"My friend finally went into rehab and I’m supportive. Her parents say that she won’t be able to be friends with a lot of the old people we used to hang out with. I understand, but do I have to drop those friends too? "

That’s good news that your friend has gotten help! Treatment is difficult, but living a clean, healthy life of recovery and sobriety after treatment is even more difficult. Rehab is often a very safe environment for a person to get clean and begin to learn the basics of recovery. Once treatment is completed, the person is challenged to put those practices to work in a less safe environment – the real world.

In order to stay healthy, your friend has to avoid those people or things that encourage unhealthy behavior. It’s a good idea to avoid people that your friend used with and places where they used. There is a saying that goes something like this, “if you spend enough time in a barber shop, you’re bound to get a haircut.” If your friend spends enough time after treatment associating with those people or places that lead to her unhealthy behavior, she is bound to return to that behavior eventually.

If you want to be a part of your friend’s recovery and support your friend, then yes, it’s a good idea for you to choose not to hang around the people who contributed to that unhealthy behavior.

For more information about helping a friend who has a drug problem, visit the Help section.