Question
Hi! Thanks for your question. I favor simple and direct - "I need for you to know that I'm not using anymore." Seems sufficient to me. Setting boundaries is a little more tricky - "I can't be around you when you're high." or "I can't be around drugs." What a lot of us find, sadly is that what we thought were close friendships were just people we used with. Other times we find that being clean makes folks not want to be around us because it forces them to look at themselves.
I hope some of your friendships can be maintained but I caution you against putting yourself in high risk situations by virtue of people who won;t respect your boundaries. Good luck!
About the Expert
Jim LaPierre
LCSW, CCS
Brewer, United States of America
Specialties
Anger Management, Gay Lesbian Issues, Spirituality, Divorce, Compulsive Disorders, Trauma and PTSD, Life Coaching, Addiction or Substance Abuse, OCD, Mood Disorders, Parenting, Domestic Abuse or Domestic Violence, Anxiety or Fears, ADHD, Impulse Control Disorders, Relationship Issues, Women, Loss or Grief, Eating Disorders, Depression, Finding Your Purpose in Life
License
my_license #LC9830