Need help, or know somebody who does?

There are a range of organisations and people you can reach out to if you are having trouble with substances or relationships.

Organisations that can help

Maybe you are worried about someone you know but you’re not sure how to bring it up. Here are a few tips!

Start from a place of curiosity and respect - respect the other person’s point of view and expect them to respect yours. This could be “I’ve noticed you haven’t been able to come hang out the last few Sundays. Are you ok with that?”
Try to use statements which include “I” as this doesn’t put the blame on them. Instead of saying “You make me feel worried when you use this drug” say something like “I feel worried about your drug use”.
Focus on what you’re hearing, not what you’re saying. You don’t actually need to talk that much during a difficult conversation. Instead, focus on listening and reflecting. You might say, “So you are telling me…” or “What I’m hearing is…”
Let them know you are available to talk again. The first conversation is a first step and if you want to help then let them know you would like to talk again. You could ask if you can check in with them again in a week or fortnight.
Let them know that there is help available. Tell them that you will help them to find the right services when they are ready. At the top of the page there are some help services available in New Zealand.