"My boyfriend used to get high with his friends before we got together, and then he quit. He had a slip up last week and we got into it pretty bad, but we worked it out. I told him if he did it again then he would lose me. What should I do to prevent him from getting high again?"

It’s tough to stay away from drugs once a person gets started, but it can be done. It is easier to lead a healthy life away from drugs and alcohol with support. The fact that you’re setting a boundary with your boyfriend is very good, but you may also want to encourage him to find other resources to help him stay clean. Seeing a trained professional can be helpful and will allow him to develop coping skills to deal with his cravings to use. That professional can also work with him to help him identify potential triggers that cause him to want to use, and how to avoid those triggers or lessen their pull on him.

It may be a good idea for your boyfriend to consider changing his friends if he wants to stay clean – if he continues to associate with them frequently, and if they continue to use, the combination would likely lead him to using again.

Finally, you have to know that it’s not your responsibility to fix this problem for him. You can’t make him stay clean, but you can support his good decisions and healthy lifestyle.

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