

If it's not an emergency — you're worried, you're not sure what to do next, or you just want to understand the options — that's exactly what reaching out to us directly is for.

What Happens When You Call

• You'll talk to a real person, not an automated system or a call center.
• You can ask questions for yourself without committing your loved one to anything.
• We'll help you think through whether IOP is the right level of care, based on what you're describing.
• If your loved one isn't ready yet, we can still talk about what that looks like and what your options are.

Printable Guide for Loved Ones

Download a printable guide covering signs and risks to take seriously, how to start the conversation, setting boundaries while protecting yourself, and what to do if there's an urgent safety concern — something you can keep, print, or share with another family member.

Download Support for Loved Ones Guide (PDF) ↓